FARTHER INDIA. 



951 



to constitute a valid prayer. Some are moved by water. The Thibetans are said to reverse 

 the general practice of the East, in polygamy ; it is related, that wives are permitted to have 

 several husbands, all the brothers of a family having one wife among them, who is chosen by 

 the eldest. The women are active and laborious, and enjoy a higher consideration than in 

 other oriental countries. Tiie dead are buried, burned, thrown into a stream, or exposed in 

 the open air to be devoured by beasts. The Emperor of China has taken military possession 

 of Thibet^ under the pretence of protecting the Grand Lama, in whose name he acts. 



The national dress of Thibet is composed of thick woolen cloth, and di essed sheepskins with 

 the fleece turned inwards, forming a comfortable protection from the severity of the cold. The 

 religious orders wear a vest of woolen cloth with red sleeves, a large mantle resembling a plaid 

 with a kilt, and a pair of huge boots. Silks from China, and furs from Tartary are employed 

 by the higher classes. A fine white silk scarf is an invariable present on occasions of ceremo- 

 ny, and is inclosed in complimentary letters. The religion of Thibet does not impose an au- 

 stere abstinence in respect to food, but the heads of the church seem to value themselves on 

 great simplicity of diet, and abstinence from strong liquors. Tea is the universal drink; not 

 taken as with us, in a liquid form, but thickened with flour, salt, and butter, the leaves being 

 retained, so as to form a mess by no means agreeable to a European palate. The exclusively 

 religious character of the people of Thibet, is scarcely compatible with any very varied amuse- 

 ments ; though their religious exercises, from their splendor and their imposing effect, may be 

 almost looked upon as such. The game of chess is much played. 



CHAPTER CL. FARTHER INDIA, OR INDIA BEYOND THE 



GANGES. 



1. Boundaries. Farther India, sometimes called Chin-India, comprises an extensive region 

 lying to the east of Hindostan, and to the south of the Chinese empire. It has the Chinese 

 Sea on the east and south, the Strait of Sincapore on the south, and the Strait of Malacca and 

 the Sea of Bengal on the west. It extends from lat. 2° to 29° north, and from long. 90^ to 

 109° east. 



2. J^atural Features. The interior of this country is little known. It appears to be tra- 

 versed by some chains of the Himala IMountains, and it contains a number of large rivers, the 

 sources and upper course of which have never been explored. The Iratcaddy, one of the 

 largest rivers in Asia, is supposed to rise in the Chinese empire ; after traversing the Birman 

 empire from north to south, it reaches the sea by 14 mouths, forming a delta 150 miles in 

 width. The Saluen, which also traverses the Birman empire, empties itself into the Gulf of 

 Martaban. These rivers overflow extensive tracts of level country in the lower part of their 

 course. The Menam is a large river, supposed to rise in the Chinese province of Yunnan, ana 

 which, passing through Siam, intersects and fertilizes that country by numerous branches, and 

 enters the Gulf of Siam. The JMecon rises in Thibet, and after traversing the Chinese pro- 

 vince of Yunnan, and the kingdom of Cambodia, it flows into the sea under the name of the 

 river of Cambodia. The climate and productions do not difl'er materially from those of Hin- 

 dostan. 



3. Divisions. Farther India comprises, beside several barbarous peoples, who are inde- 

 pendent, the empire of Annam, including Tonquin, Cochin-China, and Cambodia ; the king- 

 dom of Siam, including Siam and Southern Laos ; the Birman empire, including Birmah proper, 

 or Ava, Pegu, and Northern Laos, or Shans ; the Slates of Malacca, the Andaman and Nico- 

 bar islands, and the English possessions. 



4. Birman Empire. Tiiis State is bounded on the north by the English province of Assam, 

 and the Chinese province of Yunnan ; east by Yunnan and Annam ; south by the Sea of Ben- 

 gal, and west by that sea and the English province of Arracan. It has an nrea of about 225,000 

 square miles, and is estimated to contain about 6,000,000 inhabitants. 



Jlva, the capital, is a Inrge but not very populous city, upon the Irawaddy ; it is meanly 

 built, consisting mainly of thatched cabins, with a few brick houses. Ava, like all the Birmese 

 towns, contains numerous temples, with tall, gilded spires, which make a show at a distance, 

 but they are built of wood, as are also the monasteries and the palace. The population is esti- 

 mated to amount to 100,000. Umerapoora., which was once the capital, is also built chiefly 

 of wood ; here is a temple, which contains a colossal image of Godamn, cr Buddha, and a gal- 



