996 Dr. Heifer's Third Report [Dec. 



embellishment of Buddhistic symbols, or with the support of the 

 numerous Buddhistic monks, and the people begin to be tired with 

 the exertion of a sort of fame, which is not appreciated by their 

 superiors. 



Avarice — Avarice, or an inordinate desire after fortune, without 

 considering it as the means of gaining any thing else, seems as far 

 as I have observed, no native vice. The Burmese hoard up money 

 frequently in secret places under pagodas, not unfrequently in the 

 bamboo rafts of their houses; but this does not originate in ava- 

 rice, but in the apprehension of insecurity, and ignorance how to 

 employ the capital advantageously. All Asiatic nations, living un- 

 der despotic governments, who have constantly the violation of pro- 

 perty to fear, act in like manner, and bury their valuables. Bri- 

 tish stability is not yet understood, and the certainty, that the 

 British will maintain the country against expected attacks from 

 Burmah and Siam, not yet believed in ; so that the natives cannot 

 be blamed for following the impulse of their distrust. 



Rights of property. — The rights of another's property, are well un- 

 derstood and generally held sacred ; except in the larger places on the 

 sea-coast, where, like in all larger congregations, irregularities are 

 much more common ; however very few thefts happen in the country ; 

 property entrusted to natives by Europeans is very rarely embezzled ; 

 and with money they are considered more trusty and honest, than the 

 same classes in Europe. 



Robberies. — Robberies committed on the highway, or on the water, 

 are unknown as far as I am aware, since the British occupation. 

 Those committed on the Salween last year cannot be imputed to the 

 Tenasserim people ; they were perpetrated at the instigation of the 

 hostile neighbours on the Burmese side. 



Murder. — The same may be said of murder. To commit delibe- 

 rate murder is not within the sphere of Burmese character, and mur- 

 der committed in passion is equally rare, for the Burmese are much 

 more calm than excitable, and form in this respect a great contrast to 

 the Malays, their neighbours. 



Passions — revenge. — That the Burmese are not passionate, is ob- 

 vious even to a superficial observer ; how far they are revengeful I 

 do not know ; however, I never had an opportunity of witnessing in- 

 veterate rancour, or hatred. There are no hereditary quarrels ; in 

 which respect the Buddists, amongst other good qualities, have again 

 the preference over the Mussulmen; the neighbouring Malays being 



