INDO -CHINA, 



ti!t 



The Singpo and Khamtl highlands merge eastward* in the Kak- 

 hyen (Kachyeu) hills, which form the frontier towards Yunnan 

 (gouth-west China), and which are held by the Kachyen wild tribe?, 

 over whom both China And Burundi have id ways claimed political 

 supremacy. Since tills annexation, of Upper Burmah the rival claims 

 of ihv (w.i pi.wfrs liavt! led to dip]. ..main: ii..'i^.1m!ioiis, liy which it is 

 hoped that the boundaries between lie two empires may soon he 

 clearly determined. Toward* the west Burmah proper is bounded 

 by the district of Arakan, and on the Kuuth it develops an extensive 

 const-line washed by 'I' 1 ' 1'ay l'< j njial from Cape Xe^rais to Maul- 

 main. Easlwurd it is supposed to be everywhere conterminous with 

 ftinin ; hut, except in Pegu, the frontiers are not very clearly laid 

 down, and appear to nave frequently shifted with the uncertain 

 allegiance of the intermediate Slum States. 



Within its con vi-n tinted limit* Burmah proper is comprised 

 between ten degrees of latitude (20° — -le* 21 N,), stretching from the 

 Patkai range for about TOD utiles southward* to the Gulf of Martnban, 

 with u breadth of over 400 miles at its widest part, and a total area 

 of some 220)000 square miles. Of ibis space 100,000 square miles 

 belong to the late kingdom of Burmah (Upper Burniah), und 30,000 

 to the British district of Pegu (Lower Burmah)* Th<* upper or 

 northern section forms a hilly plateau of moderate elevation traversed 

 in iU entire length by the Irawaddy, and intersected by the lateral 

 valleys of the Kyen-dwen (Chiudwin) and Tapeng, the funncr 

 flowing from the Manipuri hills in the north-west and joining the 

 right bank of the main stream below Jfandalay, the latter descending 

 fmm the Kachyen highland* to the left bank above Iihamu. 



The Pegu or southern section consists mainly of the Imwaddy- 

 Sittang delta, a va!-l low-lying alluvial plain intersected by Ihe innu- 

 merable branches, channels, and backwaters of the Irawaddy and 

 Sitlang, and during the rainy season exposed to frequent and wide- 

 spread inundations, Since the British occupation extensive works 

 have been undertaken to protect the plains from these periodical 

 flood?, which attain their greatest height towards the end of July 

 and in Augu3t, when the discharge is sixteen or seventeen times 

 greater than at low water in February ami March* The head of the 

 delta above llcnzada, 150 miles from the coast, is now protected hy 

 A semi-circle of embankments, which skirt the left bank of the 

 Kawun (river of Bassein), and the right liank of the eastern or main 

 branch, which retains the name of the Irawaddy. Even above the 

 delta a dyke CO miles long follows the right bank of the mainstream, 

 intercL'pitng the torreati Cram the Arak^o-Wiua. and dtttiwrtang 



