_Oaths of Pregnant Women_ (Vol. v., p. 393.).--Women of the humbler classes
in the British Islands appear to have an objection, when pregnant, to take
an oath. I have not observed any attempt to explain or account for this
prejudice. The same objection exists among the Burmese. Indeed, pregnant
women there are, by long-observed custom, absolved from taking an oath, and
affirm to their depositions, "remembering their pregnant condition." The
reason of this is as follows. The system of Budhism, as it prevails in the
Indo-Chinese countries, consists essentially in the negation of a Divine
Providence. The oath of Budhists is an imprecation of evil on the swearer,
{504} addressed to the innate rewarding powers of nature, animate and
inanimate, if the truth be not spoken. This evil may be instantaneous, as
sudden death from a fit, or from a flash of lightning; the first food taken
may choke the false swearer; or on his way home, a tiger by land, or an
alligator by water, may seize and devour him. I have known an instance of
this occur, which was spoken of by hundreds as a testimony to the truth of
the system. Now it is supposed by Budhists that even an unconscious
departure from truth may rouse jealous nature to award punishment. In the
case of pregnant women this would involve the unborn offspring in the
calamity. Hence women in that condition do not take an oath in Burmah.