Burmese Sketches - Khamkoo

^^2
BURMESE SKETCHES.
and yet there was a certain barrier, which separated him from
them and the rest of the world. But this was not all, there
was a great hardship still in store for him
The next day was the full moon day on which devout
Buddhists keep their sabbath. Early in the morning, there
w^as a general stir in Maung Po's village. Life and activity
seemed to have been inspired in every dweller there, and every
one seemed to look forward with a joyous face to the day so
full of calmness, contentment, and healthy recreation. Commencing
from about 5 a.m. there was a great concourse of
people flocking to the ' town * pagoda and the surrounding
monasteries. They were provided with all sorts of drinks,
eatables, ;?aw, leipet, etc. as if determined to take out as much
calm enjoyment out of the day as possible. Maung Po's
family, as being the principal one in the village, had to take
a lead in religious matters also. U Kyi had built both a
kyaung and a zayat^ and owing to this fact, he was called
either kgaungtaga or zayattaga. The kyaung was presided
over by a learned priest from Tabayin, who was well versed in
the subtleties of the Buddha's metaphysics. To this kyaung
the family repaired, arrangements having been made to pass the
day at the zayaty which was close by, after receiving the Silas
or Precepts.
The kyaung was situated in a beautiful and refreshing
mango-grove about a mile distant from the town The rain
being just over, mountain streams and rills warbled sweetly
along the mountain sides. Indeed, it was a fitting abode for
contemplative monks, who resemble so much the equally contemplative
and secluded Christian monks of the Middle Ages.
Here and there, under shady trees, rahans, koyins, and
kyaungihas were seen in groups. The elders were counting
their beads amidst the singing of birds, while the juniors
were either making jokes or engaging themselves in some
boyish amusement.
After a pleasent walk of about half an hour, U Kyi and his
family reached the kyaung. The abbot was there sitting crosslegged
on a green baize cushion. The ordained priests were
learning off by heart the sermons they were to deliver in public,
and the young lay boys were attending on the head priest.
When the family entered the presence of the priest followed by
other devout Buddhists, the young inmates of the monastery
retired. The lay people arranged themselves in rows before
the holy man, the men taking their place before the women.
After the usucil prayer to the Buddha for permission to observe