Pf mG, RACES OF BURMA BY REV. E. F. MERRIAM TEER EDITION, BOSTON AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION TREMONT TEMPLE 1893 ~J THE materials for this sketch of the races of Burma have been drawn chiefly from articles and letters from the mission- aries published in the “ Baptist Missionary Magazine.” The tract is not put forth as an exhaustive treatise on the subject, but to furnish those interested in missions in that country sufficient information to assist them to an intelligent appre- hension of the various races, as they are referred to in our missionary periodicals and literature. The first editions of this tract have met with an unex- pected demand, and the third is sent forth, with some corrections and additions, in the hope that it may be increasingly useful. Y / ° Abe THE RACES OF BURMA. 1. The State of the Country. Burma is acknowledged to be the most prosperous province of British India. The soil is fertile and well- watered ; the returns to the farmer are bountiful. The commerce of the province is active and extensive. The wages of the laborers, as well as the cost of their living, are more than three times as high as in India proper. Education is more generally diffused. The people are heavily burdened with taxation, but not be- yond their ability to pay; and social life is freer, hap- pier, and more comfortable than in other parts of India. Young people in Burma marry earlier than in America, and are not fettered for life by marriages made by their parents in their childhood, as in some heathen coun-. tries. Women occupy a more independent positiom than is usual in heathen lands. They manage their — households, go about freely, and even engage in trade and accumulate property independently of their hus- bands. Under these favorable conditions, the popu- lation of Burma is rapidly increasing, and in both Lower and Upper Burma is estimated at 8,000,000. In 1880, the province exported about $42,000,000 4 worth of products, and imported about $35,000,000 worth of various goods, which consisted largely of luxuries rather than necessities. For several years, the average surplus of exports over imports has amounted to $6,700,000 a year, showing that the coun- try has substantial foundations for increasing wealth. Upper Burma was added to the British possessions in India in 1885, and the whole country is now open to the labors of Christian missionaries. Ds Variation, in. maces: The British Province of Burma includes Arakan, and extends from the Bay of Bengal on the south to the boundaries of Assam and China on the north. ‘Within these limits there are said to be as many as ‘forty-seven different tribes scattered over the country, and whose habitations often closely intermingle in both town and country. It is thought that there is no coun- try in the world whose people are more varied in race, language, and customs than Burma. The Mongolian element predominates; but some of the subordinate races appear to be of a different descent, as they are of a different language and religion, and their tradi- tions also point to a more western derivation. The origin of all the races of Burma is, however, wrapped in much obscurity, as well as the dates of their arrival in the country. At the beginning of authentic Burman history, the lower part of Burma was held by a people called by others Taligns or Peguans, from their ancient 5 capital Pegu, but who style themselves Mons. ‘These were conquered about one hundred and fifty years ago by the Burmans, who held the rule over the whole of Burma until it was taken from them by the British in three. conflicts; in 1826,1552, and 18385. “ These’ are the only peoples who have controlled Burma within the historical period. The other races now found there have come in by migration from the north or from adjoining lands. From its location and the variety of its races, Burma is a strategic point for Christian mis- sions, as its influence is strongly felt in surrounding countries. 3S. The Burmans. The Burman is the ruling race of Burma, and by far the most numerous. In Lower Burma alone, they number upwards of 2,500,000 in a total population of 2,730,771 Lhe =proportien of Burnmans, is 1o0t.so large in Upper Burma. ‘They occupy the valleys and plains of the country; and the permanent population of the towns and cities is made up of Burmans, with a small proportion of other races. The Burman lan- guage is used by all of this race, with dialectic varia- tions in different parts of the land. It is the language of the courts and of literature, as well as the chief means of intercourse in trade. The government of Burma is using its authority to have the Burman made the lan- guage of the schools, and doubtless it will eventually become the common tongue of all races.. Education is common among the Burmans, asthe most of the men 6 can read and write; and they have acquired some of the arts of civilization, which they practise in a rude manner. ‘They are civil in their manners, and rather prepossessing in personal appearance, being not tall, but athletic in person. The Burman countenance is of a Mongolian type; but they are without the sleepy eyes of the Chinese, and have an open, wide-awake, and manly expression. In religion they are Buddhists. The women have a good share of their “rights,” and hold the family purse. Mission work for this people was begun by Mr. Felix Carey, son of Dr. William Carey. Dr. Judson was the pioneer of our American Baptist Missions among the Burmans; but, although they were the first in Burma to hear the gospel, they have not re- ceived it as readily as the Karens, to whom it came later. 4. The Karens. The Karens are divided into several different tribes, using as many different dialects. Some of these re- semble each other so much that communication between them is not difficult, and in mission work the same books may be used; while others are so dissimilar that it requires close scientific observation to detect the resemblances. In general, the Karens are small of stature, but well proportioned, and of a quiet and peace- ful disposition. It is supposed that they originally occupied the hills of Burma, but as many are now found upon the plains as mountains. They usually depend upon agriculture for their subsistence. The Karens ri say that they came originally from the north, “ across the river of running sand,” which is held by some to be a name given to the desert between China and Tar- tary; but others think the meaning uncertain. They have traditions which correspond in a remarkable man- ner with the Old Testament account of the creation, temptation and fall of man, and also of the flood. They claim to have had religious books formerly, which were lost by their ancestors. From these tradi- tions, many have argued that the Karens are descended from the lost tribes of Israel; but this has never been fully established, and probably never can be. The terms White, Red, and Black Karens, which are fre- quently met with, come from variations in the color of the dress of different tribes. The Karens number 518,- 294 in Lower Burma alone, and are also numerous in the Shan States and in the south-eastern part of Upper Burma. ‘They also extend over into Northern Siam. ‘Dr. Francis Mason and many others are of the opinion that the hill tribes of Burma, Assam, China, and South- ern Tibet are more or less closely related. ‘The Karens are increasing in numbers more rapidly than any other people of Burma. Inreligion, they are generally spirit or demon worshippers, and are very superstitious; but they do not seem to be so firmly attached to their re- ligion as the Burmans. Buddhism, as well as Chris- tianity, is gaining many converts from their ranks. The Sgaw.— Under the term “Sgaw,” Dr. Mason included the Sgaw, Paku, Maunephgha, and We-wa 8 tribes of Karens; but, in the reports and letters from the missionaries, these are usually spoken of by their different names, although closely related. The Sgaw Karens proper are the leading and perhaps the most numerous of the Karen tribes. They live chiefly in the southern part of Lower Burma, but are found as far north as Prome and Toungoo, and even over in Northern Siam, to the east of Chengmai. The Pakus are found in the southern portion of the Toungoo dis- trict. The Maunephghas are east of Shwegyin, and the We-was (wanderers) are a small tribe, numbering perhaps three thousand, found between the boundaries of the Paku and Bghai Karens. The Pwos are probably less numerous than the Sgaws, and are found in the extreme southern part of British Burma, occupying substantially the same terri- tory as the Sgaws, with whom they constantly inter- mingle. They are a little more muscular and of more settled habits than the Sgaw Karens, and, because Bur- manized, stand rather higher in the scale of civilization, altaough they have not received the gospel with so great readiness. Dr. Mason classes the Mopghas with the Pwos. The Bghais. — Under this name are grouped various tribes of Karens, inhabiting the country north-east of Toungoo. They are wilder and more fierce in their habits than other Karen tribes, and the country in which they live is very mountainous. The construc- tion of their dwellings is very peculiar, each village o consisting of a single house, built like a bazaar, with rooms on each side of a walk which runs the whole length of the building. The Red Karens are included by Dr. Mason in the Bghai Karen tribes, but may be considered separately. They are supposed to number more than two hundred thousand, and occupy a distinct country northeast of Toungoo. The Burman kings made many efforts to conquer them; but they maintained their indepen- dence under native chiefs, who ruled the two or three districts into which their country is divided. Their territory is now included in the British province. They are the most fierce and warlike of the Karen tribes, and are said to be somewhat more advanced in the arts of civilization than others. The Red Karens seem to have held to the Karen religion in its purity, and a short description of it will give some idea of the faith of all the Karen tribes. They believe in one God, who is good, but who has little to do with the world at present. They also be- lieve in spirits, good and bad, and in a personal devil, who is the author of all the evil and suffering of life. This devil and the evil spirits are the principal objects of their worship, as they think thus to appease them, and so avoid the harm they might inflict. God and good spirits they neither fear nor worship. The Red Karens are said to believe in seven worlds, three above and three below, and all worse than this; so that, in dying, they expect to go inevitably to a worse 1g@) place than they leave. They also have a system of meritorious works ; but it does not involve much sac- rifice, as it is so arranged that those things they wish to do are meritorious, and only those they do not care for are sinful. . 3. ae Shee The Shans are a distinct race from the Burmans and Karens, and cover an extensive territory. ‘They speak substantially the same language wherever found. The Siamese and Laos are Shans, and they extend north- ward over into the province of Yunnan in China and north-west to the borders of Assam. In Lower Burma they number 55,723, and they are rapidly increasing by immigration from Upper Burma and Siam. The. Shans are the travelling traders of the country, bring- ing down large numbers of ponies and quantities of the products of Shan-land for sale to the people of Burma. Mone in the Shan States is their largest city, having about two thousand houses. The Shans have no independent government of their own, but are sub- ject to the authority of the land where they happen to be, whether it is Siam, China, or Burma. They are an active, intelligent, and enterprising people, occupy- ing many positions of trust and responsibility in Bur- ma. In religion they are Buddhists, and are exces- sively bigoted and hard to evangelize. Et 6. The Kachins. This people call themselves the Chingpaus, and are supposed to be the same as the Singphos of the south- eastern hills of Assam. They are found on the hills of North-eastern Burma, and extend over into China and north to Tibet, in the south-eastern part of which they are said to be numerous. They are gradually crowd- ing farther southward in Burma, having made consid- erable progress in that direction within the memory of living witnesses. As they go, they displace the Shans and other people. ‘Their number is estimated at five millions ; but there are numerous tribal divisions, with variations of dialect. They are thought to be related in race to the Karens, having some of the same songs, customs, and traditions; but the language is so different that there can be no communication without acquiring the tongue anew. From what accounts we have of this people, robbery and murder would seem to be among their principal occupations. They are an independent, lawless, and wicked people, but practise rudely some of the arts of civilization. Their religion is substantially the same as that of the Karens de- scribed above, and has no power of moral restraint over their lives. Like the Karens also, they have a tradition of a former revelation, which was lost, since which time they have worshipped spirits, to which they sacrifice fowls, cattle, dogs, and pigs, drawing auguries from the condition of their entrails. 12 Wiaeinenohins: By the census of 1881 there were 55,015 Chins in Lower Burma, but the main body of the tribe is over the border in Upper Burma. They inhabit the west- ern Yoma range of mountains, stretching from Arakan to the Naga hills of Assam. Like the Karens, they are said to come from the north originally; and those of the north are exceedingly fierce. The southern Chins are milder, and are divided into four tribes with dialectic differences. Their language has been reduced to writing, and several hundred have been baptized. The women of the Chin settlements near the Burman towns are tattooed on their faces; but farther in the interior, where they are in no danger of capture by the ruling race, this practice is omitted, and they are said to be of fine appearance. In religion the Chins are nominally Buddhists; but they have not abandoned the ancient superstitions of their race, which are very similar to those of the Karens. Their religious cere- monies are for the purpose of propitiating the evil spirits who are considered the authors of all kinds of disease. ‘To these, they sacrifice fowls and swine. Like the Karens, they believe in a Spirit, the Creator and the Supreme Ruler of the universe; but they say he is so good no one need fear any thing from him, so it is not necessary to worship him. 13 8. The Toungthus. The Toungthus are supposed to be earlier inhab- itants of Lower Burma than either the Burmans or Taligns, and seem to be related most nearly to the Pwo Karens in language and character. ‘They are widely scattered over Burma and the Shan States, and are especially numerous in the south-eastern part of Upper Burma. In Lower Burma, they number 35,554; but this number is rapidly increasing, as they are im- migrating in considerable numbers from Upper Burma, and settling principally around their old city Thaton, and in the vicinity of Moulmein. The Toungthus have a written language, and are Buddhists in religion. They are a simple, timid people, and not so bigoted as the Burmans, whose dress and customs they are adopting. 9. The Taligns. The Taligns or Peguans were formerly the ruling race of Lower Burma, their kingdom at one time em- bracing all the country about Bassein, Rangoon, and Moulmein. ‘Their language is entirely distinct from the Burman, Karen, or Shan; but the larger portion of the Taligns have already adopted the Burman lan- guage, and the only Taligns who now pass by that name are found in the vicinity of Moulmein. They number about eighty thousand, and are not divided into tribes. The habits and customs of the Taligns who have adopted the Burman language are substan- 14 tially the same as those of the Burmans; and even the Talign-speaking people do not differ materially from the rest of the people of the country, except in lan- guage. They are Buddhists, and share in the bigotry common to disciples of that religion. 10. Minor Tribes. The Danoos are a people resembling the Shans in dress, but speaking the Burman language only. They are said to be a distinct race, and are found in the south-eastern part of Upper Burma, between the boundaries of the Shan and Burman countries. The Padoungs are a tribe of people found in the mountainous country north-east of Toungoo. Like many of these small hill tribes, they are probably re- lated to the Karens.. The gospel is beginning to find some acceptance among this people. The Paloungs occupy a tract of country in the same general location as the Padoungs. They resemble the Shans in features, but the Karens in dress. The Geckos are another small tribe in this same section, where the variation of races and tongues is remarkable, even for Burma. The Brecs are also a tribe of this same mountain- ous country, resembling the Karens in their general characteristics. ‘The number of the various small hill- tribes is given in the census of Lower Burma as 27,598. 15 The Kemees are a tribe of Arakan, closely allied to the Burmans. The Salongs are a small tribe inhabiting the islands of the Mergui Archipelago, allied to the Malay race. Their homes afford them a beautiful climate and scen- ery; but they are very poor, gaining a scanty liveli- hood from the sea, and they live chiefly in their boats. Their language has been reduced to writing; and they have been occasionally visited by missionaries, who have found them almost destitute of any religion. Other Nationalities. — In Burma there are more than five hundred thousand natives of India proper, and fifteen to twenty thousand Chinese who have come there for the advantages of trade. The natives of India are chiefly from the Tamils and Telugus, and are increasing in numbers so rapidly in the commercial cities that in Rangoon, the capital, it is said they already outnumber the native population. In Burma there are also about fifteen thousand Europeans and Eurasians, or persons of mixed European and Asiatic parentage, CHRISTIANITY IN BURMA, [From the ‘‘ Friend of India.’’] WitH all the material prosperity which has marked the progress of Burma since the annexation, there has been a decided spread of Christianity; and although 87 per cent of the people return themselves as Buddhists, .038 as mat or spirit worshippers, .o22 as Christians, in all 84,219, still among the Karens, a race grievously oppressed during the rule of the Burman dynasty, the missionary teachers have been able to effect a very greatwork. In the Administration Report for British Burma for the year 1880-81, it is said, ‘Foremost in this work have been American missionaries of the Baptist persuasion. . . . There are now attached to this communion no less than 451 Christian Karen parishes, most of which support their own church, their own Karen pastor, and their own parish school, and many of which sub- scribe considerable sums in money and kind for the further- ance of missionary work among Karens and other hill-races beyond the British border. Christianity continues to spread among the Karens to the great advantage of the common- wealth; and the Christian Karen communities are distinctly more industrious, better educated, and more law-aliding than the Burman and Karen villages around them. The Karen _ race and the British Government owe a great debt to the American missionaries, who have, under Providence, wrought this change among the Karens of Burma.”