BURMA GAZETTEER AMHERST DISTRICT VOLUME A COMPILED BY MR. B.O. BINNS, I.C.S. Settlement Officer RANGOON SUPDT. GOVT. PRINTING AND STATIONERY, BURMA 1935 Price,--Rs. 3-8=5s. 3d. LIST OF AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. IN BURMA. AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, Rangoon. BISWAS & CO, 226, Lewis Street, Rangoon. BRITISH BURMA PRESS BRANCH, Rangoon, BURMA BOOK CLUB, LTD., Post Box No 1068, Rangoon, INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST BOOK DEPÔT, Post BOX No. 971, Rangoon. NEW LIGHT OF BURMA PRESS, 26 and 26A, Phayre Street, Rangoon. PROPRIETOR, THU DHAMA WADI PRESS 16--80, Maung Khine Street Rangoon. RANGOON TIMES PRESS, Rangoon. THE CITY BOOK CLUB, 280. Phayre Street, Rangoon, MESSRS. K. BIN HOON & SONS, Nyaunglebin. MAUNG LU GALE, Law Book Depôt, 42, Ayo-o-gale, Mandalay. CONTINENTAL TRADING CO., 363, Lower Main Road, Moulmein. IN INDIA. BOOK. CO., LTD., 4/4A, College Square, Calcutta. BUTTERWORTH & Co., (INDIA), LTD., Calcntta, S. K. LAHIRI & CO., 56, College Street, Calcutta. W. NEWMAN & CO., Calcutta. THACKER, SPINK & CO., Calcutta and Simla. D. B. TARAPOREVALA, SONS & CO., Bombay. THACKER & CO., LTD., Bombay. CITY BOOK CO., Post Box No. 283, Madras. HIGGINBOTHAM & CO., Madras. MR. RAM NARAIN, Proprietor, National Press, Katra, Allahabad. IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. The publications are obtainable either direct from THE HIGH COM MISSIONER FOR INDIA, Public Department India House Aldwych, London, W.C. 2, or through any bookseller. PREFACE. The present edition of the Amherst District Gazetteer, Volume A, is based on the edition compiled by the late Mr. P. E. Jamieson, I.C.S., which was published in 1913. Chapter I has been largely rewritten and considerably expanded by the insertion of full notes on what is known of the geology of the district. The historical notes in Chapter II have been changed but little. Some additions have been made to the archaeological section. Knowledge of the archaeology of the district is still very imperfect and a systematic archæological survey is very desirable. Chapter III has been largely rewrkten and the figures for population, etc., brought up to date. Chapter IV has been almost entirely rewritten, a good deal of new material has been introduced and the statistics brought up to date. The historical part of Chapter V remains much as before. The remainder of the Chapter has been entirely rewritten in the light of the latest information received from the Forest Officers. Chapters VI and VII have been largely rewritten and the information contained therein brought up to date. Chapter VII I has been entirely rewritten. The information and statistics in Chapters IX--XIV have been brought up to and considerable portions rewritten, notably the paragraphs on Moulmein Town. Much of the material for the present edition was collected by Mr. H. C. Baker, I.C.S., during my absence on leave in 1932. My thanks are due to him for his assistance in this matter. I also desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to all the gentlemen who have collected materials and provided notes on various subjects and especially to the late U Ba Htin, (2) K.S.M., A.T.M., Deputy Commissioner, Amherst District and all the officers under his control, Mr. R. K. Harper, I.C.S. (Co-operative Societies), Mr. J. J. Bennison, I.C.S. (advance census figures), Mr. H. B. Barret, Mr. J. F. D. La Touche and Mr. H. H. MacColl (Forests), Mr. E. L. G. Clegg (Geology and Minerals), Mr. R. F. Craen, U Kyaw U (Administration of Justice), Mr. W. Gregson (Agriculture), the officers of the Burma Railways, and the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, Ltd. In particular I wish to thank Mr. Clegg for his com prehensive note on the geology of the district and Mr. Barrett for his most interesting and informative note on the Thaungyin Forest Division and the fauna and flora of the district, which enabled me to correct several errors in the previous edition of the gazetteer. I am also indebted to Mr. F. George, I.C.S., for reading and correcting the proofs of the Gazetteer. B. O. BINNS, Settlement Officer, No. 3 Party. MONYWA, the 14th November 1934. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION. PAGE Boundaries; General Description; Mountains--Dawnas; Taungbon Hills; Taungnyo Hills; Other Hills; Rivers --Salween; Gyaing; Ataran; Thaungyin; Other Rivers Geology--The Coastal Area; Mergui Series; Sandstone Quartzite and Shale Series; Taungnyo Range; Moulmein Limestone; Amherst Hills; Bilugyun and Green Islands; ,Granite; The Eastern Area; Dawns Gneisses; Mergui Series; Conglomerates of limestone and red sandstone pebbles; Tertiary Beds; Stratigraphical questions which remain to be solved; Hot Springs; Botany; Fauna; Climate and Rainfall; Temperature 1 CHAPTER II. HISTORY AND ARCHÆOLOGY. HISTORY--Môn Period; Burmese Period; First Burmese War Annexation; The Second Burmese War; Subsequent History; Archæology--Ancient Towns; Pagodas. 15 CHAPTER III. THE PEOPLE. Population--Density; Growth; Distribution; Races; Môns; General Character; Villages; Houses; Clothing; Food; Religion; Karens; Burmarts; Shans; Taungthus; Taroyans; Natives of India; Chinese; Other Races. 21 CHAPTER IV. AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION, Agriculture--General Features; Crops--Rice; Lè; Mode Cultivation; Varieties of Paddy; Marketing of Crops; Irrigated Paddy--Pata, Patè and Mayin; Taungya; Gardens; Durians; Oranges; Mangosteen; Betel- nut; Dhani ; Vegetables; Sugarcane; Cotton; Rubber; Pests; Extension of Cultivation; Land Tenures; Tenants Indebtedness; Co-operative Societies; Agricul tural Stock; Cattle Disease; Irrigation; Protection and Drainage Works. 30 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. FORESTS AND MINERALS. PAGE Forests--History; 1827-1828; 1829; 1840; 1841; 1841-63; Timber Trade; Modern Forest Administration; Thaung yin Division--Nature of Forest Growth; Principal Timber Species; Reserves; Working Plans; Plantations; History of the Division under the Forest Department; Teak; Hardwoods; Other Forest Produce; Ataran Division--Nature of Forest Growth, Plantations; Extraction Routes; Reserves; Working Plans; Kado and Agency Division; Exploitation; Forest Revenue; Minerals; Occurrences; Exploitation; Salt. 48 CHAPTER VI. OCCUPATIONS AND TRADE. Occupations--Agriculture; Arts and Industries; Ceramics; Silver Work; Ivory Carving; Fishing; Boat Building; Other Industries; Factory Industries; Trade Sea Borne; Foreign; Coasting Trade; Overland Trade; Local Trade. 59 CHAPTER VII. MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. Waterways; Railways; Ferries; Means of Transport; Rest Houses; Posts and Telegraphs. 65 CHAPTER VIII. FAMINE AND SCARCITY. 70 CHAPTER IX. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. General Administration--Subdivisions; Townships; Judicial Administration--Civil; Registration; Criminal Justice; Crime; Police; Jails; Public Works--Public Works Department; The District Cess Fund; Lighthouses. 72 CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. REVENUE ADMINISTRATION. PAGE In Burmese Times; British Administration; Land Revenue; Early Settlements; Settlement of 1867-68; Summary Enhancement of 1880; Subsequent Settlements; Revision Settlements, 1906-07; Capitation- tax; Fisheries; Miscellaneous Land Revenue; General Review; Customs; Excise; Stamps; Salt; Income-tax; Total Revenue. 80 CHAPTER XI. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. Moulmein Municipality; Kawkareik Town Committee; District Council; Village Committees; Circle Boards. 89 CHAPTER XII. EDUCATION. History; Literacy; Government System; Expenditure. 92 CHAPTER XIII. PUBLIC HEALTH. General Health; Malaria; Cholera; Plague; Small-pox; Vital Statistics; Sanitation; Hospitals; Leper Asylum; Ellen Mitchell Memorial Hospital. 95 CHAPTER XIV. MINOR ARTICLES. Moulmein; History; Fires; Land Tenure; Food Supply; Newspapers; Town Administration; The Port; The Modern Town; Moulmein Subdivision; The Port; The Kado Kawhnat; Kawhla; Chaungzon Township; Chaungzon; Kwanhla; Pampa and Murigale; Sèbala and Kamake; Kalwi; Kwanyaik; Ywalut; Mudu; Kahnyaw and Kalaw; CHAPTER XIV. MINOR ARTICLES. (Continued) Kyaikmaraw Township; Kyaik maraw; Nyaungbinzeik; Karon; Tarana; Kawthat; Dhamathat; Peinnègon; Hnidon; Kawkareik Subdivi sion and Township; Kawkareik; Kyondo; Kawbein; Kawbauk; Kanni; Nabu-Hnitcha; Kya-in Township; Kya-in Seikkyi; Kya-in; Winyaw Seikkyi; Tagundaing; Amherst Subdivision; Mudon Township; Mudon; Kwandon; Kamawet and Kalawthut; Tagundaing and Pa-auk; Ahmerst or Kyaikami Township; Amherst; Wagaru; Karokpi; Panga; Ye Township; Ye; Hangan; Asin; Taungbon and Thaungbyin; Kawdut and Hnitkarin; Lamaing and Mawkanin; Zibyu thaung; Islands. 100 Glossary 119 Bibliography 121 Index 122 AMHERST DISTRICT. VOLUME A CHAPTER I. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION. Boundaries; General Description; Mountains--Dawnas; Taungbon Hills; Taungnyo Hills; Other Hills; Rivers--Salween; Gyaing; Ataran ; Thaungyin; Other Rivers; Geology--The Coastal Area; Mergui Series; Sandstones; Quartzite and Shale Series ; Taungnyo Range; Moulmein Limestone; Amherst Hills; Bilugyun and Green Islands; Granite; The Eastern Area--Dawna Gneisses; Mergui Series; Conglomerates of limestone and red sandstone pebbles; Tertiary Beds; Stratigraphical questions which remain to be solved; Hot Springs; Botany; Fauna ; Climate and Rainfall; Temperature. Boundaries. The Amherst district lies between 14° 56´ and 17° 2´ North and 97° 27´ and 98° 51´ East, and forms a part of the Tenasserim Division of Lower Burma. It is bounded by the Thatôn District on the north, Siamese Territory on the east, Tavoy District on the south and the Gulf of Martaban on the west, and contains an area of 7,105 square miles. On the north, the Salween, Gyaing, Hlaingbwè and, Pata rivers form for the most part a natural boundary.