TENIPLEMORE. [Tirrenetee.) TENASSERIli is a long slip of country lying along the upper part of the west coast of the Malay Peuinsula, acquired from the Binnau empire by the peace of Yaudobo, iu 1826, and forms now a province of the government of I'enaug, in the presidency of Bengal. A continuous range of mountains, varying in elevation from 3000 to 5000 feet, runs along the peninsula, and forms the division between Tensurerim and Siam ou the east, while the Saluen, which falls into the Gulf of ilartaban, furies for some distance the boundary of Ilirrnah on the west.. At its southern extremity it narrows to a point where the river Pakchain, which is navigable for 40 miles, by a portage of about 20 males, reaches to a Siamese river which falls into the Gulf of Siam near the town of At this point the ridge of mouu trains which separates Tonauerim from Siam appoaches the (+bora, but In the north it extends backwards to a distance of about 100 miles. The total area is about 30,000 square miles, and the population has been estimated at about 100,000. The soil is, on the whole, fertile, but the prodeaious are few and Inconsiderable, and the chief exports Lava been a small quantity of rice and some teak timber ; coffee and nutmegs have been cultivated with some success. Domestic animals are not numerous, exc le the buffalo, which is of largo size. Tigers, elephants, and rhinoceroses are numerous, as are also various species of doer. Amoug the birds are fouud parrots, the Indian peacock, tee B4asIssmssgohsu, Itawice, mid pigeons; and the II irando cscideatas bree Is in the cliffs of the Islands of the Mergui Archipelago, the nests of which are collected in considerable numbers and sold to the bine*); fish is slued int in the neighbouring sea, and tropaug, tor t -lesehell, end ambergris are obtained. Tho climate in considered tellthy. There are two seasons at Moulmein ; the rains commence towards the and of May, and for three months are heavy and inces sant, but they diminish iu September, and cease in October, which is the hottest part of the year. The thermometer has never been known to rase above 90'; in June it varies between 72' and 76°.
The country is known to be rich in minerals. Gold is found in small quantities in some of the rivers. Tin is the only metal which has been worked. Iron-ore of good quality is found in abundance in several places, especially in the districts south of the Tenasserim river. Antimony occurs in the neighbourhood of Moulmein. There are extensive coal-measures on the banks of the Teuasserim River. The coal is generally of good quality, and the best kind is near the banks of the river below the last rapids, so that it can bo brought to Mergui at moderate expeuse.
The rivers are numerous, but those in the southern parts have very short courses, descending from the mountains which form the water shed between it and Siam. The most important are those which run parallel with the mountains, such as the Tenasserim, which rises in about N. Mt., and flows in a southern direction for more than 200 miles in a straight line. The upper part of its course is broken by rapids aslow down as 13° 15' N. lat., up to which the tides ascend, but in the dry season it becomes there very shallow. At its confluence with the Little Tenasserim it becomes deeper, and here the town of Teaasserim is built, up to which vessels of 100 tons burden can +ascend. It then takes a turn to the north and disembognes itself by
several mouths a little south of the town of Mergui. The river Tavoy, which rises near 15° N. Int., has a course of not less than 100 miles. The town of Tavoy is in 14° 7' N. lat., and so far vessels of 120 tons burden may asceud. The navigation is intricate, owing to the numerous shoals and low islands. The Saluen rises in Yuienan in China, and runs in a southerly direction between Birmah and the Shan states (Laos) subject to Siam. At its confluence with the Thonng-Yin, though it brings down a great volume of water, and is only 100 miles from the Gulf of Martaban, it is not navigable, owing to the numerous rapids. In 17° N. lat. it is divided into two streams by Colan Island, and the eastern branch then becomes navigable. Tho Zitang, the Atta-yan, and the Gyeng, fall into the Saluen near its mouth. The confluence of these rivers forms a broad sheet of water, 15 miles long from north-east to south-west, and from 5 to 0 miles wide, interspersed with numerous small islands, and separated from the sea by the island of Pelew Gewen, 20 miles long and 10 miles wide. The channel running westward along the end of the island is called the Martaban River : the eastern channel runs due south past .Moulmein. Amherst is lower down, and though there are some dangerous sands, there is from 11 to 5 fathoms water up to the town.
Numerous islands occur along the western coast of the peninsula without the Ganges, between 14° 40' and 8° N. lat. North of 12° N. lat. they extend to the distance of 70 or 80 miles from the shore, but south of 12° N. lat. they occupy a space of only 30 miles iu width. Theo islands aro comprehended under the collective name of the Mergui Archipelago. The larger islands from north to south are Tavoy Island, King's Island, Ross Island, Domel Island, Kisseraing Island, Sullivan Island, and Kalegouk, or Bentinek Island. Tavoy harbour, on the east side of that island, is safe and good, and affords an abundant supply of wood' and water, and with the other islands to the southward affords a continuous anchorage for 50 miles. The spring-tides rise here 50 feet. The harbour of King's Island Bay, opposite the town of Iilergui, is spacious and safe, but the entrance has some difficulties, as a shoal extends over a part of it. Beutiuck. Sound, on the east side of the island, also affords good anchorage.
The inhabitants of the province are a mixed race; Birmaus, The. liens, Siamese, and Karens. The greater part of them are Buddhists in religion. Of the towns, which are few, AMHERST and Moutuere have becu noticed. Tavoy is small, but it has some commerce with Rangoon and 3Iergui. Meeeui has the advantage of a safe and well protected harbour. The roadstead is between the mainland and Madramacan Island, with a soft bottom in from 6 to 16 fathoms water, where large vessels are sheltered from all winds. The neigh bourhood is well adapted for plantations of spice-trees, and is con veniently situated for commercial intercourse overland with Bangkok and the countries of Siam which surround the gulf of that name.
Tcoasscriya, an ancient town, was destroyed in the wars between the Siamese and the Birmaus; it is now in ruins. Coal has been found iu the neighbourhood.