The romantic East: Burma, Assam, & Kashmir - Khamkoo

MOULMEIN 91
The ivory carvers in the Padeintan Quarter,
Daingwunkwin, had little to show except mediocre
paper-cutters and backs for hand-glasses.
One of
them, however, exhibited a pavilion about six
inches high with a Buddha inside all
a solid piece,
for which he asked
carved out of
one hundred and
fifty rupees ; and a dancing girl or princess, wearing
a seven-tiered skirt inlaid with precious stones,
made to the order of a Rangoon official, which
could be duplicated for two hundred and fifty
The prices asked by the carvers for inferior
rupees.
work were ridiculously high, and the silversmiths
showed nothing but coarse or damaged pieces.
Yet we found on visiting Kado that as good work
can be done by the Burmese artisans of to-day as
has been done by their predecessors.
Leaving Kulladan Jetty near the north end of
Lower Main Road, Moulmein, the Irawadi Flotilla
Company's launch lands you at Kado in about an
hour and a half. There is a picturesque but somewhat
dilapidated landing-place, and following the
street leading away from the river you take the
first turning to the left and continue for less than
a mile to the pagoda compound.
On the way is