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BIRMAH. 91
just to add, however, that the view which these remarks
would otherwise present, should in some
respects be qualified. There are recognised among the
Birmans, friendly relations and ties of consanguinity,
which, in private life, are seen so to operate as to
soften in some degree the sterner features of their
public character. Among relatives and friends between
whom there is a mutual and thorough acquaintance,
feelings which originate generous actions, the
duties of hospitality, kind deportment and sympathy,
prevail over those views of mere personal considera-
tion, which govern the general course of their lives in
their civil connexion with one another. They are
certainly not incapable of strong attachments ; and
could their public character be formed in a different
mould from that in which their system of government
has already cast it, they would be by no means desti-
tute of those elementary principles which combine to
form the happiness of civilised society." *
Little will remain to be added to these details,
as regards the manners and customs of the Birmans;
but, in order that the reader may have a
just idea of their religion, it will be necessary to lay
before him a brief view of the history of the Buddhic
faith.
HISTORY OF BUDDHISM.
THE origin of Buddhism, which, under some modi-
fication or other, is the religion of the Birman empire,
Siain, Ceylon, Japan, Anam, and the greater part of
China, is involved in considerable obscurity. There
is strong reason, however, to believe, that it is of the
highest antiquity; that it was substantially
* Friend of India, No. xii. 1824.
the an-