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BIRMAH. 115
session of one very singular privilege. It is a law,
that no criminal can be executed within the walls of a
city, nor can he be put to death should a rhahaan touch
him when being led
"
to execution. This privilege,"
Dr. Buchanan says, " they often exert ; and although
they are, no doubt, sometimes bribed thus to save a
bad man, yet, I believe, they much oftener interfere
to prevent injustice'"* Col. Symes was told, that
there were formerly nunneries of virgin priestesses,
who, like the rhahaans, wore yellow garments, cut off
their hair, and devoted themselves to religious duties ;
but these societies were suppressed many years ago, as
being unfavourable to the increase of the population.
" At present," adds this gentleman, " there are a few
old women, who shave their heads, wear a white dress,
follow funerals, and carry water to the convents ; and
these venerable dames have some portion of respect
shewn to them." Whether these Buddhic vestals
have the same privileges as the rhahaans, we are not
told; but the classic reader will probably be not a
little startled at finding these traces of customs so
nearly allied to the institutions of Greece and Rome,
among the semi-barbarous tribes of eastern Asia. We
should err, however, were we to consider all the rites
and usages which are now incorporated with the
Birman religion, as original or essential and characteristic
parts of Buddhism. Like every other form of
superstition, it has undergone the modifications introduced
by time, and has taken its complexion from
national character, blending itself, in different coun-
tries, more or less, with creeds and customs ancient
and modern, Christian and heathen, Indian, Ta-
tiirian, and Chinese. What its peculiar doctrines may
Asiat. Res. vol. vi. pp. 276, 297.