SALWEEN, a river of Tibet, China (Yunnan) and Burma. This river, called Nam Kong by the Shans, Thanlwin by the Burmese, Lu Kiang, or Nu Kiang, or Lu Tzu Kiang by the Chinese, is the longest river in Burma, and one of the wildest and most picturesque streams in the world. It rises in Tibet south of the Kun Lun, and is thus a much longer river than the Irrawaddy. From the time it leaves Tibet it has a very narrow basin, and for long stretches has no other affluents than the mountain tor rents from the hills, which rise from 3,00o to 5,000 or 6,000 ft. above the level of the river-bed. In the dry season the banks are alternate stretches of blinding white, fine sand, and a chaos of huge boulders, masses and slabs of rock, with here and there, usually where a tributary enters, long stretches of shingle. In the rains all these disappear, and the water laps against forest trees and the abrupt. slope of the hills. The average difference between high and low water level of the Salween throughout the Shan States is between 5o and 6o ft., and in some places it is as much as 90. There are many rapids, caused by reefs of rock running across the bed, or by a sudden fall of from one to several feet, which pro duce very rough water below the swift glide ; but the most danger ous places for navigation are where a point juts out into the stream, and the current, thrown back, causes a violent double backwater. Nevertheless, long stretches of the river, extending to scores of miles, are habitually navigated by native boats. The current is extremely variable, from m. an hour to ten knots. Launches ply regularly from Moulmein to the mouth of the Ydrizalin, in Lower Burma. The worst part of the whole Salween,
so far as is known, is the gorge between the mouth of the YOnzalin and Kyaukhnyat. It is quite certain that steam launches could ply over very long sections of the river above that, perhaps as far as the Kaw ferry, or even the Kunlong ferry. In British territory, however, there are very few settlements on the river itself, and frequently the ferry villages are built i,000 ft. above the river.
The Chinese believe the Salween valley to be deadly to all strangers, but it is in Chinese territory—particularly in the Lu Kiang, or Mong Hko state—that there is the largest population on the river until Lower Burma is reached. A description of the Salween resolves itself into a list of the ferries at which it can be crossed, for no one marches up the river. The river is bridged by the Chinese on the main route from Teng Yiieh (Momien) and Bhamo to Tali-fu. Native boats can ply from Kyodan S., and light draught steamers ascend as far as Shwegfm, 63 m. from Moulmein.
The Salween enters the sea in the Gulf of Martaban by two mouths, one to the north and one to the south of Bilugyun island. The southern mouth is the more important, and is the one by which ocean-going craft approach the port of Moulmein. The Salween cuts the British Shan States nearly in half, and is a very formidable natural obstacle. It seems probable, however, that long stretches of it can be opened to trade. It is certainly no less navigable than the Middle Mekong or the Yangtsze-kiang above I-chang.