1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Myelat

MYELAT, a division of the southern Shan States of Burma, including sixteen states, none of any great size, with a total area of 3723, sq. m., and a population in 1901 of 119,415. The name properly means “the unoccupied country,” but it has been occupied for many centuries. All central Myelat and great parts of the northern and southern portions consist of rolling grassy downs quite denuded of jungle. It has a great variety of different races, Taungthus and Danus being perhaps the most numerous. They are all more or less hybrid races. The chiefs of the Myelat are known by the Burmese title of gwegunhmu, i.e. chiefs paying the revenue in silver. The amount paid by the chiefs to the British government is Rs. 99,567. The largest state, Loi Lông, has an area of 1600 sq. m., a great part of which is barren hills. The smallest, Nam Hkon, had no more than 4 sq. m., and has been recently absorbed in a neighbouring state. The majority of the states cover less than 100 sq. m. Under British administration the chiefs have powers of a magistrate of the second class. The chief cultivation besides rice is sugar-cane, and considerable quantities of crude sugar are exported. There is a considerable potato cultivation, which can be indefinitely extended when cheaper means of export are provided. Wheat also grows very well.