BURMA

large prov. in 8. E. of Ind. 9’ E.), 1,100 m. in extreme length, 700 in breadth; bounded N. by China, EB. by China, Fr. Indo-China, and Siam, S. by Bay of Bengal, W. by Bay of Bengal, Bengal, Manipur, A am: includes Upper and Lower Burma. Latter comprises Arakan, Pegu, and Tena erim, all belonging to Britain; former has belonged to Britain since 1885, previous to which it was the kingdom of Burma. Surface is mountainous, with vast forests of teak and bamboo; river plains or deltas at river mouths are only flat parts, and are flooded in wet season;| principal mountains are the Patkoi Hills in E., Pegu Yoma and Arakan Yoma; chief rivers, Irawadi, Sittang, alwin; climate trying; huge rainfall up country; chief towns, Rangoon (cap.), Rice is largely cultivated in both - Upper and Lower Burma, and is chief palms are among valuable trees, and Many fruits are grown, including basugar-cane, tea, cotton, are cultivated; many varieties of precious stones found; rich ruby mines in upper district beyond Mandalay; sapphires and other ‘gems, jade, etc. Minerals include gold, silver, copper, tin, iron, wolfram, petroleum. these are exported, also rice, teak, bamboo, cotton, hides, wax, ivory, gum, rubber, oil. People display skill in silver repou é work, wood carving, lacquer work, silk weaving; imports, Kuropean manufactured goods. Rivers are chief means of communication; Irawadi navigable all year. Roads and railways have developed greatly under Brit. administration. Area, 230,839 Inhabitants include Burmese, who form great majority of population, other races. Burmese proper are of ongoloid stock, are brown-skinned, iblack-haired, and robust in figure. About 90 per cent. are Buddhists, other ‘Wanity, and Islamism, The language is x akin to Shan and Tibetan tongues. Ancient or Pali literature consists chiefly of Buddhist scriptural writings. Burmese modern literature includes plays, rhymed fables and religious works. See Map Centra anp S. Asia. Administration is carried out by lieut-gov., a isted by a legislative council of 17 members; leut-gov. is nominated by gov-gen.; prov. is subdivided into 8 divs., each administered by @ commi ioner. Northern and Southern Shan States are administered through Sawbwas or hereditary chiefs. History.—Early history rests on tradition. Upper Burma was powerful kingdom in lith-13th cent. A. D.: and in 14th-15th cent. the two chief powers were those of Ava in N. and Pegu in 9. | Pp egu was one of several old kingdoms in Lower Burma; it held the supreme power in 16th cent. when the Irawadi and Sittang valleys were included in its dominions. It came to an end in middle of 18th cent., when new Burmese Empire was established by Alompra, First Burmese War caused by Burmese encroachments on Brit. po e ions: Bp rit. Government declared war, 1824; ended by igs of Yandalor, 1826, which granted Brit. terms. Second Burmese War, 1852, provoked by bad treatment of Brit. merchants at Rangoon; resulted in annexation of Pegu. Third Burmese War, 1885-6, caused by attempt on part of Burmese Government to hinder trade between Bombay and Burma; Brit. army cro ed frontier; Nov. 14, 1885, occupied Mandalay, Nov. 28, and sent Burmese king, Thebaw, to Rangoon. Upper Burma was formally annexed, Jan. 1, 1886.