Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 13, 2025
The first and principal sight in Rangoon is the great Shwe Dagon Pagoda, and on Sunday afternoon Shafto and his new acquaintance passed between the golden lions at its base, and slowly ascended flight after flight of steep brick steps, lined with flower-decked shrines and blocked by dense masses of worshippers, who were swarming up and down.
He had also to supervise his Eurasian subordinates, see paddy shipped, and keep a sharp look out for their delinquencies, such as receiving "palm oil," or overlooking damages. In the midst of his daily work Shafto was not insensible to his surroundings, but, on the contrary, acutely alive to the strange bewildering glamour of the East, where life dwells radiantly.
When he reached London, except the chief officers of his household, one of his own pages, and some of his daughters' gentlewomen and menials, the marquis had few attendants left beyond Caspar and Shafto. It was a long and weary journey for him, occupying a whole week.
Although a Burman gives alms, worships at the pagoda on appointed days, and repeats the doxology he has learnt at school, he governs his life by the nats spirits of the air, the forests, streams, and home, who must be propitiated." "I never heard of these nats until now," said Shafto.
Shafto moved uneasily in his creaking wicker chair; after a moment's hesitation he replied: "Yes, I know her." "Don't let her put the 'Comether' on you! These Burmese dolls have a wonderful way with them. She's a gabby little monkey, and they say she has chucked Bernard and taken a terrible fancy to you!
The Overlanders sprang to their feet, but Joe Shafto sat glaring from one to the other of them in amazement. "A bear! A bear! A bear under the table," screamed Emma and sank back in a dead faint. It was then that the Overland Riders saw what had so frightened her, for a black bear ambled out from under the table and began gulping down the venison from Emma's overturned plate.
However, Dicey, go aft and make your report to Shafto. I, in the meantime, will calculate what quantity of provisions we may venture to serve out each day, so as to make our supply last till we can hope to reach land." Willy went aft, and made his report in a low voice.
Those are two coffee planters, wonderful pals and bridge players, and here comes a strange lady, probably a tourist rich too." Shafto looked and saw a handsome grey-haired woman, with a round smiling face, wearing a long sable coat and an air of complacent prosperity. "Why, for a wonder I know her!" he declared. "It's Mrs. Milward. Her sister was our neighbour at home; I've met her often."
Mee Lay, an adoring parent, was by no means reluctant to grant his petition, and when the tearful culprit was released and set down, she turned to Shafto and said in her piping treble: "Thank you, nice gentleman, but she would not have hurt me much. It was not I who said mother was a heathen savage, but Ethel Lucas, and I slapped her, so I did and Sister gave me a bad mark.
Strange sounds seemed to come from the far distance. A thick fog arose and shrouded the ship, so that nothing could be seen beyond the bowsprit. "Keep a bright look-out there, forward," sang out Shafto every now and then, in a clear ringing voice, which kept the watch forward on the alert. "Hark!" said Willy; "I fancy I heard singing."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking