ARAKAN, a division of Burma (q.v.), a strip along the eastern seaboard of the Bay of Bengal, from the Naaf estuary, on the borders of Chittagong, to Cape Negrais. Length from northern extremity to Cape Negrais, about 400m. ; greatest breadth in the northern part, 90m., gradually diminishing towards the south, as it is hemmed in by the Arakan Yoma mountains, until, in the extreme south, it tapers away to a narrow strip not more than 15m. across. The coast is studded with islands, the most important of which are Cheduba, Ramree and Shahpura. The Arakan Division does not extend as far south, the coastal strip for a hundred miles northwards from Cape Negrais lying in the Bassein District of the Irrawaddy Division. The division has its headquarters at Akyab and consists of four districts—namely, Akyab, Northern Arakan Hill Tracts, Sandoway and Kyaukpyu, once called Ramree. Its area is about 16,00o sq.m. The popu lation at the time of the British occupation in 1826 did not exceed 100,000. In 1831 it amounted to 173,000; in 1839 to 248,000; in 1901 to 762,102; in 1911 to 839,896, and in 1931 to The principal rivers of Arakan are—(1) the Naaf estuary, in the north, which forms the boundary between the division and Chittagong; (2) the Mayu river, an arm of the sea, running a course almost parallel with the coast for about 5om. ; (3) the Kaladan river, rising near the Blue mountain, in the extreme north-east, and falling into the Bay of Bengal a few miles south of the Mayu river, navigable by vessels of from 30o to 400 tons burden for a distance of 40m. inland; and (4) the Lemro river, a considerable stream falling into the bay and a few miles south of the Kaladan. Farther south nearness of the boundary range makes the rivers short. Among them the Dalet and the An are navigable by boats ; others are the Sandoway, the Taungup and the Gwa streams, the latter of which alone has any importance, owing to its mouth forming a good port of call or haven for vessels of from 9 to I of t. draught. There are several passes over the Yoma mountains, the easiest being that called the An (or Aeng) route, leading from the village of that name in Arakan to Ngape and Minbu in Central Burma, and the Taungup route leading from Taungup in Arakan to Prome on the Irrawaddy. Only one tenth of this very hilly division is cultivated and rice occupies over nine-tenths of the cropped area. Other crops include fruits, chillies, dhani and tobacco. The natural vegetation of the lower slopes of the hills (up to 3,000ft.) is evergreen forest, in most areas too wet for teak ; of the higher slopes a forest of ever green oaks. But the forests have been destroyed over huge areas by native cultivators and their place taken by a useless tangle of bamboo.
The natives of Arakan trace their history as far back as 2666 B.C., and give a lineal succession of 227 native princes down to modern times. According to them, their empire had at one period far wider limits, and extended over Ava, part of China and a portion of Bengal. This extension of their empire is not, however, corroborated by known facts in history. At different times the Moguls and Pegus carried their arms into the heart of the country. The Portuguese gained a temporary establishment in Arakan ; but in 1782 the Burmese conquered the province and it was ceded to the British in 1826, under the treaty of Yandaboo. The former capital, Arakan, is on an inferior branch of the Kaladan river. Remoteness from ports and harbours, and extreme unhealthiness have led to its gradual decay and Akyab (q.v.) is now the chief town in Arakan. The old city (now Myohaung) lies 5om. north east of Akyab.
The Arakanese are Burmese, but separated from the parent stock by the Arakan Yoma mountains, and they have a dialect and customs of their own. Like the Burmese, they are Buddhists.
(L. D. S. )