Despre această carte
Biblioteca mea
Cărți pe Google Play
PAST AND PRESENT
WITH
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF THE COUNTRY
BY
LIEUT.-GEN. ALBERT FYTCHE, C.S.I.
LATE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF BRITISH BURMA, AND AGENT TO THE VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA.
C. KEGAN PAUL & Co., I, PATERNOSTER SQUARE,
1878.
cab. 2 521.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE.
The Burmese the standard language of the country.-The Talaing little
used.-The Burmese and Talaings received their religion and alpha-
bet from India.-Description of the Burmese and Talaing languages.
— Great reverence paid to the numerals III. and IX.-Use made of
the numeral V.- Burmese metaphysical works are in the Pali language.
-Books, how formed.-Writing of the Burmese.-Burmese literature.
-Their sacred books.-The Bee-da-gat-thoon-bon and the Baideng.
-Secular literature. The disputed wife. -The Burmese drama.—
Description of a Burmese theatre. -Dress of the actors.-The orches-
tra.-Plots of the plays.-A ballet at the Palace at Mandalay.—
Burmese great lovers of both vocal and instrumental music.-Transla-
tion of a Burmese drama, The Silver Hill
PAGE
I
CHAPTER II.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION, AND HABITS AND CUSTOMS
OF THE BURMESE.
-
Physical characteristics of the Burmese race.-Male costume.-Tattooing.
-Its absence considered a mark of effeminacy.-Female dress and
ornaments.—Ear-tubes.-Universality of smoking.—Singular custom.
-Burmese altogether a different people from the inhabitants of
Hindostan.-Absence of caste prejudices. Their pleasing manners.
-Happiness of the people. - Absence of pauperism.-Affection of
parents for their children. -Fondness for amusement and excitement.
-As a rule not laborious. -Marriage customs.-Perfect freedom of
marriageable girls.-Marriage purely a civil rite.-Hla-pet.-Curious
custom pursued by a bridegroom's bachelor friends.- Privileges of
the female sex.-Code of divorce. - Polygamy.-Sensitiveness to
raillery.—Tendency to suicide.—Suicide of a bridegroom.—Attempted
suicide of a girl.-Food.-Description of a Burmese banquet.—Their
treatment of disease.-The devil dance.-Disease caused by witch-
craft.-Funerals.-Boat races.-Peculiarity of the boats.-Mode of
rowing.-Description of the goal.-" Palmam qui meruit ferit."-
Vaunting songs, and grotesque attitudes of the winners.-Subscrip-
tion purses.-Game of football.-Boxing and wrestling.-Admirable
temper of the combatants.-Description of the Ta-soung-doing fes-
tival.—Weaving the sacred cloth.-Relays of workers.—Working
and courting.-Floating lights.-Water festival on New Year's Day.
-Meaning of the observance.-Mythological legend
59
CHAPTER III.
FOUR YEARS' ADMINISTRATION OF BRITISH BURMA,
1867-1871.
Our commerce with China confined to sea-ports. -Ancient overland com-
merce between Burma and Western China viâ Bhamo.-Brought to a
close in 1855.-Early history of the Panthays or Chinese Mahom-
medans. They establish a Mahommedan kingdom in Yunnan.—
Monopoly of trade between Burma and Yunnan confined to Chinese
inhabitants of Mandalay and Bhamo.-Their jealousy regarding it.-
Despatch of a Mission under Major Sladen to Western China viâ
Bhamo.-Burmese suspicion of it.-The King ultimately sends the
expedition in his own steamer to Bhamo.-Hill ranges and valleys
occupied by Kakhyens and Shans.-Description of these tribes.-
The Governor of Bhamo defeated and slain by the Kakhyens.-Diffi
culties of the Mission in consequence. -The Mission starts for
Momein.-Secret agencies at work to stop the Mission.-Mission
delayed at Ponsee.-Delay profitable in some ways.-Valuable collec-
tion of specimens of natural history made by Dr. Anderson.-Bam-
busicola Fytchii.-Kakhyen ideas of marriage. Their superstitious
observances. - Communication opened with the Governor of Momein.
-The Chinese freebooter Li Hsieh-tai.-Destruction of his 'strong-
hold.-Mission escorted by Shans and Panthays to Momein.-
Hospitality of Ta-sa-kon.-All objects of Mission successfully
obtained.-Mission returns to Bhamo.-Return journey quite an
ovation.-Description of Kakhyen oath.-Exposition of the policy in
despatching the Mission.Objects not political but commercial.—The
tact and gallantry shewn by Major Sladen.-Favourable view taken
by him of the Panthay rebellion.-Policy of the British Government
towards Yacoob Beg, Sultan of Kashgar.-An English political agent
appointed to Bhamo.-Large increase of trade. —A Panthay Embassy
proceeds to England viâ Rangoon and Calcutta.-Collapse of Mahom-
medan power in Yunnan.-Despatch of a second Mission to Western
China. Its failure. -Murder of Mr. Margary.-Lord Lawrence retires
from the Viceroyalty of India.-Lord Mayo appointed Viceroy.—
Correspondence with Lord Mayo.—Important measures carried out
during my administration of British Burma.-Speech at a public
dinner
· 95
CHAPTER IV.
BUDDHISM AND EDUCATION IN BURMA.
Shamanism the ancient religion of Burma.-Adoration of nats and other
spirits.-Three religions preceded Buddhism in India.—Buddhism a
wide-spread religion. -Propagated by persuasion alone.-The Buddhas
previous to Gautama. —The Jātaka fables.—Birth and parentage of
Gautama. His miraculous conception.-Education of Gautama. ---
Gautama's four visions ---He deserts his palace and assumes the garb
of an ascetic.-His trials and temptations in the wilderness.-He
becomes a Buddha.-The sacred Bó-tree.-Gautama proceeds towards
Benares to preach his doctrine.-He visits his father.-Attempts on
his life.-Punishment of Déwadat.-Gautama's death-His funeral.
-Gautama's relics.-The Shwé-dagon pagoda at Rangoon.-The
three Synods.-The Pitakatayan, or Buddhist scriptures.- Powers of
memory of Buddhist priests.-Two Buddhist missionaries arrive at
Thatún.-Buddhagosa. —Talaings received their religion and alphabet
from Ceylon.-The Burmese from the Talaings.-Karma and Nirvâna
described.-Buddhism and Brahminism compared.-Dāna, or alms-
giving.-Purity of Buddhist ethics.—Singular analogy of Buddhistic
rites and observances to those of Romish Christianity.-Early Roman
Catholic missionaries in the East.-Their opinions regarding Budd-
hism.-Buddhism existent in the western world previous to the birth
of our Saviour.-Gautama a saint in the Roman calendar.-Phongyees.
-Rules of the Order.-The Novitiate.-Ordination.-Celibacy.-
Diet. The Habit. -The Order of Nuns.-Funerals. - Monasteries.
-Education in Burma. -Monastic and lay schools. -System of
education lately adopted by the British Government.-Difficulties
regarding it. How overcome.-Success of the system
. 137