Europeans are the only remaining foreigners whom the Burmans encounter,
excepting a few Armenians, Jews and Malays. Armenians were beginning to play
Y



l62



BURMA



a role under the kings of Burma, who farmed out customs and taxes to them.
Symes, writing in 1800, mentions that there were then one hundred Europeans in
Rangoon. With the exception of a few merchants and masters of ships, the
European standard at that time was not a good one. At present the authority
of the handful of British in Burma ramifies into the old native channels of
government by which the mass of the population is reached.
369. HARBOUR SCENE.
370. HEADMAN MUSTERING HIS VILLAGERS.
