1868.] Dwellings, works of art, laws, Sc. of the Karens. 141 



When you commit adultery or fornication, or have illegitimate 

 children, it is displeasing to Thie-kho Shu-kha, it is displeasing to the 

 God of heaven and earth. Then the rains do not come at the proper 

 time, and the dry season is irregular. The crops are bad, and the 

 hunter is unsuccessful ; and your vegetables do not come up ; because 

 you commit fornication and adultery. 



You are poor and become slaves because you do that which dis- 

 pleases the God of heaven and earth. This he makes known to you 

 by bringing on you troubles and difficulties, in order that you may 

 not do evil. Children and grandchildren, be careful. 



Suicide. — There is no command against suicide. It is very common 

 where Christianity has not been introduced, and the Karens seem to 

 see little or no guilt in it. It is regarded as an act of cowardice, and 

 the suicide is not awarded an honorable burial ; but we are nowhere 

 told that it is displeasing to the God of heaven and earth. 



It is singular that hanging is almost the exclusive way by which 

 Karens commit suicide, while poisoning is the most favourite mode 

 with the Burmese. 



If a man has some incurable or painful disease, he says in a matter- 

 of-fact way, that he will hang himself ; and does as he says. If a 

 girl's parents compel her to marry the man she does not love, she 

 hangs herself. Wives sometimes hang themselves through jealousy, 

 sometimes because they quarrel with their husbands, and sometimes 

 out of mere chagrin, because they are subjected to depreciating com- 

 parisons. It is a favourite threat with a wife or daughter, when not 

 allowed to have her own way, that she will hang herself. 



One of Mrs. Mason's Paku pupils went and taught school in a 

 Bghai village, where she was very popular. The village preacher 

 observing his wife at her toilet one day, remarked jocosely ; " You 

 need not rub your face so much, for you cannot make yourself look as 

 handsome as the Paku girl." She said nothing, but immediately 

 rose up, and went and hanged herself. 



A young man in my employ recollects twenty-five persons who have 

 hung themselves within the last fifteen years, in the circle of villages 

 with which he is acquainted, eleven within ten years. Of the whole 

 number, ten were men and fifteen women. 



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