The New Student's Reference Work/Burma

Bur′ma, the largest of all the provinces of the Indian Empire, lies between Tibet, China, Siam and the Bay of Bengal. It covers about 236,738 square miles, considerably more than California and South Dakota, while the total population is over 12,115,000. The old province of Lower Burma occupies about one third of the territory, and the new province of Upper Burma, with the Shan States about two thirds.

Surface and Drainage. The country ismostly hilly, largely covered with forests. Of the numerous mountain peaks, the highest reaches an elevation of 15,000 feet. The largest river is the Irawadi, flowing from its unknown source in the snows of Tibet, over a course of 1,100 miles to the Bay of Bengal. It is navigable all the year round for river steamers for 700 miles; and though there are now several railroads, most of the trade is carried on by the numerous rivers.

Natural Resources. Teak and bamboo are the most valuable of the forest products. An unusual wealth of wild beasts, serpents, birds and fishes found in India abounds here. The mineral yield of the soil is not noteworthy, except that from the ruby mines near the capital. The ruby-yielding region extends for about 200 square miles, and the rubies are the best in the world.

People, Customs. Besides foreigners, the people are mainly Burmans, Shans, Karens and other hill tribes. The Burmans are the largest class. Their chief food is rice, and they have, besides, fish or meat daily. They live well, but save little money. Most of the people live in modern houses or bamboo huts, but the pagodas or temples of masonry and the monasteries made of teak are more substantial buildings. The finest and most sacred pagoda in Burma is the Shway Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon.

Products. The chief crop of the country is rice, the acreage of which in Upper and Lower Burma was, in 1904-05, 9,265,097 acres. Wheat, pulse, sugar-cane, cotton, tea and oil-seeds are also raised.

Religion. Their religion is chiefly Buddhism. The class which has the most influence and is most respected is the Buddhist monks, of whom there are 20,000, whose duty it is to set an example of a correct life and to instruct the young. The Shans are much like the Burmans, but are high-landers and great traders. The Karens used to be nature-worshippers; but now large numbers of them are Christians, through the influence of Baptist missions, which have been among the most successful of modern missions. Both the Burmans and the Shans have long had a written language, and there are now a number of native newspapers. A university and several technical schools are also established in Lower Burma.

History. The Burmans are believed to have come into the valley of the Irawadi about 2,000 years ago. Since that time various powerful Burman dynasties have risen, nourished and fallen. The Chinese have often invaded Burma from the north. The Burman power came into contact with the British in India as early as 1820, and, piece by piece, the British have been compelled to assume control over Burma. In 1885 King Thebaw declared war and tried to drive the British into the sea, but was overcome and carried a prisoner to India, and in 1886 the whole of Burma became a part of the British Indian Empire. It is governed by a commissioner on behalf of the viceroy of India. The capital of Upper Burma, Mandalay, has a population of 138,299; of Lower Burma the capital is Rangoon, population, 293,316.