Among the Burmans: A Record of Fifteen Years of Work and its Fruitage

A fresh wave of steamers has just docked at Rangoon, and the narrator steps onto a bustling riverfront where officers, merchants, laborers and missionaries mingle amid a chorus of unfamiliar languages and clattering carts. The scene is a sensory overload—bright sunrise, mingled scents of incense and river water, and a chaotic yet warm welcome that feels like a rite of passage into a new world. Early Sunday observances reveal a city where religious practices intersect, and the newcomer quickly learns that the familiar comforts of home will be hard to find in this vibrant tableau.

The remainder of the work unfolds as a detailed, illustrated diary of fifteen years spent living among Burma’s many peoples. From the hill‑top customs of the Shan and the ritual sacrifices of the Kachin, to the daily rhythms of rice pounding, weaving, and temple worship, the author records both ordinary moments and the deeper spiritual currents that shape the land. Readers are offered a candid, respectful portrait of a society in transition, rich with observations that bring the sights, sounds, and beliefs of early‑20th‑century Burma to life.