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64
BIRMAH.
I am told, hospitable and not vindictive ; superstitious,
addicted to magic (and alchemy) ; cheerful, patient
under sufferings, hardy, frugal to penuriousness in
their diet, and affectionate parents. They would
make good soldiers in the hands of a skilful general,
and perhaps good subjects under a virtuous magistrate
; but, unhappily, their present government seems
adapted only to exalt their vices and depress their
virtues."
Cunning is, among all the worshippers of Buddha,
esteemed a virtue ; and in their sacred books, the most
abominable exemplifications of this attribute in Guadma
are cited as laudable actions. The deeply-rooted opi-
nion, that address in stealing ranks as an accomplishment
next to valour, prevails all over the East, not
only in the Buddhic states, but in Hindostan and
Egypt ; and the Spartan legislator only borrowed his
laws from institutes still existing among the mountain
tribes of Asia. Thus, among the wild mountaineers
to the north-east of Chittagong, whatever property a
thief can convey undiscovered to his own house, can-
not afterwards be claimed : if detected, he is no other-
wise punished than by being exposed to the ridicule
of the village, and being obliged to restore what he
has taken. The idea seems to be, that the address
and dexterity shewn by the successful thief, would
equally qualify the warrior. So thought Lycurgus.
Mrs. Judson gives a somewhat more pleasing cha-
racter of the Birmans. She describes them as " a
lively, industrious, and energetic race, further advanced
in civilisation than most of the Eastern nations.
They are frank and candid, and destitute of that
pusillanimity which distinguishes the Hindoos, and of
that revengeful malignity which is a leading trait in
the Malay character. Some of their men are powerful