who is sent for, immediately drops down on his
hams in the corner of the room, or at the portal. The use of the cocoa,
or betel nut, is universal among the men, but not so common with the
women until they grow old. The consequence is, that the teeth of the
men are quite black and decayed, while those of the young women are very
good.

The most remarkable feature in the character of the Burmahs is their
_good temper_; I think they are the most even-tempered race, ever met
with. They are always gay, always content under any privation. I had,
as will be seen hereafter, more opportunities of seeing into the
character of this people than others had, for we mixed with them in
amity for some weeks. They are very fond of marionettes, and puppet
playing, and are very amusing mimics. They work very hard, and with the
greatest cheerfulness. They have a high respect for the English, or the
white faces, as they call us; and the superiority of our warlike
instruments, and our ships, _was_ a subject of wonder, and, at the same
time, of most careful examination. They perceive how far they are
behind us, and are most anxious to improve. From this reason, joined to
others, it was a pity that we ever made war with the Burmahs; they had
made an easy conquest of those around them, and were satisfied with
their supposed superiority, but now they are not, for they are active
and enterprising, fond of war, and will not be content until they have
improved their system. Twenty years hence we shall find the Burmahs a
much more formidable nation than they are at present, for they have
every quality necessary to become the first nation in the East: indeed,
when we consider with what weapons they defended themselves, and the
nature of the warfare, it is not a little to their credit that they held
out for nearly three years against the power of Great Britain.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

February, 1836.
The Burmahs are decidedly a brave nation: the government being despotic,
their rulers are cruel, but the people are not. I state this, as
cowardice and cruelty usually go hand in hand. Good temper and
generosity are the prominent features in their character--excellent
materials to work upon in judicious hands. I witnessed acts of courage
at the early part of the war, before the Burmahs found out how
impossible it was to cope with our superior arms, which were most
surprising, and