A practical business Scotchman, long settled in Burma, who gave me in a few words a list of the bad qualities of the Burmese – and finally confirmed a good opinion that I like to share you.
“ The Burman, , “he said, “ has no stability and is never serious” – O locky Burman. – “He pays no attention to business and has no ambition to the prosperous, and never thinks about the morrow” – O wise, fortunate Burman, how do you accomplish if?- “He is too amorous” – of course you are, and how can you help it when your women are so attractive?- “He seems to think life is made for pleasure” - Alas, alas we cannot think that any longer. – “He won’t put a suffering animal out of its misery” – Fie, fie Burman, that is bad. We are so compassionate that we kill all our pheasants and our fxes while they are still strong and well, lest they should suffer later on. You must be kind, O Burman.- “He makes a bad domestic servant” – Of course you do, of course you do. So should I.- “Thought by religion he is a Buddhist he is superstitious and believes in “Nats ‘, good and evil demons”-Naturally, because you know that they really exist, the naughty “Nats”, in those wonderful jungle forests of yours.
‘You propitiate them with offerings and build them little houses and shrines, and when they are troublesome you drive them out with great noises. How can you help believing in them? Keep your “Nats” and your faith. O delightful Burman! Perhaps in the end you will have to become like us, Who believe in little or nothing-and my business friend added: “They are so foolish, the Burmans. My wife and I have tried over and again to train them, but they can never understand our Scotch ways.” – Of course you can’t , dear Burman, of course you can’t. Nor can I. The foreigner is taking most of your country has to give but don’t let him take your “Nats” or your “Faith” or your joyous laughter. Keep those, for they are invaluable.
‘The foreigner will go home a rich man and will likely buy a deer-forest and men will call him “laird”, but he will never laugh as you do and never have your great measure of faith or your happiness. Shut your ears to the music of the West. Be what God made you, the gayest and the most gracious of men and women, and if ever at times your are sad, go out and watch the children flying kites and the youths playing “Chin-lon” and thank God for the sunshine of your land and the sunshine of your hearts, for your joy of life, for the monks in their yellow robes, for your golden tipped pagodas, for the giant jungle trees and the bright colour clothes. Sit up all night at your festive Pwes and watch the little dancers, the clowns, the jugglers, and the marionettes. Go to the pagodas and hold your hands reverently before the image of the Buddha the Great Teacer, and trust in your next incarnation you may be a Burman over again - a delightful happy laughing Bruman- just as you are to-day, and pray fervently that never for your sins may you be reincarnated north of the Tweed.’ (1929)
“ The Burman, , “he said, “ has no stability and is never serious” – O locky Burman. – “He pays no attention to business and has no ambition to the prosperous, and never thinks about the morrow” – O wise, fortunate Burman, how do you accomplish if?- “He is too amorous” – of course you are, and how can you help it when your women are so attractive?- “He seems to think life is made for pleasure” - Alas, alas we cannot think that any longer. – “He won’t put a suffering animal out of its misery” – Fie, fie Burman, that is bad. We are so compassionate that we kill all our pheasants and our fxes while they are still strong and well, lest they should suffer later on. You must be kind, O Burman.- “He makes a bad domestic servant” – Of course you do, of course you do. So should I.- “Thought by religion he is a Buddhist he is superstitious and believes in “Nats ‘, good and evil demons”-Naturally, because you know that they really exist, the naughty “Nats”, in those wonderful jungle forests of yours.
‘You propitiate them with offerings and build them little houses and shrines, and when they are troublesome you drive them out with great noises. How can you help believing in them? Keep your “Nats” and your faith. O delightful Burman! Perhaps in the end you will have to become like us, Who believe in little or nothing-and my business friend added: “They are so foolish, the Burmans. My wife and I have tried over and again to train them, but they can never understand our Scotch ways.” – Of course you can’t , dear Burman, of course you can’t. Nor can I. The foreigner is taking most of your country has to give but don’t let him take your “Nats” or your “Faith” or your joyous laughter. Keep those, for they are invaluable.
‘The foreigner will go home a rich man and will likely buy a deer-forest and men will call him “laird”, but he will never laugh as you do and never have your great measure of faith or your happiness. Shut your ears to the music of the West. Be what God made you, the gayest and the most gracious of men and women, and if ever at times your are sad, go out and watch the children flying kites and the youths playing “Chin-lon” and thank God for the sunshine of your land and the sunshine of your hearts, for your joy of life, for the monks in their yellow robes, for your golden tipped pagodas, for the giant jungle trees and the bright colour clothes. Sit up all night at your festive Pwes and watch the little dancers, the clowns, the jugglers, and the marionettes. Go to the pagodas and hold your hands reverently before the image of the Buddha the Great Teacer, and trust in your next incarnation you may be a Burman over again - a delightful happy laughing Bruman- just as you are to-day, and pray fervently that never for your sins may you be reincarnated north of the Tweed.’ (1929)
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