twpv fu rlo n g s .the, leagueris ^so^^Ld^i^dttL^into tenths.4. f^ h e .i^ r^ a p s
kefin.frhftire&^;iijit&^^ ^
It t i a ^ l ^ a d y ^ ^ nntirefl . J j ) a ^ ^ 6 n ^ ^ d i p QsjrtioB:p|,jt^.e Birmans
feW^ n g l j^ j i t a a s ted, w i ^ h a t j^ t f e ^ ^ t^ e s ^ o ^ ^ d i a , .
are separated only by a narrow range of mountains, in many .places ad-
mittingrof.an easy,, intercourse. Notwithstanding* thq-.spiajl, extent,r of this
barrier, the physical difference between the nations could scarcely be
greater, had they been situated at the opposite extremities of the globe.
The Birmans are a lively, inquisitive-race, active, irascible, and impatient;
the character of their Bengal neighbours is too well known, as the reverse,
to need any delineation; the unworthy passion of jealousy, which prompts
most nations of the-east to immure their women within the walls of an
haram, and surround them with guards, seems to ha\ s< ircely any influence
over the minds of this extraordinary and nfore -liber aljjp^q^c.^.Birman
wives and daughters are n o t conqe^d;fromJ;h,e> sigHt'pf^^n, and
are suffered to have as free- intercourse with each other as the rules of
European society admit; but in other respects women have just reason to
complain of their, treatment ; they are considered as not belonging to the
same scale of the creation as men, and even the law stamps a degrading
distinction between the sexes; the evidence of a woman is not received
as of equal weight with that of a man, and a woman is not suffered to ascend
the steps of a court of justice, but is obliged to deliver her testimony
on the outside of the roof. The custom of selling their women to strangers,
which has before been adverted to, is confined to the lowest classes
of society, and is perhaps oftener the consequence of heavy pecuniary
embarrassment, than an act of inclination; it is not, however, considered
as shameful, nor is the female dishonoured; partly perhaps from this cause,
and parrhmomifhiu MJhts shi Unfler'ihemselves' the
rye unis of this h" rcb with »appf irc.ru. ipsigMioi^jlG is ulso'iaid
•di it they j.Td$vci\, "^ItKir^mfl.hi'hJol'ito'’ then »foreign masters, indeed thejp
who Jir.tdc 'In ‘helping
«itiirrs^^ufits' ‘in # l^ffeiLLinj, tlTc^r* hu-.uu.ss fouiJwlicrW i“in m Lp tu s
dffom'-'th'e counti \ r u i e^his tempot ihr'w 1 lejilditg'v uh
>Him: law ism^CTfoiM&dj<i?ioiis-: iu ^msm wjKtoic;she
by tliL olhc Jr^ohi-he'.c uytonH,
?h j j u s e d f i ^ h j ^ | f t f e i r i g i l i i r u i e h jVi e eluded, itosjworiiati^wbuW l^e
quickly missed; and it v\ mild be soon discovered in .n hat vessel she had
■agtmV.-riui»e'otild}th ifcishipte reosjt trur n f( > <uiiwg$TL$t>i itj i ji (r'k i A>c 11 dt$!
of confiscation .ol the property, and the infliction of a heavy fine and imprisonment
on the rn.i-.iur:. km.de chikhontdlsorborri m,mo.fhcirf
an.allot sufli'ic’ditii fiu taken a\vav h h i^ u ^ S ^ i t'tu ( l^ ’pS|i niigiatu^jlml;
^thow Uiirdilferf-sth'e expat ir.uum of women \ mild, lrnpy
diminishing tflU souri es of its population.
Bw»)ne'l$?<«c-'i‘i usually t hce ii af^rU ^bk'anojniSd h/thc. Birin uiSjj^flyjjexempt
IjffoiSifhat oPjealbus’1 , do notsLoyiyt tc^t®.^jaholu. IJ ^irae f»i,c_uJol einTse ffl’a ^ i
ing male children, to edu< ate .than tt»ifiMKf.'i
'»they*know1, rsjmoKisMely.gaajdpdfb^^ErDoip 1 l s tik Hiujfoup and arue hment
tithan byiniodts or < a sties a IA henrAiracan Was couqueied bjjal^Iip^idTis’,
‘s'everal eunuchs were*madef-.prisonerSi b^bhgfng-itcs’tB.^prinee' of theieouhr
try) who had adopted 'that degenerate custom of Mahofucdan.gpiyi'tUi
These people aie maintained byathe Birman, monai (li father as.mcmoii.dv,
of his conquest, than for any. services!they are- r.equirVd^feo''p'erfqriii*' Infidelity
d s.n o ta characteristic1 pf Birman wives1 m,'genital} thev h is e too
much employment to Iegve leisur^r, fijfcthei eorrhritioiilWfe their minds. A
U u