Burmese Sketches - Khamkoo

BURMESE SKEHCHEB. 3q-
the hostess, we went upstairs and found the Kyaung daing
Pokgo sealed in an arm-chair and seemingly in a state of
ecstatic meditation. After enquiring about our health, and
asking us who we were, he led us to his audience hall. The
Pongyi was the first to break the silence. He told us how
dangerous is sedentary life, and what medicines he was taking
to ward off the ailments brought on him by his studious habits.
At this point our conversation turned on political and literary
topics, and we were happy to find that our ascetic host was in
his element in all of them. Next, we introduced the subject
about the offerings made to the Buddha, and told him how
much money was spent, or rather wasted, every year in the
Thayettaw Kyaung Daiky how the Kyaungtagas prevailed on
the priests to bring animal food to the sacrificial table, and
lastly, how the sanctity and quietness of the kyaungs were
invaded by the people having theatrical performances on the
sacred premises. Our host attentively listened to our narration,
and on oup finishing it, he gave us a very edifying sermon
on the respect which we ought to show to animals in general,
stating how greatly the great Buddha insisted on the observance
of this precept. He furthermore expressed his regret
for the degeneration of the priests in the lower country, and
said that it was no wonder that the Sulagandi or Puritanic
sect had been founded. Just then the clock struck nine, and
we thought that it was high time for us to make a start.
Accordingly we took leave of the venerable Pongyi^ came
downstairs, and took some tea in accordance with our stipulations
with our kind hostess. After tea, we jumped into our
gharry and soon found ourselves in front of a noisy zayat near
the Shwe Dagon Pagoda. Some Kalathas—young men
who knew us, gave us a hearty welcome. They took us up and
kindly offered us some ice-cream, and bread and fowl curry,
after giving us seats in a place, overhung with lilliputian
punkahsy each of which was about 4 feet long and 10 inches
broad. The owner of this zayat seemed to have European
ideas in his head when he was fitting it up. We noticed that
in it, English biscuits and English cakes had taken the place
of native jams, jellies, and confectionery, and that its walls
were adorned with European pictures, among which we saw a
likeness of Queen Victoria. While we were having some
refreshment, we saw a batch of kalas come into the zayat^
who, after sweeping their eyes over the place, passed some
remarks about a company of young Burmese ladies who were
seated there. I would advise these intruders not to do
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