TO THE COURT OF AYA. 
97 
and Talains. The nations whom they have sub¬ 
jugated have, more or less, followed their exam¬ 
ple,—such as the Kyens, the Aracanese, and the 
Shans. Neither the Siamese, the Kambojans, the 
people of Lao, generally, the Cassays, or the Ara¬ 
canese, before their conquest, appear to have prac¬ 
tised tattooing. 
Another practice, which seems universal with 
both sexes, and with all the races inhabiting the 
Burman territories, is that of boring the lobe of 
the ear, so as to make a very large, and unseemly 
aperture, into which is stuffed a gold or silver or¬ 
nament, or in lieu of them a bit of wood, or a roll 
of paper, gilt or otherwise. If the aperture in 
question happen not to be previously occupied, 
a man or woman, after smoking half a segar, is 
often seen thrusting the remainder into the ear 
for future use. 
The custom of blackening the teeth indelibly, 
appears at one time to have been general among 
the Burmans, but is now grown out of use. Black 
teeth are not at present considered becoming, but 
the contrary. Young men and women, before the 
age of marriage, keep their teeth white and clean ; 
but after that time, it would be considered an un¬ 
becoming affectation of youth in the one sex, and 
an indication of loose immodesty in the other, to 
be too nice upon this point. The constant use of 
the betel preparation, indeed, soon makes the teeth 
black and ugly enough, when its effects are not 
VOL. II. H 
