File:Afoot and afloat in Burma (1922) (14801917023).jpg

Identifier: afootafloatinbur00will (find matches)
Title: Afoot and afloat in Burma
Year: 1922 (1920s)
Authors: Williams, Alfred Henry, 1889-
Subjects:
Publisher: Takoma Park, Washington, D.C., Peekskill, N.Y. (etc.) Review and Herald Publishing Association
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Text Appearing Before Image:
The betel, or areca, nut grows in bunches
on a tall palm. When the outer skin is
peeled off, it looks like a nutmeg. It is
pared into thin slices with a pair of nippers,
and these parings are placed on a small
green leaf, together with some lime and to-
bacco and spices. Then it is all folded up
and popped into the mouth and chewed. Betel-
nut chewing makes their mouths
very unsightly, staining them a nasty red,
and turning the teeth black. It also en-
courages the very dirty habit of spitting.
That old woman's mouth looks disgraceful.
One old stump of a tooth and blackened
gums are all that she has in place of the
thirty-two pearly white teeth.
These people offer the betel nut to their
friends just to show their hospitality, much
as some tobacco smokers offer cigarettes and
cigars to each other.
Here is a Taungthu. Burmese folks look
down on this tribe, and think them very
ignorant. There is a story in a schoolbook
which shows how foolish a Taungthu can be.
The story says one of them was sitting in his
boat washing a tray, when it slipped from
Text Appearing After Image:


Betel-Nut Chewing — a Native Habit
One old stump of a tooth and blackened gums are all that she
has in place of thirty-two pearly white teeth.


Through the Fields 33

his hands and sank in the river. The man
dived for it, but could not find it. Again
and again he tried. Being still very anxious
to get it, he cut a notch on the side of his
boat to show where the tray had slipped
over; and then, ever after that, when he was
in his boat and had the time, he would dive
in opposite the notch, no matter where the
boat was. The Burmese say that he thought
to find the tray at the bottom of the river in
that place. Sitting on the floor of the tea house we
can chat with the keeper. He doesn't worry
at all, even though we do not buy anything.
He knows that we will ask for what we want.
See the kettle made of baked mud. The
village folks know how to make almost any
object out of just such simple things as mud!
The ferry is a long time coming, so we
shout across the river, " Hai, kadoe!" Here
he comes with his canoe. We'll have to be
careful going down the bank, for the muddy
steps are only roughly made, and very
slippery.


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