Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Burma

BURMA, a country of southern Asia, bounded on the N. by Assam and Tibet, on the E. by Chinese territory and Siam, elsewhere mainly by the Bay of Bengal; area, about 230,000 square miles. It is traversed by great mountain ranges branching off from those of northern India and running parallel to each other southward to the sea. Between these ranges and in the plains or valleys here situated the four great rivers of Burma—the Irrawaddy, its tributary the Chindwin, the Sittang, and the Salwen—flow in a southerly direction to the sea, watering the rich alluvial tracts of Lower Burma, and having at their mouths all the great seaports of the country—Rangoon, Bassein, Moulmein, Akyab, etc.

KYAILTEYO PAGODA, BURMA

The Irrawaddy is of great value as a highway of communication and traffic, being navigable beyond Bhamo, near the Chinese frontier, or over 800 miles. In their lower courses the rivers often overflow their banks in the rainy season. Though its resources are almost entirely undeveloped, the country, as a whole, is productive, especially in the lower portions. Here grow rice, sugar cane, tobacco, cotton, indigo, etc. Cotton is grown almost everywhere; tea is cultivated in many of the more elevated parts. The forests produce timber of many sorts, including teak, which grows most luxuriantly, and is largely exported. Ironwood is another valuable timber; and among forest products are also the bamboo, cutch, sticklac, and rubber. Burma has great mineral wealth—gold, silver, precious stones, iron, marble, lead, tin, coal, petroleum, etc.; but these resources have not yet been much developed. The chief precious stone is the ruby, and the mines of this gem belong to the crown. Sapphire, amber, and jade are also obtained. Among wild animals are the elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, deer of various kinds, and the wild hog. Among domestic animals are the ox, buffalo, horse, and elephant. The rivers abound with fish. The most common fruits are the guava, custard apple; tamarind, pine, orange, banana, jack, and mango. The yam and sweet potato are cultivated, and in some parts the common potato. The climate, of course, varies according to elevation and other circumstances, but, as a whole, is warm, though not unhealthful, except in low, jungly districts. The rainfall among the mountains reaches as high as 190 inches per annum.

TEMPLE OF THREE HUNDRED LIONS AT SAGAING, BURMA

The population may be stated at about 12,000,000, made up of a great variety of races besides the Burmese proper, as Talaings, Shans, Karens, etc. The Burmese proper are of a brown color, with lank, black hair (seldom any on the face), and have active, vigorous, well-proportioned frames. They are a cheerful, lively people, fond of amusement, averse to continuous exertion, free from prejudice of caste or creed, temperate and hardy. The predominant religion is Buddhism. Missionaries are active in their efforts, but the Christian faith has not yet made much progress in the country. Polygamy is permitted by Buddhist law, but is rare, and is considered as not altogether respectable. Divorce is easily obtained. Women in Burma occupy a much freer and happier position than they do in Indian social life. They go about freely, manage the household and make successful women of business, conducting not merely retail trades but also large wholesale concerns. Education is very general, one of the chief occupations of the monks in the numerous monasteries being the teaching of boys to read and write. Many of these monastic schools are under government inspection. The Burmese are skillful weavers, smiths, sculptors, workers in gold and silver, joiners, etc. The ordinary buildings are of a very slight construction, chiefly of timber or bamboo raised on posts; but the religious edifices are in many cases imposing, though the material is but brick. Carving and gilding are features of their architecture. The Burmese language is monosyllabic, like Chinese, and is written with an alphabet the characters of which (derived from India) are more or less circular. There is a considerable literature.

A VILLAGE IN BURMA

Burma is now divided into Lower Burma and Upper Burma, the former till 1886 being called British Burma, while the latter till that date was an independent kingdom or empire. Lower Burma was acquired from Independent Burma in 1826 and 1852 as the result of two wars terminating in favor of Great Britain. It comprises the divisions of Aracan, Pegu, Irrawaddy, and Tenasserim; area, 87,473 square miles; pop. about 3,000,000. Under British rule it has prospered greatly, the population and trade having increased immensely, there being regularly a large surplus revenue. Roads, canals, and railways have been constructed and other public works carried out, as also public buildings erected. The total foreign trade is valued at over $120,000,000. The chief city and port is Rangoon, which is now connected by railway with Mandalay in Upper Burma.

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USING ELEPHANTS FOR MOVING LUMBER IN RANGOON, BURMA

The government is administered by a lieutenant-governor, and a legislative council of 19 members.

The Burmese Empire is of little note in ancient or general history. Since the 16th century the Burmese proper have mostly been the predominant race, and ruled the Peguans, Karens, etc., throughout the country. The capital has at different times been at Ava, Pegu, Frome, or elsewhere. In the latter half of the 18th century the Burmese Emperors began a series of wars of conquest with China, Siam, and Assam, through which they greatly enlarged the Empire. This brought them into contact with the British, and, in 1824, war was declared against them on account of their encroachments on British territory and their seizure of British subjects. The war terminated in the cession of the provinces of Aracan and Tenasserim to the British. Peace continued for some years, but latterly various acts of hostility were committed by the Burmese, and, in 1852, the maltreatment of British subjects occasioned a second war, at the end of which the British possessions were extended to include the whole of Pegu. The third and last war occurred in 1885 in consequence of the arrogance and arbitrary conduct of King Theebaw. The result was that Upper Burma was annexed to the British Empire by proclamation of the Viceroy of India, Jan. 1, 1886. The area thus annexed was about 200,000 square miles, of which half belonged to the Kingdom proper, and half to the semi-independent Shan states.