MAULMAIN, nil-mniV. or MOULMEIN. A seaport town, capital of the Amherst district and of the Tenasserim division of Lower Burma, at the junction of the rivers Salwin, (iyaing, and Attaran, on the Gulf of Martaban, an arm of the Bay of Bengal (Map: Burma, C 3). The town lies between the left bank of the river Sal win and a tine range of densely wooded hills which, at a distance of from one to six miles, runs parallel with the river. .11aulmain is one of the most beautiful and healthful towns of India; the mean annual temperature is the highest mean for any month being in April. and the lowest in Jannary. The prin cipal street extends for four miles along the river, and other streets shaded with acacia and jack trees branch off from it toward the hills, on which are the pretty residenees of Europeans and wealthy Burmese and muneoms pagodas with gilded spires. The hills command an extensive view of beautiful and varied scenery. Martaban lies on the opposite river bank to the north. Maullnain is divided into five districts under the superintendence of a young. or native head of po lice. The native houses, built of bamboo and thatched with palm leaves, are raised on piles 10 or 12 feet from the ground. The principal buildings, besides several pagodas, include a public library, a general holdtal. and substantial
barrneks. There are several educational and char itable instil ot ions, missionary establishments, and ehurehes. Vessels of 10 feet draught reach the wharves and jetties at all slates of the tide; at spring tide, when the rise and fall is from 20 to 23 feet. the town is accessible to vessels of the largest tonnage. A considerable export and im port trade is carried on, chiefly with Calcutta, :Madras, Rangoon, and Penang. The principal ex ports are timber, rice, cotton, hems. hides, ivory, wax. !inns, lead, and copper; the imports are chiefly cotton anti woolen pieee goods, hard ware, provisions. general merchandise. and— omitting timlier. Avbieb is obtained from Ille neighboring teak forests—all the materials re quired for shipbuilding,, which is an important. industry. The roiled States is represented by a consular agent. The town dates from the British oeenpation of Tenasserint in 1820. The hetero geneous and polyglot in 1891 bered 55,785; in 1901, 58,410, ennsisling besides Burmese. of Hindus. Malays, Europeans, Eura sians, Chinese, Armenians, and dews.