In seeking to raise the condition of a heathen people no remedy can be regarded as a substitute for the Gospel. We value civilisation very highly, with all that it implies in our case—in the way of good government, material prosperity, the amelioration of the conditions of life amongst the people, the progress of knowledge, and the introduction of the arts and conveniences of life—but the only true basis for the highest type of civilisation is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The best instances of a civilisation without the Gospel are in the East, but even the civilisation of the East is, at its best, an arrested civilisation. Those races are “civilised but not enlightened”; they always stop short of that capacity for constant progress which characterises only the nations that have embraced the Gospel; and they achieve that capacity when they have embraced it. Hence the carrying on of evangelistic work in Burma is a matter of great importance, and my earnest desire is that this little work may do its humble part in deepening that prayerful interest upon which missionary effort depends for its support and continuance. In addition to those authors that I have consulted on Burma, and have quoted here and there in the course of this work, I would especially mention my indebtedness to that most appreciative and sympathetic observer of the Burman, Mr. J. G. Scott (Shway Yoe), whose work, in two volumes, entitled _The Burman: his Life and Notions_, gives perhaps the best and most complete account of the Burmese people that has yet appeared. I have availed myself of his extensive information to confirm or supplement my own in points where it is obvious that four years was not a long enough period upon which to form a reliable judgment. W. R. WINSTON. CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY 1 CHAPTER II. THE JOURNEY TO MANDALAY 9 CHAPTER III. MANDALAY IN 1887 20 CHAPTER IV. THE PEOPLE OF MANDALAY 33 CHAPTER V. THE PACIFICATION OF UPPER BURMA 42 CHAPTER VI. BRITISH INFLUENCE IN THE SHAN STATES 54 CHAPTER VII. FIVE YEARS OF BRITISH RULE 64 CHAPTER VIII. INTOXICANTS IN BURMA—THE LIQUOR QUESTION 75 CHAPTER IX. INTOXICANTS IN BURMA—THE OPIUM QUESTION 80 CHAPTER X. THE FRONTIER MOUNTAIN RACES OF BURMA 91