colour, round
their head.

[Illustration: {A Burmese man}]

10. The Burmese worship Buddha, a prince who lived more than two
thousand years ago. He was a very noble man, and he gave up all the
pleasant things of life that nothing might turn his thoughts from
goodness.

11. Amongst other things he taught men to be kind to animals. All
animals are well treated in Burma.

12. All over the land you see temples to Buddha. These temples grow
narrower and narrower the higher they rise. They all end in a spire
above which there is a kind of umbrella. It is made of metal, and all
round its edge are silver or golden bells, which make pretty music as
they are blown to and fro by the wind.

13. By the side of many of these temples you may see a great image of
Buddha. Most of the images are made of brass. The Burmese pray before
these images, and offer flowers and candles and rice to them.

[Illustration: {Statue of Buddha}]

* * * * *

17. A LETTER FROM BURMA.--II.

1. Wherever you go in Burma you see monks. They have shaven heads, and
they wear yellow robes. Every morning they go out to beg. Boys in yellow
robes go with them, and carry large bowls in their hands.

2. The people come out of their houses and put food into the bowls. The
monks do not thank them. They say that he who gives is more blessed than
he who takes.

3. The monks live in houses built of teak wood. In every village you can
see a monk's house standing in a grove of palm trees. In these houses
the monks keep school.

4. Every Burmese boy lives for some time in one of the monks' houses.
Here he learns to read and write, and is taught to be a good man.

5. I went to see the most beautiful of all the monks' houses. It is in a
city far up in the country. The building is of dark-brown teak wood, and
has many roofs, one above the other. It is covered with carving, and
here and there it is gilded.

6. Many boys in yellow robes were playing beneath the trees. They were
the scholars of the school. One of the boys told me that he was never
going to leave the place. When he was old enough he meant to be a monk.

[Illustration: {Burmese boy in robes}]

7. In the city I saw the palace of the king from whom we took Burma. It
stands inside a large space, with high walls all round it. Outside the
wall is a broad ditch full of water. When I saw the ditch it was
overgrown with water-plants covered with pink blossoms.

8. Many