Hugo Townsend

What people wore

Ceremonial attire remained a priority

Regardless of wealth, Burmans ensured they owned at least one silk longyi or htamein and a jacket to wear for important feast days and ceremonies.

Getting around

Life on the Steamer Deck

On river steamers, deck passengers traveled on woven mats amidst their belongings, sharing cheroots, playing cards or chess, and engaging openly with other travelers.

At the table

Softened Rice Used for Infant Weaning

Mothers often practiced a weaning method for babies where they chewed cooked rice to soften it before feeding it to the child. In poor families, this rice was typically the only weaning food available.

Music

Common outdoor entertainment known as pwe

The pwe was a widespread performance of drama, dance, and music that occurred almost nightly during the dry season, often held on simple circular ground areas for various occasions like weddings and pagoda festivals.

Daily life

Traditional Village Housing and Water Access

Most village houses were built from bamboo with palm-thatched roofs, though wealthier families sometimes used planks and corrugated iron. They often featured platform-like porches, and villagers frequently shared simple, unlined wells for water.

Work

Wages and shifts in rice mills

In the 1930s, Rangoon rice mill workers typically earned about Rs. 25 per month. Mills often operated on 12-hour shifts during peak production, despite a nominal 54-hour work week.