this system as well as of Brahmanism.  But Buddhism has abolished human sacrifices, and indeed all bloody offerings, and its innocent altars are only crowned with flowers and leaves.  It also inculcates a positive humanity, consisting of good actions.  All its priests are supported by daily alms.  It is a duty of the Buddhist to be hospitable to strangers, to establish hospitals for the sick and poor, and even for sick animals, to plant shade-trees, and erect houses for travellers.  Mr. Malcom, the Baptist missionary, says that he was resting one day in a zayat in a small village in Birmah, and was scarcely seated when a woman brought a nice mat for him to lie on.  Another brought cool water, and a man went and picked for him half a dozen good oranges.  None sought or expected, he says, the least reward, but disappeared, and left him to his repose.  He adds:  “None can ascend the river without being struck with the hardihood, skill, energy, and good-humor of the Birmese boatmen.  In point of temper and morality they are infinitely superior to the boatmen on our Western waters.  In my various trips, I have seen no quarrel nor heard a hard word.”

Mr. Malcom goes on thus:  “Many of these people have never seen a white man before, but I am constantly struck with their politeness.  They desist from anything on the slightest intimation; never crowd around to be troublesome; and if on my showing them my watch or pencil-case, or anything which particularly attracts them, there are more than can get a sight, the outer ones stand aloof and wait till their turn comes....

“I saw no intemperance in Birmah, though an intoxicating liquor is made easily of the juice of a palm....

“A man may travel from one end of the kingdom to the other without money, feeding and lodging as well as the people.”

“I have seen thousands together, for hours, on public occasions, rejoicing in all ardor, and no act of violence or case of intoxication....

“During my whole residence in the country I never saw an indecent act or immodest gesture in man or woman....  I have seen hundreds of men and women bathing, and no immodest or careless act....

“Children are treated with great kindness, not only by the mother but the father, who, when unemployed, takes the young child in his arms, and seems pleased to attend to it, while the mother cleans the rice or sits unemployed at his side.  I have as often seen fathers caressing female infants as male.  A widow with male and female children is more likely to be sought in marriage than if she has none....

“Children are almost as reverent to parents as among the Chinese.  The aged are treated with great care and tenderness, and occupy the best places in all assemblies.”