A Burmese wonderland; a tale of travel in Lower and ... - Khamkoo

A BURMESE WONDERLAND. 31
This new thesis, ascribing a Chinese origin to the
Karens, is the most convincing yet offered, and is bound
to be extremely gratifying to the Karens themselves,
who would prefer to be almost anything rather than
Tibeto-Burmans.
There are several kinds of Karens—the two most
important divisions being the Pwo and Sgaw. Pwo
Karens are sometimes called Talaing-Karens, since they
have settled further south and mixed with the now
disappearing Takings, from whom it is said they received
Buddhism. The Karens have been the Missionaries'
one great success in Burma. Indeed, if they have
two faults, they are too much Christianity, and too
little Humour. It seems that early Missionaries
found amongst Karen traditions traces of what
appeared to be Christianity, and which they believed
to be of Nestorian origin. However that may be, the
Sgaw Karens especially, have adopted Christianity
extensively. Owing to Missionary activities, Karens,
though by nature less intelligent, are often better educated
than Burmese, and they have been taught to
co-operate and to cultivate their racial individuality.
In this they need little encouragement. Indeed, it
would be better if they associated more freely with
Burmans. Their outside afEections, however, are
reserved entirely for the British. They have no
delusions about home rule.
The more anti-British the
Burmese become, the more passionately loyal are the
Karens.