For administrative functions it is arranged as the Commissionerships of Arakan, Pegu, and Tenasserim, all under a Chief Commissioner since the 31st January 1862. The principal towns are, —Rangoon, Moulmein, Prome, Bassein, Akyab, Henzada, and Tavoy, with the military canton ments of Thayat-myo and Tounghoo. Some of the districts have a very scanty population ; in 1872 only 6 to the square mile in the Mergui and Salwin districts, 7 in that of Ramree, 10, 14, 15, and 16 in those of Tavoy, Tounghoo, Sandoway, and Amherst respectively, and in Myan Oung, the most populous, 115. Of the entire population, 2,447,831 were of the Buddhist religion, 99,846 Mahomedans, 52,299 Christians, and 36,658 Hindus.
The country has long been known to the people of India as one of the Severna Bhumi, which Europeans render the Golden Chersonese, and applied to the delta of the Irawadi. The Ira wadi and Sitang valleys unite towards their mouth to form an extensive plain, stretching from Cape Negrais to Martaban. It is annually inundated, but is the most productive part of the whole province, and a canal connects the Pegu and Sitang rivers. The Irawadi is navigable for river steamers as far as Bhamo, 600 miles from the coast. The Hlaing or Rangoon river rises close to Prome, and, when passing Rangoon, it is joined by the Pegu and the Pu-zwon-donng rivers coming from the N.E. and the E. The two latter rivers rise close together in the Yoma range, about 58 miles above the town of Pegu, and they communicate by several channels with the principal delta branch of the Irawadi. The Salwin is a great river, but, owing to numerous rapids and rocks, it is only navigable by boats for 100 miles from its two mouths. Between Talifu and Momien, 600 miles due north of its mouth, it flows a rolling current in a shingle bed 140 yards wide. The Sitang river rises far north of British territory, and in the dry season is with difficulty navigated by any boats. Below Shwe-gyeng it receives the river of that name, and finally disembogues into the Gulf of Martaban.
The more prominent and dominant races have been the Myama or Burmese, the Ra-kheng or Arakanese, and the Mon, Mun, or Taleng. The native name, Ma-ran-ma, M'ran-ma, whence the softened modern M'yan-ma, M'ya-ma, is the source of the European corruption Burma. The Arakan people are of the same race as the Burmese, and the territory was long under the Burmese rule. In the 16th century, Arakanese dominion
extended to Chittagong and the Megna river, and the 17th century saw there several adventurers from Europe. Sebastian Gonzales established himself at Sandiva (Saudwip), and was for years a terror to the country, till crushed with the help of the Dutch. The Ramana or Ramaniya territory was held by the Mon, Mun, or Taleng, whose districts were Tha-htun,Pegu,and Martaban. It was founded several hundred years a.c. by emigrants from Coromandel. Tha-htun is now teu miles from the sea-shore. It was the Sobana Emporium of Ptolemy. Pegu city was founded by emigrants from Tha htun, A.D. 573, and Martaban three years later.
In Arakan and in the basin of the Irawadi are other tribes of the same stock with the Burman, and their languages are in their present form so much akin to it, that they may be almost con sidered as forming, with Burman, dialects of one tongue. The Burmese is monosyllabic, and has no letter corresponding to f or v, and no hissing sibilant s. The Burmese language is spoken in Arakan, in the valleys of the Irawadi and Sitang, and in Tenasserim to the south of Tavoy.
The Burman people occupy the lower part of the basin of the Irawadi above Pegu, with the southern parts of the upper basin and the valley of the river beyond, as far as Ba-mo. They aro also found in the delta, but their progress there has been comparatively recent, and the prior inhabitants still form the greater majority.
Burma has the Tai or Shan on the east, the Malay on the south, Hindu and Mahomedan races on the west, and the Tartar and Chinese on the north. Within these boundaries are many tribes, with several synonyms, but nearly all may be referred to four great families,—the Mon or Talaing, the Burman, the Karen, and the Shan.
A. Mon.
B. Burman, viz. Burman, Rakhui, Mug, Kanyan, Tounglmer, Tavoyer, Yau or Yo, Yebain, Pyu, Kado, Danu.
C. Karen— a. Sgau tribes, viz. Sgau, Mau-ne-pgha, Paku, We-wa.
b. Bghai tribes, viz. Tunin, Bgbai, Pant Bgbai, Lay-May, Mann or Manau, Karen-ni or Red Karen.
c. Pwo tribes, viz. Pwo, Shoung, Ka or Kay, Ta-ru or Ku-ta, Mo-pgha, Ha-ehwie, Toung , thu, Khyin.
d. Shan Karen, viz. Yen or Yein, Yen-seik, Ying-baw, Pandung, Toung-yo, Black Karen.