994 Dr. Heifer's Third Report [Dec. 



will be observed ; for the natives have such a dread of judicial proceed- 

 ings, that they will scarcely ever infringe upon publicly made con- 

 tracts. .When after the British occupation, all was placed on a certain 

 undeviating footing, cunning and shrewdness became to them of less 

 avail, and are said to be daily less common. One bad quality however 

 remains with them from the time of Burmese rule, which they can- 

 not get rid of, this is falsehood in speech. A Burmese if asked a ques- 

 tion, even of the most unimportant nature, scarcely ever gives a direct 

 answer, but will ponder a long time, and then couch his words, in an 

 ambiguous sense ; and if he cannot succeed in this, he will plead his 

 ignorance straight forward, though he may be well acquainted with 

 the subject asked. This want of good faith is a bad quality in a 

 subject, and it would naturally follow, that an attachment to the go- 

 vernment cannot be relied upon, and the British government ought to 

 be on a continual guard not to be overthrown by treachery. It can be 

 supposed, however, that there is no fear of that ; the dispositions of the 

 Burmese on any other subject may be as doubtful as possible ; but the 

 boon which has been conferred upon them by an equitable adminis- 

 tration is so generally appreciated, that they fear only the present 

 state of things will not last for ever. Only few individuals, once in 

 power, might gain by a change ; but they will never find adherents 

 amongst the mass of the population ; from a rebellion therefore, the 

 government has nothing at present to apprehend. 



Religious connection of the Burmese in Tenasserim with the king 

 of Ava. — Profound veneration and attachment to the present royal 

 family in Ava is generally spread, and has its source in religious 

 feelings — Gaudama the first of beings, and the royal family the next 

 in rank in this world. 



Though the Burmese in the Tenasserim provinces know that 

 they are at present quite independent of the ruler of Ava, and are not 

 influenced by any of his ministers or governors, yet they consider the 

 emperor of Burmah as the head of religion, but acknowledge cor- 

 dially, the worldly supremacy of the English. The more enlighten- 

 ed and wealthy of the inhabitants take a lively interest in the affairs 

 of their ancestors' country ; the overthrow of the king and his minis- 

 ters, the usurpation of Tharawaddie, the subsequent expulsion of the 

 crown prince, were watched with anxiety, and the present cruel pro- 

 ceedings keep them in awe and suspense. 



The Burmese hold the customs of their forefathers in high ve- 

 neration, but not so the laws imposed upon them by their supe- 

 riors. The reason is, that the laws until lately have always been 



