s only
permitted to the nobility. They are very clever in chasing of metals,
and they have a description of work in glass and enamel, quite their
own, with which they decorate the temples, houses of the priests, and
coffers containing the sacred volumes. Their ornamental writings in the
Pali language, a variety of the Sanscrit, known only to the priests, are
also very beautiful--especially that upon long leaves of ivory. Upon
the whole, their manufactures are superior to all around them, except
perhaps the Chinese.

The women are small, and delicately formed, in proportion to the men;
they are not shut up, but go where they please; their dress is becoming;
they braid the hair with flowers, and they are much fairer than would be
supposed. Those who keep much within doors are nearly as white as
Europeans. They have a singular custom of putting a patch of white
chunam on the cheek bone, something in opposition to the black patches
which used formerly to be worn by our belles; and it is intended to show
how near they approach to white. Indeed, when the men of the lower
class, who are exposed all day to the sun, remove their garments, it is
singular to witness how many shades lighter they are in that part of
their bodies which is covered up. Usually, the men have but one wife,
but occasionally there are supernumeraries.

The laws of the Burmahs appear to be good, but, as in all despotic
countries, they are not acted upon, unless it please the ruler. Slavery
of a certain species is allowed. Should one man be in debt to another,
and is summoned before the chief; if he states his inability to pay, he
is asked how many children he has, and according to the debt, so are his
children given in bond slavery to his debtor, who writes off a certain
sum every year until they are free. If he has no children, his wife, or
himself perhaps, will be bonded in the same manner. But in this case,
where ill-treatment can be proved, the bondage will be removed; and
further, any person so bonded, may at his or her wish remove to the
service of another master, provided they can find one who will pay to
the debtor the amount still due, and thus finish the time of servitude
under one whom they like better. These bonds are all in writing, and
must be produced. Some of our military officers released several of the
young women from their slavery.

_Sitting down_ in your presence, is, among the Burmese, a mark of
respect. Every poor man