BURMA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

BURMA

Burma is a rich and beautiful land inhabited by gracious, romantic people. From Burma come many ol the world’s rubies; the enduring teak wood, brought down by the sturdy elephants from the forest to the sea for the building of-ships; and the best rice in the world. The Burmese are- tremendously optimistic, always taking a joyous and cheerful view of life. There are some wild tribes in the country (though they are not of the main Burmese stock) such as the Wa head-hunters; and the Burmese people can show themselves excite able at times,, but on the whole they are an exceptionally attractive people, courteous, democratic, with no caste distinctions and giving remarkable consideration to their women. Mongolian by race, Buddhist by religion, they cherish with reverence the gospel of Gautama. Their social organisation and habits of life are more like those of the peoples of the South Sea Islands, or of the Bali Island, than like those of the people of the Asiatic mainland. Burmese architecture and music have their own special character. Burma was annexed to India m 1852 and was governed as a province of the Indian Empire until last year when it was made an individual part of the British Empire, •controlling its local affairs. Parts of the geographical area known as Burma, particularly the wild ni ll, border territories, are outside the bounds of the Burmese Government; but the main part of the population is governed by a Parliament of two Houses, with certain powers reserved to the Governor, representing the Throne. . As for production and trade, Burma has great natural advantages. Her chief products are rice; oil—there are two rich fields producing more than 1,000,000 tons a year, the largest production within the British Empire; teak-wood—-country produces 70 per cent, oi the world’s supply; rubber, tea, tobacco—the Burmese cheroot known to all smokers; and various minerals and precious stones, such as rubies, amber, jade, coal, tin, silver, lead, and wolfram Jt*. valuable iron ore). Rangoon, the capital, is a key port of the Far East, a well-planned modern city built near the Shwe Dfigon one of the most sacred Buddhist shrines. The Irrawaddy and other .bis rivers give great advantages for inland water transport. The prevailing trade winds, south-westerly and north-easterly, are very convenient for the use of sailing craft on_ the rivers which run mainly north to south. Over the land there are good railways and motor roads.

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