Our numeral, algebraical, astronomical, and chemical signs, are like its wonderful alphabet*, which is, in fact, its dictionary.t The foregoing remarks respecting the IndoChinese languages, apply generally to all the countries east of the Tiperah wilds, and Chittagong, but particularly to the kingdoms of Cambodia, Laos, Cochin-China, and Tunquin. These regions lie to the eastward of the Birman empire; and no further notice may be taken of them in this work. There is no native government, subject to one sovereign authority, at present existing in India, so extensive as the Birman empire; therefore, a brief account of it should be interesting. It includes the space between the 9th and 26th degrees of north latitude, and the 92d and 104th of east longitude; about 1050 geographical miles in length, and 600 in breadth. To the north it has Tibet and Assam ; to the south the Indian Ocean and the Siamese territories; to the northeast the empire of China; to the east Cambodia, &c.; and to the west the Tiperah mountains and the river Nauf. This extensive empire contains 194,000 square miles; comprising Ava, Arracan, Pegu, Martaban, Tenasserim, Junkseylon, Mergni, Tavay, Yunshan, Lowashan, and Cassay. It is * Vide Addenda, V. + Vide Dr. Leyden's account of the Indo-Chinese, Asiatic Researches, vol. ix. Vide Addenda, VI. said to contain 8000 cities, towns, and villages, without including Arracan. Colonel Symes estimates the whole population at 17,000,000; but Captain Cox, who succeeded him as ambassador, does not go beyond 8,000,000, which is probably much nearer the truth. The principal rivers are the Irawaddy, the Keenduem, the Lokiang, and the Pegu. Its chief towns are Ummerapoor, the capital; Ava, the ancient capital; Monchaboo, the birth-place of Alompra; Pegu, Rangoon, Syriam, Prome, Negrais, Persaim, and Chagaing. The climate is very healthy. Its seasons are regular, and the extremes of heat and cold seldom experienced; the duration of the intense heat, which precedes the commencement of the rains, being so short, that it incommodes but véry little. No soil can be more fertile than many parts of the Birman empire. The south yields abundant crops of rice, and the north produces wheat, and the various kinds of small grain and legumes which grow in Hindostan. Sugar canes, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and the different tropical fruits, are indigenous. The tea plant grows very well near Ummerapoor, but it has scarcely any flavour. Besides the teak tree, which is superabundant in many parts, there is almost every description of timber that is known in India. There are mines of gold and silver, rubies and sapphires, iron, tin, lead, antimony,, arsenic, sulphur, &c. It has amethysts, D garnets, beautiful chrysolites, jasper, amber, and marble. The wells are found here which produce petroleum oil. The Birmans carry on an extensive trade with China. Cotton, amber, ivory, precious stones, betel nut, and edible nests, are transported up the river Irawaddy, in large boats, as far as Bamoo; where they are bartered at the jee or mart, with the Chinese merchants, for raw and wrought silks, velvets, gold leaf, preserves, paper, and some utensils of hardware.-The British in India import to Madras and Calcutta, from the Birman dominions, about 200,000l. worth of teak timber, annually, which is paid for in English broad cloth, hardware, coarse Bengal muslins, glass, Cossimbazar silks, cocoa nuts, &c. Like the Chinese, the Birmans have no coin, silver in bullion and lead being the current monies of the country. The value of these are estimated and approximated by artificial standards, so fluctuating that every foreigner finds it necessary to have a native banker to manage his money transactions. Rice is sold at the capital generally at the rate of eighty-four pounds for 2s. 8d., but at Rangoon 250 pounds may be had for that sum. The courts of Ava and Pekin resemble each other in many respects, particularly in excessive vanity and pride. Like the sovereign of China, the Birman emperor acknowledges no equal. Amongst his titles are, the sovereign of the earth the emperor of emperors the sovereign esteemed for riches and happiness -the monarch of elephants and horses, and all good things-the lord of high-built palaces, of gold, &c. &c. There are no hereditary dignities. Gold chains are the badges of the order of nobility. The king wears twenty-four chains, his prime minister twelve, and the other nobles created for life or during office different numbers down to three, which is the lowest rank of nobility. One-tenth of all produce is exacted as the revenue of the crown, but the amount fluctuates so much that no average can be given. All we know accurately on the subject is, that the riches of the Birman emperor are immense. Every man in the kingdom is liable to be called upon to serve as a soldier. Their standing army is very small; but 60,000 men can be raised in a short time, when wanted, the great men of the state holding their lands by military tenure. The establishment of war-boats is very respectable; at a very short notice the emperor can collect 500, carrying from forty to fifty rowers, thirty soldiers. armed with muskets, and with a piece of ordnance on the prow. There is a striking contrast between the Birmans and the natives of India. The Birmans are lively, inquisitive, active, irascible, and impatient; their Bengal neighbours are exactly the reverse. Ava the females are not concealed from the sight of men, though they are treated in a manner In destitute both of delicacy and humanity. Their women are sold to strangers; but this purchase does not authorise a foreigner to carry a Birman female out of the country. As in China, women are not permitted to emigrate. In their features, the Birmans resemble the Chinese. The men pluck out their beards by the roots; and both sexes colour their teeth, their eyelashes, and the edges of their eyelids, with black. Marriages are not contracted until the parties reach the age of puberty. Polygamy is prohibited by law, but concubinage is admitted to an unlimited extent. They burn their dead. In their food the Birmans are gross and uncleanly. Even reptiles are eaten by the lower classes. The sitting posture is here the most respectful. Their houses are raised on wooden posts or bamboos, generally composed of bamboos and mats, and but indifferently thatched; but their temples are splendid fabrics, glittering with gold.* This precious metal is the type of excellence among the Birmans. Every thing belonging to the king has the word shoe, or gold, prefixed to it. When a subject means to affirm that the king has heard any thing, he says, "It has reached the golden ears:" he who has obtained admittance to the royal presence, has been at "the golden feet." In short, what pleases the sight is delightful to "the golden eye;" and what gratifies the sense of * Vide Addenda, VII. |