The villages either have
a quick fence of impenetrable
thorny bamboo (inyimva), or a
hedge of cactus and briar, or
bamboo chevaux-de-frise. In
some parts they are open. The
old towns {jnyo) had ramparts
and stockades (Nos. 6, 371,
387). The highest sites about
the village are for the zedi, the
Payd-myeo'c sacred ground, the
next best are for the kyaung.
Then comes the enclosure of 157. approach to the village.
78



BURMA




168. VILLAGE CAUSEWAY IN THE TIDAL REGION.
the village head-man or
other functionary, and
round about, the houses
of the villagers in more
or less regular rows.
The village streets are
broad and in some
places the houses are
well-spaced, with plots
of fruit-trees and vege-
table - gardens between
and at the back. No
care is bestowed on the
roads except in a few riverain localities and tidal regions, where embanked roads
and brick causeways are necessary. Trees are planted in front of the houses —
cocoanut and betel palms, giant bamboo, the evergreens, tamarind, mango, and
jack, for their fruit and shade ; gangaw, sagd, and padduk for their shade and
scented flowers ; mkzali, r^i, and several j^a/J species. The screw-pine and various
ornamental shrubs are cultivated — tardssjxga (frangipani, No. 92), sennaya,
gardenias, and roses. Palma Christi (castor-oil plant) is common for hedges.
Plants cultivated by Europeans in the tropics — crotons, begonias, caladiums,
balsams — are spreading everywhere. Pot-gardening is becoming a feature of
the villages and even of the raft-houses and boats.
