RANGOON, formerly the most commercial port of the Birman empire, is situated in 16° 47' N. lat., 96' 18' E. long., on the left batik of the most eastern branch of the river Irawaddy, about twenty-six miles from the sea. About two miles below the town the river divides into two arms, of which the eastern, running nearly due east, is called Syrian River ; and tho western, running nearly due south, Rangoon River. Both of these branches are navigable, but the Rangoon River is generally preferred. The town and suburbs extend about a mile along the bank of the river, but the houses are very unequally scat tered over this area The streets are narrow, but clean and well paved. The houses are raised on posts; the smaller supported by bamboos, and the larger by strong timbers. There are a few brick houses chiefly belonging to Europeans, and since its occupation by the British the town has been fortified. Two narrow roads paved with brick lead from the southern face of the stockade to the great pagoda, Shewi Dagang ; and aloug the sides are built a number of Sidis, or monu ments, in honour of Buddha. In ferns they may be compared to a speaking-trumpet standing on its base. The lower part is generally a polygon, and the shaft or upper part is round, the apex being orna mented with an Iron net in form of an umbrella, called a 'ti. The Shewi Dagoug is in the same style as the rest, but richly gilt all over. It is said to be about 278 feet high, and is surrounded by an iuclosure in which is an immense bell of very rude fabric.
Rangoon was built by Alompra, after the destruction of Pegu and Syrian in 1755, and the choice of the site shows the sagacity of the conqueror. It was well adapted for ship-building, as the tide rises from 18 to 21 feet. Timber can be procured from the teak-forests at Sarwa, not far from Rangoon, and floated down the whole way to the port ; consequently many vessels of considerable burden have been built here. Besides its advantageous situation for commerce, the elevated ground on which it is built secures it from being inundated by the tropical rains to which all the lowlands of the delta of the Irawaddy are subject. The climate is temperate, agreeable, and salu brious. The place at first rose slowly, but by 1826 its commerce was very large, and Crawfuril estimated the population at near 9000. On January 2, 1852, at the commencement of the war in the Birma, Rangoon was attacked by a British naval force, and the passage of the river forced ; on April 14 of the same year it was stormed by the British forces under General Oodwin, and captured. It has ever since (with the rest of Pogo, of which it Is the commercial capital) remained in possession of the British ; but In February 1853 It suffered from a firs which destroyed a great part of the town. By the latest estimate the town and suburbs are computed to contain a population of nearly 20,000.
(Crswfurd, Journal of an EiRlassy to Me Court of .4 ra.)