The birds in Burmah, though of gay plumage, have little melody in their song; splendid as they are, we would scarce exchange for them our cheerful robin and merry bobolink.

Reptiles and insects, though numerous, are not so troublesome or so venomous as in many parts of the torrid zone.  The white ant is perhaps as destructive as any other insect, and the greatest precaution hardly preserves one from its intrusion.

The Burmans are, as a race, superior to the Hindoos, being more athletic and vigorous, and more lively and industrious.  They are less tall than Americans, their complexions dark, their noses flat, and their lips thick and full.  The hair is very abundant, black and glossy, but generally rather coarse.  “Men tie it in a knot on the top of the head, and intertwine it with the turban.  Women turn it all back, and without a comb, form it into a graceful knot behind, frequently adding chaplets of fragrant natural flowers strung on a thread.  Both sexes take great pains with their hair, frequently washing it with a substance which has the properties of soap, and keeping it anointed with sweet oil.”

The custom of blacking the teeth is almost universal.  When asked the reason of this custom, the answer is, “What! should we have white teeth like a dog or a monkey?”

Smoking and chewing are also universal.  Malcom says, “I have seen little creatures of two or three years, stark naked, tottering about with a lighted cigar in their mouth.”  Tobacco is not used alone for these purposes, but mixed with several other substances.

The dress of the men is a cotton cloth about four and a half yards long, covering, when the man is not at work, nearly the whole body in a graceful manner.  A jacket, with sleeves generally of white muslin but often of broadcloth or velvet, is sometimes added, especially among the higher classes.  On the feet, when dressed, are worn sandals of wood or cowhide, covered with cloth, and held on by straps, one of which passes over the instep, the other over the great toe.  On entering a house, these are always left at the door.

Women wear a temine, or petticoat, of cotton or silk, lined with muslin, extending from the arm-pits to the ankles.  Over this is sometimes worn a jacket, open in front with close, long sleeves.  Both sexes wear ornaments in the ears.  Men wear mustachios, but pluck out the beard with tweezers.  Women, in order to render their complexions more fair, rub over the face a delicate yellow powder; and they occasionally stain the nails of the fingers and toes with a scarlet pigment.  All ranks are exceedingly fond of flowers, and display great taste in arranging them.