Shwebo District Volume A
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BURMA GAZETTEER SHWEBO DISTRLCT VOLUME A COMPILED BY Ma. A. WILLIAMSON, I.C.S. SETTLEMENT OFFICER, RANGOON SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERMENT PRINTING AND STATIONERY, RANGOON. LIST OF AGENTS FROM WHOM GOVERNMENT OF BURMA PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN BURMA 1. CITY BOOK CLUB, 98, Phayre Street, Rangoon. 2. PROPRIETOR, THU-DHAMA-WADI PRESS, 55-56, Tees Kai Maung Khine Street, Rangoon. 3. PROPRIETOR, BURMA NEWS AGENCY, 135, Anawrahta Street, Rangoon. 4. MANAGER, UNION PUBLISHING HOUSE, 94, "C" Block, Bogyoke Market, Rangoon. 5. THE SECRETARY, PEOPLE'S LITERATURE COMMITTEE AND HOUSE, 546, Merchant Street, Rangoon. 6. THE BURMA TRANSLATION SOCIETY, 520, Merchant Street, Rangoon. 7. MESSRS. K. BIN HOON & SONS, Nyaunglebin, Pegu District. 8. U Lu GALE, GOVERNMENT LAW BOOK AGENT, 34th Road, Nyaungzindan Quarter, Mandalay. 9. THE NATIONAL BOOK DEPOT AND STATIONERY SUPPLY HOUSE, North Godown, Zegyo, Mandalay. 10. KNOWLEDGE BOOK HOUSE, 130, Bogyoke Street, Rangoon. 11. AVA HOUSE, 232, Sule Pagoda Road, Rangoon. 12. S.K. DEY, BOOK SUPPLIER & NEWS AGENTS (In Strand Hotel), 92, Strand Road, Rangoon. 13. AGAWALL BOOKSHOP, Lanmadaw, Myitkyina. 14- SHWE OU DAUNG STORES, BOOK SELLERS & STATIONERS, No. 267, South Bogyoke Road, Moulmein. 15. U AUNG TIN, YOUTH STATIONERY STORES, Main Road, Thaton. 16. U MAUNG GYI, AUNG BROTHER BOOK STALL, Minmu Road, Monywa. 17. SHWEHINTHA STONES, Bogyoke Road, Lashio, N.S.S. 18. L. C. BARUA, PROPRIETOR, NATIONAL STORES, No. 16-17, Zegyaung Road, Bassein. 19. DAW AYE KYI, No. 42-44 (in Bazaar) Book Stall, Maungmya. 20. DOBAMA U THEIN, PROPRIETOR, DOBAMA BOOK STALL, No. 6, Bogyoke Street, Henzada. 21. SMART AND MOOKRRDUM, NO. 221, Sule Pagoda Road, Rangoon. 22. DAW KYI KYI SINT, STATIONERY MART, Bo Aung Road (E-Road),), Pyinmana. 23. ZWE LITERARY BOWER, No. 195 (B-I), 33rd Street, Rangoon. 24. B. B. BOWER. NEWS BURMA BOOK STALL, 28-27, Merchant Street, Bassein. IN INDIA 1. MESSRS. HIGGINBOTHAMS LTD., Post Box No. 311, Madras (India). 2. MESSRS. THACKER SPINK & CO. (1933) LTD., Post Box No. 54-3, Esplanade. Fast Calcutta (West Bengal). PREFACE. THANKS are due to the officials of the district and others who have provided material for incorporation in the Gazetteer, in particular to Mr. C. E. Milner, Deputy Conservator of Forests, who furnished the notes on forests and fauna. The Gazetteer has been compiled mainly by Mr. D. B. Perch, I.C.S, Assistant Settlement Officer, some of the material having been collected earlier by Mr. H. Parker, I.C.S., Assistant Settlement Officer. A WILLIAMSON, Settlement Officer, Shwebo. 1st March 1924. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION. Situation and Area; Boundaries, Physical aspect; Hills; Rivers and streams-The Irrawaddy, The Mu, Tributaries of the Mu; Lakes; Canals; Geology; Soils; Climate and Temperature; Rainfall; Fauna-Elephant; Rhino; Bison: Saing; Tiger and Panther; Bear; Deer; Serow; Wild Dog; Birds; Snakes 1-10 CHAPTER II. HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY, Part I. History. Early History; 11th, 12th and 13th centuries A.D., The Anawrata Dynasty; 1298 A.D. 1557 A.D., Shan Domination; 1557 A.D. to end of the 27th century A.D., Settlement of Prisoners; Manipuri invasions; Fall of Ava, March 1752. Resistance of Moksobo (Shwebo); Siege of Moksobo, end of 1752. Encounters with the Kin-u-so, Nga Chit Nyo. Victories over the Talaings and local rivals. The building of Yatanatheinga (Shwebo). U Aungzeya enters Ava at the end of 1753. River battle at Kyaukmyaung, May 1754. Captain Baker's account-U Aungzeya relieves Prome at the end of 1754 and reaches Dagon (Rangoon). Description of U Aungzeya-Description of Moksobo in September 1755, 1756-57, U Aungzeya master of all Burma, Reconstruction of Alaung- Sithu's Canal, Death of U Aungzeya. Naungdawgyi. Bodawpaya seizes the throne 1781. The Nga Taw Nge Rebellion. Dr. Richardson's journey 1857. Description of Moksobo in January 1837. Tharrawaddy Konbaung Min's Rebellion. Mindon Min's Rebellion. The Padein Prince's Rebellion. Disorder in Thibaw's reign. Events after the annexation. Shwebo 1885-86. Ye-u, 1886. Pacification, 1887-88-89 11-49 Part 2.--Archaeology. Old Towns. Halingyi; Tomb of Alaungpaya; The Pitaka Taik; Pagodas : The Theinkadaw Pagoda; Shwebawgyun Pagoda; Other pagodas; Inscriptions: Inscription concerning the Mahananda Tank; Pyu inscription; Other inscriptions; Figure of Bodhisattva 49-63 CONTENTS CHAPTER III. THE PEOPLE. Population; Migration; Density; Towns; Race; Shans; Bayingyis; Barnabite Fathers; Burma Moslems, Myedu (Kalas); Other races. Natives of India; Chinese; Literacy; Depressed classes; Village; Houses; Food; Dress; Religious edifices and offerings; General prosperity 63-78 CHAPTER IV. AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION. Increase of cultivation; Principal crops; Double cropping; Rice; Sessamum; Beans; Matpe; Pegya and Pebyugate; Millet; Cotton; Wheat; Groundnut; Other crops; Toddy palms; Soils; Improvement and deterioration of soils; Methods of cultivation--(i) Paddy; (ii) Dry corps; Land tenure; Tenants; Labourers; Land values; Agricultural indebtedness; Co-operative Societies; Agricultural loans; Cattle; Other stock; Irrigation-Miajor Canals; Shwebo Canal; Ye-u canal; Minor works; Irrigation establishment; Private irrigation works; Tanks; Sand-weirs; Wells; Lift irrigation 78-117 CHAPTER V. FORESTS AND MINERALS. Forests; Forest-clad areas; Mu and Shwebo Divisions Types of Forest; History of the Division; Method of extraction; Other species; Sawmills; Departmental expenditure; Management; Forest villages; Keddahs; Lower Chindwin Division; Salt; Coal; Iron; Gold; Amber; Mineral oils; Road metal and building stone 118-138 CHAPTER VI. OCCUPATIONS AND TRADE. Importance of non-agricultural occupation; Traders and petty traders; Rice mills; Sawmills; Forest occupations; Salt manufacture; Alkaline earth; Glazed pottery; Unglazed pottery; Paste and lacquer; Bamboo mats and baskets; Pas; Combs; Rosaries; Paddy husking mills; Weaving; Other occupations; Markets; Exports; Imports; Lines of trade - (a) the railway; (b) Irrawaddy and Mu Rivers; (c) Road routes; Distribution of exports; Distribution of imports; Weights and measures 138-154 CHAPTER VII. MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. Railways; Rivers; Roads; Ferries; Cart hire; Public conveyances; Rest houses; Posts; Telegraphs; Telephones 155-160 CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER VIII. FAMINE. Famine and years of scarcity; Improbability of famine conditions arising 161-164 CHAPTER IX. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. Administration under Burmese Rule; Military and Marine Organization; Other Ahmudans; Organization of the distrlct after the Annexation; Boundaries; Village Administration; Civil Administration; Departments not under the Deputy Commissioner's direct control; Military; Military Police; Posts; Active service; Cost; Civil police; Strength; Cost; Posts; Beat Patrols; River police; Railway police; Punitive police; Criminal Tribe; Crime; Preventive Sections; Excise and Opium Cases; Gambling Act; Rebellion; Criminal Justice; Honorary Magistrates; Civil Justice; Jail; Registration 164-197 CHAPTER X. REVENUE ADMINISTRATION. Revenue administration in Burmese times; Royal lands and irrigation tax; Fisheries, Ferries, forest tax, and monopolies; Royal gardens; Thathameda; Royal lands; Ferries and fairs; Revenue system from the annexation to the introduction of the original Settlement (1907-08); Original Settlement of unirrigated portion of the district (1900-06); Settlement of the Shwebo Canal area (1908- 10); Reclassification of Shwebo Canal area (1916-17); Ye-u Canal area; Revision Settlement of whole district (1918-23); Fluctuations in land revenue; Fluctuations in thathameda; Land Revenue establishment; Fisheries; Miscellaneous revenue; Stamps; Excise; Bait Revenue; Income-tax 197-216 CHAPTER XI. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. Shwebo Municipality; Constitution; Establishment; Population; Income and Expenditure; Roads; Conservancy; Street lighting; Water supply; Municipal garden; Education; Hospital; Ye-u Municipality, 1890-96; Ye-u Notified Area, 1900; District Fund; Income and Expenditure; District Council and Circle Boards 216-225 CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER XII. EDUCATION. Literacy; Education; Controlling agencies; Expenditure; Private Schools; Public Schools; Middle Schools; High Schools; Anglo- Vernacular Schools; Roman Catholic Mission Schools; American Baptist Mission School; Mahomedan School and Chinese School, National Schools; Elementary Training Class; Survey School. 225-232 CHAPTER XIII. PUBLIC HEALTH. Cholera; Plague; Small-pox and Vaccination; Vaccinators, Hospitals; Shwebo Hospital; Ye-u Hospital; Kanbalu Hospital; Sayas; Sanitation; Water- supply; Vital Statistics 232-240 232-240 CHAPTER XIV. MINOR ARTICLES. Shwebo Town; Shwebo subdivision; Shwebo township; Chiba; Kyaukmyaung; Kyaywa; Nyaungbintha; Palaing; Seikkun; Sinin; Tebin; Thalon; Kin-u township; Kin-u ;Thawatti; Thetpe; Wetlet township; Wetlet; Halin; Hladaw; Singut; Sheinmaga; Shwebangon; Thakuttaw; Ywatha; Kanbalu Subdivision; Kanbalu township; Kanbalu; Kyatthin; Male; Myedu; Zigon; Kyunhla township; Kyunhla; Ye-u subdivision; Ye-u township; Ye-u; Magyidaw; Zeyawaddi; Tabayin township; Tabayin; Mayagan; Taze township; Taze; Ywathitkyi Ywama; Captain Baker's interview with U Aungzeya at Moksobo, September 1755. 240-259 List of Deputy Commissioners who have held charge of Shwebo and Ye-u Districts 260-261 Bibliography 262 Maps 242 BURMA GAZETTEER SHWEBO DISTRLCT VOLUME A CHAPTER I. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION. Situation And Area. Shwebo is one of the seven districts of the North-West Border Division in Upper Burma. It was constituted in its present