132 DtoelUnys, xoorhs of art, laws, &c. of the Karens. [No. 3, 



elder gives efficiency to the people, as the smith does to their axes; 

 and excites them to action, as the cook hy crowing arouses the sleepers 



t0 lowing leetures are from the lips of Bghai elders. Others 

 might not nse precisely the same language, but all would convey the 



same ideas. . ., , v 



^^.-Children and grandchildren, you are children You 



d0 not know, and have never yet seen « es ^ ^ J 

 But I am old, difficulties I have seen, troubles I have found. 

 iLve been in scarcity and famine. Great waters I have met, 

 nd mastered; great fires, I have contended «*,«* £?Z 

 Momentous feud, I have known; with mighty w rs 1 [ hav been 

 acauainted I am familiar with heat, and I am familiar w th la in. 

 T a r e i ruptions of rats destroy the crops ; I have seen the Talalngs 

 and Bu mans overrun the country. I have known famines, when the 

 p pie had to dig deep to obtain poisonous wild yams ; and I ^have 

 Ln them die with exhaustion at the diggings. I have known the 

 line so severe that a man has deceived his associate, and given him 

 a meal of rice and curry, but no sooner had he done eating it, than he 

 eS him as a thief, declaring that he had stolen the food, and then 

 oM him into slavery for the theft. I have known a kyee-zee sold for 

 a sheaf of paddy, and a basket of paddy for a basket of money. 



tlt'.-Children and grandchildren, do not be lazy work hard 

 If fonwm-khard,you will obtain paddy, you will obtain rice ; an 

 you can sellit,and obtain money, and what you nave to spare you 

 L take care of ; and when times of scarcity and famine coin , you 

 can bring out your stores of paddy, and eat and be satisfied, and have 

 enough for your children, and grandchildren. 



If you are lazy, you will have no paddy, you will have no agreeable 

 food, and you will have nothing with which to buy. When the amine 

 is unendurable, you will steal to eat; and you will then be sold into 

 slavery ; or if you do not steal, you will die. 



Observe what I say to you, work and labour with cheerfulness and 

 gladness. Grasp the helve of the cleaver firmly, hold it with a strong 

 grip Expose yourselves to the heat of the sun, and to the pouring 

 runs and the fierce winds. Bend down your backs, hold firmly the 

 hoc 'and live among the weeds. What yon do, do thoroughly, 



