Carrie contacted a leading woman in Burma, and a meeting was arranged at the hotel with Mrs. Ma May Hla Oung. She was the daughter of a famous Burmese general and widow of the former Controller of the Treasury. A tall, attractive woman, she was well-groomed in a floor length skirt, topped with a long-sleeved jacket and a shawl thrown over one shoulder. A large fresh flower graced the side of her dark hair pulled back and arranged into a roll on the back of her head, providing an exotic appearance. After introductions, Carrie led the way to a room with large ceiling fans whirring above them, in an attempt to keep hotel guests cool.  The women ordered chilled orange beverages, and Carrie opened the conversation by telling Mrs. Oung that she thought they shared common interests, and that she wanted to learn more about the Buddhist religion. An interesting discussion quickly developed.

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