TAVOY', the chief t. of a district in Tenasserim, British Burmali, is situated on the• left bank of the Tavoy river, about 34 m. from its mouth, in lat. 14°4' n., long. 98° 5' e., at the distance of about 220 m. s. of Moulmein. The site of Tavoy, which is low, is.
inclosed on three sides by rice-fields, and on the fourth by the river. The houses are scarcely visible from the river—umbrageous trees, palms, plantains, jacks, cassias, and hundreds of flowering shrubs nearly concealing, them from view. A wooden-covered pier, supported on piles, forms a convenient landing-place. There is a hospital, a large jail, and a roomy zayat, or caravansary. The houses, according to the universal prac tice of the country, are raised from the ground on piles, and are made of bamboo, fast ened with rattan, and thatched with the leaf of the water-palm. Under many of the houses a loom may be observed, at which a female is generally busy at work. The shops are for the most part mere sheds or stalls, and the venders sit squatted on the raised floor in the midst of their wares. "In this little town," says a recent eye-witness, "Burman life and manners are seen in all their simplicity; and the observer cannot but be struck by the frugality, contentment, happiness, and enjoyment of life manifested by the people." Tavoy is remarkable for its grand annual buffalo-fight. The sportecon
tinues for two days, and during that time eight pairs of buffaloes are brought into the field, each animal representing a different district or township. The rice-fields around Tavoy are prolific sources of malaria. Intermittent fevers and dysentery are the most common diseases; but the climate is on the whole healthy, and is not considered inimical to the European constitution.. According to the estimates of 1871-72, the population of Tavoy was 14,467. The bulk of these are true Burmans, the balance being made up with Shans and Thoungthoos, Karens, Chinese, Malays, and natives of India.
Vessels drawing not more than 12 ft. of water can reach the town of Tavoy by means of the Tavoy river. The anchorage for large ships is at Goodridge plains, about 80 m. below the town.
Tavoy used to be one of the stations in which British troops were settled, but these have been lately withdrawn.