i.x-l BIRMA. 



double of the are* of Great Britain. It lies between 15 45' and 

 88* N. Ut., 98 and 99* E. long., and is conjectured to contain about 

 184,000 square mile*. But its northern and eastern boundaries are 

 imperfectly known, and they may extend perhaps beyond the limit* 

 here given. The length of this country from the western mouth of 

 the river Irawaddi to its source in the country of the Bor Khamti, 

 may be about 950 miles. Its width to the south of the parallel of 24 

 mounts at an average to 220 miles, but to the north of it only to 

 180 miles. In this estimation Upper Lao is not taken into account 

 which between 21 80' and 23* N. lat extends perhaps 100 mile* 

 farther. 



Surfate and Hydrography. The Bit-man empire hasabout 240 miles 

 of sea-coast along the Oulf of Martaban, extending from the Cape of 

 Kyai-kami near the British settlement of Amherst in Martaban, to 

 Cape Negrais, the southern extremity of the Aracan Mountains. 

 The whole of this coast is low, marshy, and broken by at least 20 

 considerable channels of rivers or arms of the sea. 



The Birman territory is divided from the British province of 

 Antnan by a range of mountains called by Europeans the Aracan 

 Mountains, but by the natives Anaupectau-meaw (Anupectu-mew) or 

 the Great Western Range ; also Yeomadong, or Romapokung Mount- 

 ains. It begins at 16 N. lat with Cape Negrais (Negraglia of 

 Sangermano), called by the Bit-mans Modaen, and extends in a 

 northern direction with a slight bend westward to the northern 

 boundary of Aracan, about 21 N. lat. The southern part of it 

 extending from 16 to 18 between the delta of the Irawaddi and 

 the Gulf of Bengal, presents one continued ridge of craggy rocks of 

 a moderate height, whose bare cliffs of a reddish colour generally 

 rise abruptly from the sea-shore. This portion of the range is 

 called by the Binnans Modaen Garit, from the Birman name of Cape 

 Negrais. To the north of 18 N. lat. the mountains recede farther 

 from the shore, and separate the level country of Aracan on the west 

 from the valley of the Irawaddi. In this tract the mountains rise to 

 a greater height, and between 20 and 21 N. lat. the highest summits 

 are thought to attain 6000 feet above the level of the sea. Their 

 western slope towards the plains of Aracan and the Gulf of Bengal 

 is very rapid; but to the east they descend in terraces formed by 

 three or more lateral ridges of less height, which however present 

 rapid declivities on the east and west. 



Three mountain passes traverse the Anaupectau-meaw Mountains, 

 and connect Birma with Aracan. The most southern called the 

 Ton(,'ho Pass leads from Padaong Mew on the Irawaddi, 18 84', 

 to Tongho in Aracan, 19 15' N. lat. The highest point of the pass 

 is 4692 feet above the sea, and many parts of it are so difficult that 

 it cannot be travelled by beasts of burden. The eastern ridges are 

 commonly covered with bamboo jungle, but on the western declivities 

 there are extensive forests of lofty trees. The second pass connects 

 Sembeghewn, on the Irawaddi, 20 40' N. lat., with Aeng in Aracan 

 19*58'N. lat, and is hence called the Aeng Pass, but sometimes the 

 Nairiengain Pass, from a small stockade erected on the highest part of 

 it. The Binnans used it as a military road to Aracan, and rendered it 

 pamable for beasts of burden by building bridges over the precipices 

 and cutting away the rocks in many places. Before the occupation 

 of Aracan by the British, a considerable commerce was earned on 

 by means of this road. The third mountain pass begins likewise at 

 Sembeghewn and leads to Talak in Aracan, 20 10' N. lat. ; by this 

 pass the Birmans entered Aracan at the time of the conquest of that 

 country. But it seems that they did not use it afterwards, probably 

 because that which leads to Aeng presented less difficulties. 



To the north of 21" N. lat. the mountains appear to decrease con- 

 siderably in height, hut at the same time they divide into several 

 range*, running mostly north and south, and occupying a considerable 

 tract of country. This rugged highland which extends between and 

 along the upper branches of the Aracan River, the Surmah or river 

 of Silhet, and some tributaries of the Kyan-Duayn, a branch of the 

 Irawaddi, U inhabited by savage nations which are independent of 

 Birma and not subject to any of the princes protected by the British. 

 The principal of these tribes are the Kookis, and on that account 

 this country is called the highland of the Kookis. It has not been 

 ascertained how far the authority of the Birmese emperor extends 

 into this region. 



Thus far the western boundary of the Birman empire is formed 

 by mountain ranges. The remainder from 24 N. lat. up to the 

 Nagas Mountains, which divide it from Asam, is bounded by the 

 territories of the Raja of Munipoor a prince who has placed himself 

 under the protection of the British, and whose country extends 

 eastward as far u the Nampagna River, a branch of the Kyan-Duayn, 

 which constitutes the boundary line of the Birman empire in 

 this part. 



The northern extremity of Birma U again separated by mountain 

 ranges from the neighbouring country. The ranges called 1'atkoi or 

 Poapuo Mountains which rise to a great height, and the still higher 

 LanirUn Mountain* divide it from Asam and the countries along the 

 Upper Brahmaputra. In the high summit* whence the Brahmaputra 

 descends to the west, are the sources of the Irawaddi, which river 

 Mjrwith great propriety be called the river of Birma, as all the 

 countries drained by it and its tributaries belong to that empire. 

 wHh the angle exception of the southern part of Munipoor. 



BTRMA. 



UM 



The Irawaddi is said to rise about 50 miles from Manchi, a town 

 of the Bor Khamti, between 27 and 28 N. lat The river soon 

 issues from the mountains, and enters a plain or rather an extensive 

 valley, occupied by the Bor Khamti. The country here forms a 

 perfect level, partly cultivated, and partly studded with clumps of 

 trees and bamboos, and intersected by a number of rivulets. The 

 Irawaddi opposite the town of Manchi is 80 yards broad, and fordable. 

 The plain on its banks is 1855 feet above the level of the sea. 



From the country of the Bor Khamti the Irawaddi continues its 

 southern course through three degrees of latitude to Bhanmft, and 

 traverses countries about which we have scarcely any information. It 

 would seem that high mountain ranges frequently close uixm it, nud at 

 other places plains of considerable extent border its bunks. Such on 

 its western side ore the Samokhtura Mountains and the plain of 

 Mungkung, extending on both sides of the Mungkung River far to 

 the west The mountain ranges are partly in possession of the 

 Singfos, a powerful mountain tnbe which also occupies a considerable 

 portion of the mountains south of Asam, and everywhere maintains 

 its independence in the mountain fastnesses. The ranges which 

 divide this portion of Birma from the Chinese province of Yunnan 

 seem to be exceedingly rugged, and the difficulties encountered in 

 traversing them have always frustrated the attempts of the Chinese 

 to conquer the countries along the Irawaddi. From Manchi to 

 BhanmS the river falls in the course of about 350 miles 1800 feet, 

 being at the latter place only 500 feet above the sea. This accounts 

 for the river being unnavigable for the greater part of that distance, 

 except for small canoes. 



Hhanmo is a place of some note, being the principal market for 

 Chinese goods, which are brought to this town on horses and asses. 

 Below Bhanm6 the river suddenly turns to the west, but soon 

 resumes its southern course, and thus continues to a few miles east 

 of Amarapura. The river flows in this tract through a valley of no 

 great breadth, the mountains inclosing it on each side, and frequently 

 advancing to the very banks of the river, especially on the east 

 Between Bhanmo and Amarapura the river is only navigable for 

 small trading boats. 



Above Amarapura the Irawaddi begins to decline to the south- 

 west, and from that town it runs in a western dirivti.m fur m-urly 

 100 miles as far as the mouth of the Kyan-Duayn. With the change 

 of the river the face of the country is changed. Issuing from the 

 narrow valley it enters a very wide one, or rather a plain. Along 

 its banks and especially on the southern side, the level country 

 extends for many miles, in some places to 80 miles, and cv. -n th.-n is 

 not bounded by high mountains, but by moderate bills, which increase 

 in height as they recede farther from the river. Considerable purl ions 

 of this plain are covered by the inundations of the river in the wet 

 season. On the north side of the river the hills ore at no great 

 distance from the banks, and here the ground is impregnated with 

 muriate of soda and with nitre, of which great quantities are 

 extracted. To the north of these hills is the Lake of Nandagando, 

 which extends in length from south to north above 30 miles ; the 

 country about it presents an unduliting surface. At a considerable 

 distance east of the mouth of the Kyan-Duayn River the hills cease, 

 and an open slightly-undulating country extends to its banks and 

 beyond them. This portion of the valley of the Irawaddi seems to 

 be the most fertile and most populous part of the Birman empire, 

 and offers at the same time the most easy communication with its 

 internal provinces. The Irawaddi opens an easy access to the north 

 as well as to the south ; and its two greatest tributaries, the Myit-nge 1 

 and the Kyan-Duayn, with the provinces lying east and north-west 

 of the principal valley. The seat of government has for a long time 

 been fixed in this central part of the empire, and here are the four 

 capitals, Ava, AxARAPUBA, Sagaiug (Zagain), and Monchabo. 



The Myit-ng<<, or ' Little River (so called in comparison with the 

 Irawaddi), rises in the Chinese province of Yunnan, and ruus a 

 little to the west of south, nearly parallel with the Irawaddi, 

 probably for more than 800 miles. In this course it drains an 

 elevated but wide, fertile, and well-peopled valley, in which its 

 waters are employed to irrigate the cultivated lauds. Arrived at 

 the parallel of Ava, where it is still about 80 miles from the capital, 

 it suddenly turns to the west, and continues generally in that 

 direction to its mouth. Near its entrance into the Irawaddi it 

 divides into two branches, of which the eastern retains the name 

 of Myit-nge' ; the western is called Myit-tha. On the island formed 

 by these two branches of the Myit-ngd the city of Ava is built near 

 the mouth of the eastern or principal branch, which at this place is 

 from 150 to 200 yards broad and very deep. This branch is considered 

 as the proper port of Ava, and a considerable number of war-boats are 

 always stationed there. 



Ava is called by the natives Angwa, meaning a fish-pond, because 

 the town was erected on a place where such i ii.mil h.id formerly 

 been. This name has been corrupted by the Hindoos ami Mul/ivs 

 into A wo, and by Europeans again into Ava ; but in all public 

 writings it bears the name of Ratnapura, or the city of the Pearl. 



Ava consists of an inner town or city and an outer town. The 

 city occupies the north-east angle of the whole, and extends nearly 

 up to the mouth of the Myit-ngd River. The outer town lies to the 

 south-west of the city. The whole is surrounded by a brick wall 



