TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
483 
of the Atwenwuns and other principal officers 
to attend. The circumstances which accom¬ 
panied it afforded curious illustration of Bur- 
man manners, and deserve to be mentioned. 
No person dying of cholera morbus, which is 
considered an infectious complaint, is allowed 
a funeral with the customary solemnities, but 
must be interred on the day of death. The 
body of a woman who dies in labour before the 
birth of the child, is subjected to a horrid rite. 
Poor Mrs. Price’s case came under both heads ; 
and it was necessary therefore, in order to 
secure a respectable funeral, that the King 
should be deceived on both points. A public 
officer of high rank, a friend of Dr. Price, 
therefore came forward and declared that the 
deceased had died in child-birth, and that the 
infant was born before death. On these assu¬ 
rances, the public funeral was accorded, and 
took place with all proper solemnity. Funeral 
expenses amongst the Burmans are defrayed 
not by the heir or next of kin, but by volun¬ 
tary contribution among the friends of the 
deceased. The collections for this purpose are 
continued for seven days after the decease of 
the party. This custom was followed upon 
the present occasion; and the public officers, 
according to their notions, contributed libe- 
2 I 2 
