AMONG THE BURMANS [Illustration: A TYPICAL SHAN] [Illustration: (titlepage)] Among the Burmans A record of fifteen years of work and its fruitage By HENRY PARK COCHRANE ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO Fleming H. Revell Company LONDON AND EDINBURGH Copyright, 1904, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 63 Washington Street Toronto: 27 Richmond Street, W London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 30 St. Mary Street Preface The aim of this book is to give a true picture of life and conditions in Burma. Heathen religions, superstitions, and native customs are described as seen in the daily life of the people. Concrete illustrations are freely used to make the picture more vivid. Truth is stronger than fiction. In matters of personal experience and observation I have used the "Perpendicular Pronoun" as more direct and graphic. In matters of history I have read nearly everything available, and drawn my own conclusions, as others have done before me. If interest in "The Land of Judson" is stimulated by reading this little volume, its object will have been accomplished. H. P. C. Contents I. FIRST EXPERIENCES 9 II. LIVING LIKE THE NATIVES 27 III. CUSTOMS OF THE BURMESE 37 IV. CHIEF RACES OF BURMA 70 V. BUDDHISM AS IT IS 113 VI. BURMA'S OUTCASTS 146 VII. A NATION IN TRANSITION 157 VIII. "BY ALL MEANS--SAVE SOME" 167 IX. "WITH PERSECUTIONS" 208 X. HEROES AND HEROINES 224 XI. PECULIAR EXPERIENCES 240 XII. OBSTACLES 250 XIII. WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT 265 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE A TYPICAL SHAN Title RAW MATERIAL (KACHINS) 30 KACHINS SACRIFICING TO DEMONS 30 POUNDING RICE 40 DANCING GIRLS 48 TATTOOING 56 BUDDHIST SHRINES 78 BURMESE WOMAN WEAVING 90 WORSHIPERS 116 A KAREN FAMILY 128 BUDDHIST IDOL 128 THE LAST KING OF BURMA 158 GOVERNMENT HOUSE, RANGOON 164 HOW WE TRAVEL BY CART AND BOAT 172 TRANSPLANTING RICE 180 DORIAN SELLERS 180 PINEAPPLES AND JACKFRUIT 204 ELEPHANTS AT WORK 222 BAPTIST CHURCH, RANGOON 268 Among the Burmans I FIRST EXPERIENCES