the Burmese girl is a. peerless creature ; and her
influence over their hearts and their passions is
immense. What is more; few men in Burma ever
undertake anything of magnitude without first seeking
the able counsel of their wives.
I cannot leave even this slight account of the men
and women of Burma without saying a separate word
about its old men, and its little.' children.. Vain,
bumptious, arrogant as the Burman is apt to be: in
his-youth, old age brings with it, for him, a wonderful
change. His manners become gentle5:and; reserved,; his
face catches a spiritual expression. His costume is
adapted to his years.; The flaming tartans of his youth
are put aside for silks of a paler hue ; the gorgeous
gauvgbauvg is replaced on his head by a slender fillet
of white book-muslin. But the change is not merely
superficial. It is the reflection of an inner development,
of the growth within him of the spiritual desire.
If, unlike most of his countrymen, he has: accumulated
a store of wealth, his aim now is to distribute, it; in
good works. If any worldly desire survives in his
heart, it is to win the title of I’haya-Taga,. “ Builder
of a Pagoda,” or Kyaung-Taga, “ Builder of a
Monastery” ; titles bestowed upon him by his fellows
as an expression of their respect, and' dearer to him,
as implying a spiritual attainment, than any magnificence,
such as “ Bearer of a Golden Sword,” that the
State may bestow upon him. This vanity is the last
infirmity of his mind; and to the end of his days he
is particular that his wife shall address him by his
v o l . i. 49 E