998 Dr. Heifer's Third Report [Dec 



It is a peculiar institution in Buddhistic countries, to erect sheds at 

 short distances in which are placed chatties (earthen vessels) filled with 

 water to afford drink to the wearied traveller. 



Temperance. — Temperance is one of the shining qualities of the 

 Burmese ; their fare is simple, moderate, and wholesome. They sub- 

 sist chiefly upon vegetable substances, — rice is their chief food, all other 

 ingredients secondary. 



Like all natives of the tropics, the Burmese are fond of spices ; these 

 condiments seem necessary to digestion in equatorial climates. The 

 majority of the people, who are Buddhists, do not drink spirits, a 

 drunken man being considered a degraded being. The Kareans make 

 an exception, they indulge in temporary intemperance on solemn oc- 

 casions. Opium smoking exercises its baneful influence wherever 

 the drug is introduced; it is fortunately however too expensive a 

 vice, to which rich people only can be addicted. In the public opi- 

 nion, it is held degrading, and the epithet of " Opium smoker," de- 

 notes a bad character, capable of performing the worst acts. 



All nations whose climate permits them to remain unencumbered 

 with clothes, whose abodes permit the free circulation of air, whose 

 occupations are mostly in the fields and woods, and require a free 

 exercise of the limbs of the body, will be found possessed of agi- 

 lity, dexterity, and hardiness, which are the concomitants of good 

 health, if no local causes operate inimically. The Burmese in Tenas- 

 serim are remarkably healthy, strong, and muscular, without being 

 powerful. 



Perseverance. — The Burmese are capable in moments of excitement 

 of great exertion, but their energy is of short duration. Want 

 of perseverance is a characteristic of them ; the reason of which may 

 be, that few of them are engaged in regular, never ceasing, monotonous 

 labours. The Burmese mode of life does not force them to toilsome, 

 long continued exertions. In a highly cultivated country they gain 

 their subsistence with little trouble, and because they scarcely ever 

 know absolute want, or even poverty, they are more indifferent 

 to affluence. 



Patience. — Patience is the result of that mode of life which people 

 are generally obliged to lead, who occupy countries where nature has 

 scattered her bounties with parsimony. Though few of the Burmese 

 are exempted from the cares of life, and the vicissitudes which attend 

 a regular occupation, yet disappointments are not often experienced ; 

 and as only the repeated experience of disappointments creates pati- 

 ence and endurance, the Burmese cannot possess that virtue. 



