TENAS'SERIM, acquired by Britain after the war in 1825, is the third or southernmost division of British Burmah * (q.v.)—the other two divisions comprising the ancient king doms of Pegu and Aracan. On Jan. 31, 1862, these three maritime provinces were united under one local administration, bearing the name of British Burmah.
Tenasserim is a narrow line of coast about 500 m. in length, with a varying breadth of from 40 m. at its southern extremity to 80 m.; the latter distance being meas ured from the sea-shore at the mouth of the Salwen to the range of mountains on the e. that separates Tenasserim from Siam. It extends lengthwise from the southern border of Pegu in 17° 50' n. lat. to near the tenth parallel of n. lat., and from 97° 30' to 99° 36' e. long., and has a total area of 46,730 sq. miles. Tenasserim is divided into six administrative districts, besides the town of '_Moulmein: Toungu, area 6,354 Schwe-gyen, 5,567 sq.m.; Salwen, 4,646 sq.m.; Amherst, 15,193 sq.m.; the town of Moulmein, 10 sq.m.; Tavoy, 7,200 sq.m.; and Mergui, 7,760. The principal town is Moulmein, the next in importance being Toungu and Mergui.
Physical general aspect of the country is bold and picturesque. The numerous wooded ranges of hills take generally a cou:se from n. to south. The northern part of the country is the most level; the southern portion is little else than a wilderness of thickly-wooded hills, inclosing long and narrow valleys. The soil of the plains is very fertile, and suited to the growth of rice, indigo, cotton, sugar, and vegetables. Tobacco grows chiefly on the banks of rivers in the hills. Only about of the country is under cultivation, and the forests occupy two-thirds of the entire area. The chief rivers are the Salwen, Gyne, Attaran, Ye, Tavoy, and Tenas serim. The Tenasserim, from which the country derives its name, is the most con siderable river of the province. The principal ports of Tenasserim are Moulmein (q.v.), Amherst, Tavoy, and Mergui, of which Moulmein is the best. Amherst har bor, at the mouth of the Salwen, affords good anchorage for ships of any draught of water, but is difficult of approach. The Mergui archipelago, lying off the southern coast of Tenasserim, consists of almost innumerable islets, some of which are said to be rich in iron ore; and they are famous for their edible birds' nests. Numerous anchorages arc found among the islands. The country possesses vast stores of mineral wealth, which now lie absolutely neglected. Gold-washing has been pursued with suc cess at the head of the Tavoy river. At Kahan, on Mergui island, are rich and accessi ble tin-mines; and thousands of tons of good clean ore, yielding 75 per cent of the pure metal, could be raised not far from the surface of the ground. A very productive iron ore is obtained from Iron island, between Tavoy and Tiger island. Mergui province fur nishes a valuable lead ore, and has extensive fields of coal. Manganese has been found on the Tenasserim river, where it is believed to be very plentiful.
Botany.—The botanical productions of Tenasserim may vie with those of any part of the world. There are more than one hundred different kinds of timber-trees, of which the teak is the most important. The celebrated Amherstia nobilis is the most splendid of
the many flowering and ornamental trees for which Tenasserim is famous. The palm tribe are in great variety, and Dr. Griffith collected 1700 different species of plants in about 14 months.
The climate of Tenasserim is regulated by the monsoons; and the wet and dry seasons divide the year into two nearly equal parts. The average yearly fall of rain is about 194.28 inches, and this descends during the six rainy months from May to October. The greatest amount of rain ever recorded as having fallen in one day (May 27, 1857) is 12.75 inches; and the gauge for the week registered 40.27 inches (Dr. Walter). While the rains last, the temperature is very uniform, the thermometer ranging between 76° and 82°. The cool season lasts from the cessation of the rains in October, when the north-east monsoon begins, to the middle of February. During that time, the thermometer seldom reaches 90° in the shade, and occasionally falls at low as 56°, and now occurs the greatest thermometric range, which is sometimes as much as 30' in one day. The sun then gradually regains its power, and the beat increases daily till the south-west monsoon again brings clouds and rain. In the hot period, the thermometer at mid-day is not often below 92° in the shade, and not unfrequently stands at 95°.
Commerce.—The principal exports from Tenasserim are teak, timber, and rice. • The trade of the province is, however, not on the increase. The first two articles of export mentioned are not continuous from year to year; and we accordingly find that the de crease in the value of trade is owing to the diminished demand for teak timber. Indeed the defective continuity of supply is to some extent a fact also as regards thither. Rice is the most reliable article of commerce.
Inhabitants.—In 1872 the pop. of the Tenasserim districts was as follows: Toungu, 86,166; Schwc-gyen, 129,485; Salwen, 26,117; Amherst, 193,468; Moulmein (town), 46,472; Tavoy, 71,827 ; Mergui, 47,192; total pop. of Tenasserim, 600,727. Most are Burmans proper, but there are other races, as Talaings, or descendants of the ancient Peguans; Karens, a dispersed people, inhabiting secluded mountain districts—among whom Christianity has made some progress, through the labors of American mission aries; Toungthoos, Khyengs, Sham, Europeans and their descendants, Chinese, and Indians. Throughout Tenasserim and British Burmah generally, inheritance and mar riage are regulated by Buddhist law, while at the sea-ports the English mercantile law and law of contracts are in force, and regulate the decisions of the Xatural Productions of Burmah and the Tenasserim Provinces, by the rev. F. Mason, A. id. (Moulmein, 1850); Six Months in British Burmah, by Christ. T. Winter (Lend. 1858); The Tenasserim and Martaban Directory (Moulmein, 1857); Reports of the Administration of the Province of British Burmah, for 1861-1862, and 1863, by lieut.-colonel A. P. Phayre, Qs., chief commissioner and agent to the governor-general (Rangoon, 1862, 1863).