Mandalay, Burma by R. A. Beckner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1911

Mandalay, Burma

By R. A. Beckner

MANDALAY is the second city in Burma, having a population of about two hundred thousand. It was the last capital of the Burmese kingdom, and is looked upon, especially by the people of Upper Burma, as about the finest city on earth. It is a good point from which to work, being a railway and river-boat center.

There is a daily service up the river to Bhamo, only twenty miles from the Chinese border. It is not far to the Shan States. In fact, as I write, I can look out of my window to the Maymyo Hills, about fifteen or twenty miles away, and at night can see the fires of the Shan charcoal-burners.

Down in the bazaar one may see almost any time from one to a hundred Chins, Kachins, Pathans, and many others, showing by their queues that they are subjects, in name at least, to the great Manchus at Peking. As I see these peoples, with their queer dress and their ornaments, I wonder when we shall have some one here to study their languages. They must somehow hear the gospel; for Christ died for the Kachin woman, with her face tatooed to make her undesirable to surrounding tribes, who might steal her, just as much as he did for her more favored sisters in the West.

They are an indifferent people, and even the little that has been done by other missions has brought few results; but some from among these border and hill tribes will hear the last message, and one day walk the streets of gold.

R. A. BECKNER.