J 839.] on the Tenasserim Provinces, fyc. 997 



equally famous for implacability, with their religious brethren in 

 Arabia. 



Politeness. — The opinions which have been disseminated in Europe 

 about Burmese in general, where they were represented as blood- 

 thirsty barbarians, are wrong. On a mere superficial acquaintance, 

 their mildness and placidity are apparent. Their behaviour is con- 

 formable to strict rules of decency. Politeness is the characteristic 

 of all the natives of Indo-China, which amongst the lower classes in 

 Europe is too little exercised, and which is again exaggerated when 

 speaking of the Chinese. The Chinese are more formal than polite, on 

 the contrary, they are sometimes rude. The Burmese are naturally 

 polite, not only to strangers, but amongst themselves. Boat people 

 gathered together by order of government, and strangers to each other, 

 live crowded in a small place for months in an uninterrupted state of 

 harmony. Common coolies address each other as Sir, and the rare 

 occurrence of fights and quarrels amongst the lowest classes, shows, 

 that they know how to pay each other, on all occasions, that deference 

 which is due to a fellow creature. 



Courtesy and good fellowship. — Courtesy and good fellowship 

 are strictly adhered to ; the people of one village form a community, 

 bound together by friendship and mutual wants ; and a stranger not 

 entering into their adopted mode of life is not tolerated. 



Exercise of charity. — Charity is little exercised in a country where 

 real wants do not exist. The disabled and decrepid are maintained by 

 their families, relations, or even by strangers. The exercise of charity 

 amongst the Burmese cannot be considered a virtue, as its practice does 

 not call for a sacrifice, the alimentary subsistence of a person amount- 

 ing monthly to a mere trifle. 



Hospitality. — Hospitality is considered in all (not European) coun- 

 tries, not a virtue, but a duty, for in a country where the comforts of 

 life are not so far advanced, as to lead to the establishment of inns, 

 all intercourse with people in distant districts would be interrupted 

 without hospitality. Hospitality in general, is dictated either by phi- 

 lanthrophy or by religion. In the latter case, it embraces men of a 

 particular sect, party, or nation, and such hospitality is chiefly exer- 

 cised in Mussulman countries ; philanthropic hospitality has its origin 

 in the common rights of society, — such is exercised by the Buddhistic 

 nations. In all parts are zayats, or resting places, built expressly 

 for travellers, who take possession of the building by right, and if the 

 travellers be poor, they are provided by the inhabitants with food, 

 sometimes on application, and sometimes without. 



6 M 



