1868.] Dwellings, ivorks of art, laws, Sfc. of tlie Karens. 153 



grow old together ; we will visit each other's houses, we will ascend 

 each other's steps." 



The visitor next kills a hog or fowl, and performs the same rites on 

 the other. On consulting the fowl's bones he says ; " If the fowl's 

 bones are unfavourable, we will die separate, we will go separate, we 

 will work separate ; we will not visit each other's house?, we will 

 not go up each other's steps, we will never see each other but for a 

 short time." 



If the response is favourable, the two have entered into the rela- 

 tion of Do, and consider themselves pledged friends, bound to help 

 eaeh other as long as they live, in any way that they may require 

 assistance ; and they no longer call each other by their proper names, 

 but by that of Do. In seasons of famine or scarcity, a Do helps his 

 colleague to the extent of his ability ; and if a man is abused, and 

 evil spoken of, his Do defends him, saying ; " That man is my 

 Do, and to speak evil of him, is to speak evil of me. I do not wish 

 to hear it." 



Many multiply their Dos in different villages, so that wherever they 

 go, they may be sure of hospitable treatment ; and if their enemies 

 plan a foray upon them, and the project becomes known to a Do, they 

 are immediately informed of it. 



It is said the Dos very rarely quarrel, but remain faithful to each 

 other, and the institution seems to exert a very favourable influence 

 in wild Karen society. It may be compared to Masonry without its 

 secrets. 



Intercourse by Sea. — Though the Karens have had no intercourse 

 by sea with other nations, yet those near the sea-board have some 

 stories that seem to indicate a knowledge of the existence of Ceylon 

 under the name of Salie, the name by which Ptolomy designated the 

 inhabitants of Ceylon. One story says : 



" The elders relate that anciently there was a white foreigner who 

 went and traded in a city called Phu-Sa-lie ; and the inhabitants 

 of Phu-Sa-lie are upright. When the white foreigner arrived at 

 Phu-Sa-lie, they had heard of the Karens, whom they called elder 

 brother Paku, and the Karens in return, called them younger brother. 

 They took the pods of the black and red cotton plants, and scalding 

 to death the insects in them, they prayed thus ; ' If these reach our 



