PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="0c200500dvldtc.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="BauerBodni BT" ><B>113 SQUADRON</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |    </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="home_of_113_squadron.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WELCOME"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >back to</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="burma_1942.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BURMA"><U><B>BURMA</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=215 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="0c3d7c00dvldtc.gif"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#burmese" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>BURMESE</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#arakaneae" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>ARAKANESE</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#tavoyana_and_merguese" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>TAVOYANA & MERGUESE</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#mons" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>MONS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#shans" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>SHANS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#karena" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>KARENA</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#kachins" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>KACHINS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#the_jinghpaws" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>JINGHPAWS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm#climate" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>CLIMATE</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <bR> <div> BURMA</div> <bR> <div> PEOPLE OF BURMA - 1942</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="302b3320.gif" border=0 width="435" height="306" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Taken by W/O Lister Walker 1941 location unknown</div> <bR> <div> The indigenous races of Burma are of Mongoloid stock, allied to the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Tibetans, Malays and other inhabitants of eastern Asia. The members of this stock found in Burma derive from three main branches, the Tibeto-Burman, the Mon-Khmer aud the Tai.Chinese.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >A.</FONT> The Tibeto-Burman group includes three main sub-groups, <I>viz. </I>(1)</div> <div> the Burmese and Proto-Burmese, (2) the Chin-Kachin, and (3) the Lolo.</div> <bR> <div> (1) The Burmese and Proto-Burmese inolude the Burmese proper, Arakanese, Yanbye, Kadu, Hpon, Maru, Lashi, Atsi, Nung, Daru, Taungyo, Taman, Yaw, Mro, Chaungtha, Tavoyans, Merguese, Maingtha, Intha, Danu.</div> <bR> <div> (2) ,The Chin-Kachin include besides Chins and Kachins, Naga, Gauri,and Duleng.</div> <bR> <div> (3) The Lolo inc1ude Lolo, Lisu <I>or </I>Yawyin, Lahu, Muhso,.Kwi, Kaw and Ako.</div> <bR> <div> B.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > The Mon-Khmer include the Mon or Talaing, Wa, La, Palaung, Pale,</FONT></div> <div> Miao, Yao, Riang, Padaung, Bre (k), Yimbaw and Zayein.</div> <bR> <div> C.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > The Tai-Chinese Include the Shans, Karens, Siamese, Hkun, Lu, Lao,</FONT></div> <div> Shan-Tayok, Shan-Bama, Taungthus, Lem and Lao.</div> <bR> <div> A. The Tibeto-Burman migrants, moving in three main waves, came southwards, probably through the headwaters of the Irrawaddy, whence the Chins moved into the western hills; the Kachins, following much later, halted in. the" Triangle" between the Mali Hka and the N'Mai Hka until recent generations. The principal wave, the Burmese and Proto-Burmese, moved southwards by much the same route, leaving small settlements as they came to form the minor races of their stock in northern Bruma. The Lolo perhaps came down the Mekong valley and small groups settled on the eastern fringe of Burma.</div> <bR> <div> B. The Mon-Khmer appear to have moved into the Indo-Chinese peninsula southwards along the Mekong, to form the ancient kingdom of Cambodia ; some fanned out westwards from the Mekong into the Shan Plateau of Burma and into Lower Burma. They formed the first of the great migrations into Indo-China, though it is possible that their principal branch in Burma, the Mons, did not enter that country till later than the Burmese.</div> <bR> <div> C. The Tai-Chinese provided the last of the great migrations, coming from Yunnan, where in the 7th century A.D. they had formed the Kingdom of Nanchao, and passing southwards into Thailand and westwards into Upper Burma and Assam.</div> <bR> <div> It is impossible to mention in detail more than the principal races of the country. It may be noted that the Burma Group of the Census Report indudes Arakanese, Tavoyans and Merguese as well as other minor races of the Tibetan-Burman stock. The Sak (Lui) include the Kadu and the Ganan of the Katha District, the Sak of the Chindwin valley, the Daingnets of Arakan, and the Tamans of the Chindwin. The Mro Census Group are found in Arakan  and the Man along the eastern frontier of the Shan states. It is probable that most of the Sak and Mro groups are Tibeto-Burmans and most of the Man are Mon-Khmer. The Thai Group of the Census includes  minor Tai-Chinese races such as the Lu and Hkun. The Palaung-Wa Census group includes such races as Pale and Riang. In a.number of cases the allocation of races to groups in the Census Report does not coincide with modern ethnological views. It may also be noted that there is difference of opinion among the principal groups</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><I>1 </I><I> <A NAME="burmese"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I><I>Burmese.</I></FONT><I> The </I>Burmese proper, who in 1931 numbered 8,596;6311settled in the Dry Zone of centraI Burma in the ninth century, and there may be found the sites of their ancient capitails Pagan, Ava, Amarapura, Mandalay. In the eleventh century the former group of independent Burmese states was welded into one kingdom by King Anawrahta (1044 - 97), who had his capital at Pagan; he also extended his control over the Irrawaddy delta. and the Thaton district as well as over the hills east of the Sittang valley and was responsible for the introduction into central Burma of the Hinayana form of Buddhism in place of the Mahayana which is regarded by Burmese as less pure. The city of Pagan, today one of the famous ruined cities of the world remained the capital untill the thirteenth century when the Mongols overthrew the kingdom, occupying Pagan itself in 1287. Burma then split up once more into small principalities, owing some sort Of allegiance to Peking, until in the sixteenth century the kings Tabinshwehti (1531-50) and Bayinnaung (155-81) again established unity which lasted, roughly speaking, till the early eighteenth century. Then the Mons of the Irrawaddy delta regained their independence and also overcame much of the Dry Zone, till Alaungpaya, chief of the Shwebo area, rallied the Burmese and in the years 1752-58. re-established a united kingdom. His dynasty lasted till 1885. During the first part of this  period the kingdom reached its widest extent and came to include the whole of modern Burma together with Manipur and part of Assam. Wars with the British in 1824, 1852 and 1885 resulted in the piecemeal annexation of the kingdom.</div> <div> The Dry Zone remains the true home of the Burman, and in 1931 out of 8 1/2 million 4 1/2 lived in the Magwe, Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions. The presence of any considerable number of Burmans in lower Burma is a development of the last hundred years, arising only with the growth of the rice industry </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>By religion the Burmese are almost exclusively Buddhists; there are, however, small Christian communities and the members of these, like the Christians among the hillpeoples, can almost invariably be depended on to be loyal, friendly and helpful. Officially Buddhism teaches that it is a misfortune to be born and to have to live in the world at all. The object of life is to store up merit by good living, so that a man will not be re-born in this world or in any of the Spirit-worlds but will attain to Nirvana, where self-consciousness ceases. The Buadha, who lived over five hundred, years before Christ, was greatly concerned at the suffering he saw in in the world, and he taught that suffering was caused by desire, greed-lust, selfishness and attachment, and that to become free free from it man must follow the eightfold path of right views, right aims, right speech, right behaviour, right Livelihood., right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This highly moral teaching is also summed up in the five great precepts binding on all Buddhists no to take any life at all, not to commit any sexual crime, not to steal, not to lie, not to drink any intoxicating liquor.</div> <bR> <div> Buddhists strictly do not believe in a God, nor,strictly do they believe in the existence of a soul in man. There is therefore no practice of worship among them. The image of Buddha in a pagoda is not worshipped, the Buddhist fixes his eye on it only as an aid to meditation.</div> <bR> <div> The belief in re-incarnation is very strong among Burman Buddhists and it is commonly believed that by  killing an animal or insect a man may be killing a friend or relative from a previous life. Many Burmans combine Buddhism with a belief in animism and take care to propitiate the spirits or nats. They also fear the ghosts of the dead, It is common enough to see small shrines placed in exceptionally large trees for the benifit of the nat of the tree.</div> <div>       </div> <div> In theory then the Burman is a teetotaler and vegetarian; but in practice the villager drinks liquor, especially the fermented juice of the toddy-palm or rice-spirit, and the townsman drinks western spirits if he can afford them; and though rice is the staple  food <I>ngapi </I>or salted fish is normally eaten with it, and mutton or chicken not uncommonly. There is an aversion to eating beef and in former days to eat it was a aerious crime; this arises from the circumstance that Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism. Tobacco is universally smoked; opium is used in the hill area as a preventive of malaria, but its use is condemned by Burmans generally.</div> <bR> <div> The Burman is devoted to his religion, and the <I>pongyi </I>or monk is a high1y influential person. Unfortunately the attitude of neutrality in matters of religion adopted by the British Government has destroyed the control formerly exercised through the Thathanabaing (or Archbishop ) over the church, and indiscipIine has crept into the <I>sangha </I>or order of monks. Many, moreover assume the yellow robe and shaven head who are not entitled to do so and some of the <I>kyaungsor </I>monasteries have become refuges for criminals, who are sure of finding shelter there and of receiving food from the pious. 0f late years some of the younger <I>pongyis </I>have shown a disposition <I>to </I>intervene in politics, though it is generally held that the Buddhist law forbids this; they have certainly proved a source of trouble. On the other hand the great majority of <I>pongyis </I>are pious and virtuous members of their order and deserve the respect which is accorded them. Generally the pseudo-pongyis are to be found in the towns, especially Rangoon and Mandalay, and are but rarely met in the villages.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >     </FONT>Although Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism, it ,does not admit the principle of caste, and caste distinctions are quite unknown to the  Burman, although it is true that in former days the class, of pagoda slaves were out side the pale of normal Burmese life, and fishermen, as, takers of life, are<B> </B>still today regarded as inferior in some degree. There is also a complete absence of class consciousness among Burmans.</div> <bR> <div> In character the Burman is as a rule easy-going, generous and impulsive. He is commonly regarded as lazy, but actually he works hard when necessary ; the circumstances of his agricultural life, which require intensive effort during and immediately after the rainy season and make cultivation impossible at other seasons, account for his reputation. His impulsiveness and the universal habit of carrying a <I>dah </I>or large knife, which is really an essential tool but which can be also a weapon, account for the high incidence of violent crime.</div> <bR> <div> The Burman is a firm believer in magic, and is convinced that invulnerability  against wounds can be conferred by magical rites, notably by certain forms of tattooing.</div> <bR> <div> In politics the mass of people would appear to have little interest in modem party conflicts and many of them tend to regard the present day politicians as upstarts. There is a lingering nostalgia for the days of the kings, which vents itself in the support given so freely to any <I>minlaung </I>(pre,tender-king) who rises, as happens every few years.</div> <bR> <div> Agriculture is the primary industry and the Burmese are essentially a rural people, living in the villages and jungles, and the majority have the simple unsophisticated outlook of those who live close to the soil.</div> <bR> <div> The Burmese costume consists of a <I>longyi </I>or skirt, <I>aneingyi </I>or jacket. and for men a <I>gaungbaung </I>or turban. The dress of the women is similar to that of men except that the jacket is more tightly fitting and the <I>longyi </I>is tied on in a different manner. The <I>longyi </I>and <I>gaung-baung </I>are, on gala days, of bright coloured silks. Educated Burmans have of late years tended to adopt European costume. Formerly the hair was worn long by men and was fastened in a knot on top; nowadays this is not so common.     I</div> <bR> <div>  The normal Burmese house is of timber or bamboo, raised on piles as a protection against floods and animals; the space beneath is used as a store- house or a cattle-shed. Furniture is simple; a low platform serves as a sleeping place for the whole household, and as a rule everyone sits on the floor. </div> <bR> <div> (2)  <A NAME="arakaneae"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><I>Arakanese</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I> </I>are closely related to the Burmese proper, though their fom of  the Burmese language varies from the language of the Irrawaddy Valley, notably in the retention of the ' R ' sound which in Burmese proper has been replaced by , Y . There is probably a good deal of Bengali blood among the Arakanese. By religion they are Buddhists. In 1931 they numbered 208,251.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> In the hills of Arakan live a variety of races- Chins, <I>Daingnets, Mro, Taungtha, Kami, </I>most of Tibeto-Burman stock, but often somewhat primitive in their way of life.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(3)  <A NAME="tavoyana_and_merguese"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><I>Tavoyana and Merguese</I></FONT><I>, </I>numbering 156,507 and 95,453 respectively  in 1931, are Burmese who, owing to their isolation in the valleys of Tenasserim, speak a definite dialect. There is probably an admixture of  Siamese blood in them. In the south of Tenasserim are found also a small number of Malaya<I>, </I>and the <I>Salons </I>or sea-gypsies who are related to the Malays.</div> <bR> <div> (4)  <A NAME="mons"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>Mons<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" > - The Mons, or Talaings as the Burmese call them, are the principal Burma branch of the Mon-Khmer. They settled in the Irrawaddy delta and what are now the Thaton and .Amherst Districts. They struggled for many centuries to maintain their independence against the Burmese and, were not finally, overcome till the time of .Alaungpaya. .After the British occupation ofTenasserim in 1824-26, many Mons fled there, leaving the Irrawaddy delta almost depopulated. Like the Burmese, the Mons are Buddhists and the great Shwe Dagon Pagoda of Rangoon was originally built by them. They have now been largely absorbed by the Burmese and are not in practice distinguishable from them.     </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >5  <A NAME="shans"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><I>Shans</I></FONT><I>.-The </I>Shan States of Burma occupy principally the plateau east of the Irrawaddy and Sittang valleys, south of the Bhamo district and north of Karenni. Their total area is about 56,000 square miles and their population in 1941 was 1,616,971, giving 28 to the square mile. The Shans are, however, scattered all over northern Burma and are 'found in some numbers in the Tenasserim Division; there are two small Shan States, ruled by their own chiefs, in the upper Chindwin valley, <I>viz" </I>Thaungdut and Singkaling Hkamti, and a group of eight states, known collectively as Hkamti Long, in the Putao region. The major group of states numben thirty-two, varying in size from states such as Kyong of 24 square miles, to Kengtung with its 12,000 square miles. These states were formed, into a. federation in 1922, with a Commissioner at its head directly answerable to the Governor; they lay outside the sphere of the Legislature and Ministry <I>[see. </I>VII <I>(b) below]. </I>The federal council of chiefs administered the principal departments of government, such as Forests and Public Works; otherwise each chief administered his own state according to the customary law.</div> <bR> <div> These states are legally British territory and their relation to the British Government is not, as in the case ofthe Indian States, dependent on treaty <I> </I>but the ancient  method of government by chiefs has been maintained. The chiefs rank in three grades, those with greatest powers being known as Sawb<I>was, </I>the middle grade as <I>myosas, </I>and those with least powers as <I>ngwegunhmus. </I>On accession each chief was given a <I>sanad </I>or order of appointment and his position was dependent on good government and behaviour. The following are the states by name with areas and population in 1931.     </div> <bR> <div> SOUTHERN SHAN STATES</div> <div> <I>     </I></div> <bR> <div>  <I>Sawbwaships</I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>.                                                                          </I></FONT><I>Myosaships</I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>             </I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="437" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ROWS" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="52"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="52" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="29" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> sq.m.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="40"><div> pop,</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="52"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="52" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> sq.m.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="44"><div> pop.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> Kengtnng ..</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=4><NOBR><div> ..        12,000   225,894 Loilong</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 1,098</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 37,163</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mongnai</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><div> .</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="29" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 3,100</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 55,791</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hsahtung</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 471</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 11,965</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><div> .</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Yawnghwe</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="29" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> 1,393 126,513</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="52"><div> Wanyin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 219</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 10,238</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mongpai</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 730</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 21,637</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hopong</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><div> .</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 212</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 11,617</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> Lawksawk </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 2,362</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 30,102</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="52"><div> Sakoi</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="31" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 82</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="44"><div> 2,272</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="52"><div> Laihka</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 1,559</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 36,319</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> Hsamonghkam</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 479</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 25,091</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mawkmai</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 2,803</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 38,796</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="52"><div> Pwela</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><div> ,.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 178</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 14,052</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mongpan</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 2,988</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 20,712</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="52"><div> Maw</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="31"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 741</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="44"><div> 6,775</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> Mongpawn .</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 502</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 23,185</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> Mongnawng</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 1,646</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 42,990</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Samhka</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="25"><div> .</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 314</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 12,907</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2><NOBR><div> Kehsi.Mansam</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 551</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 21,809</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 15 WIDTH="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="18" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 WIDTH="78"><div> Mongkung</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="29"><div> ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="37"><div> 1,593</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 37,208</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 WIDTH="84"><div> Monghsu ..</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="24"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="24" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="39"><div> 470</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 16,410</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="15" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>                                  Ngegunhmus</I></div> <div>                  sq. m.      pop.                            sq. m.     pop.</div> <bR> <div> Pangtara     86      13,139           Pangmi     30     2,789</div> <div> Ywangan     359      8,672           Kyong        24     2,571</div> <bR> <div>                          NORTHERN SHAN STATES</div> <div>                                     <I>Sawbwaahips.</I></div> <bR> <div>                             sq. m.     pop.                                               sq. m.     pop.</div> <bR> <div> Haipaw.              4,591      148,731      Tawngpeng               938      58,398</div> <div> North Hsenwi     6,422      243,499      South Hsenwi.          2,351      82,672</div> <div> Mongmit             3,733       59,865        MangJun                  3,360      38,304</div> <bR> <div> The Shans entered  Burma in the thirteenth century. Being a branch of the Thai race, they call themselves Tai (meaning perhaps,"free "). This race spread over northern Burma into Assam where they founded the Ahom kingdom in,1229; they also occupied Siam (Thailand). The names Shan, Assam, Siam are etymologically connected., A close connection  subsists  today between one of the Southern Shan States and Thailand; thus members of the family of the Kengtung <I>sawbwa </I>have been educated at Bangkok.</div> <bR> <div> Like the Burmese, the Shans are essentially rural and agricultural and like the Burmese they are Buddhists. They have a distinctive costume, the men wearing loose trousers, called <I>baung-bis, </I>an <I>eingyi, </I>and a <I>gaungbaung </I>which, is much bigger than the Burmese turban. Often a broad. brimmed  hat of bamboo is worn. The Shans women dress much as Burmese women do.</div> <div>          </div> <div>         The Shans are hospitable and friendly folk, great hunters and gamblers, and are among'the most pleasant of the races of Burma to deal with.  In 1931 the number of Shans proper, as distinct from other Thai, was 900,204.</div> <div>          </div> <div>         The Shan States are not inhabited exclusively by Shans. Among the minor peoples who are found there are representatives of the Tibeto-Burman and Mon-Khmer stocks as well as of the Tai. There are such interesting races as the Mon-Khmer <I>Padaungs, </I>whose home borders on Karenni and whose women wear the brass rings which gives them their giraffe-like necks; the <I>Palaungs, </I>also Mon-Khmer and closely related to the' Wa, who are found in the Northern Shan States, principally in Tawngpeng, and whose women wear blue jackets, skirt and gaiters, with red collars, and cane hoops round the waist, a costume supposed to represent the appearance of their dragon-ancestor; the <I>lntha, </I>the leg-rowers of the Inle Lake, who are closely related to the Burmese; and the Tai-Chinese <I>Taungthus, </I>whose women wear black clothes and turbans, adorned with silver ornaments; the <I>Hkun; </I>the Leu and the <I>Lem </I>of Kengtung state who are <I>ot </I>Tai stock; the <I>Kaw, Lahu </I>and <I>Muhso, </I>of lolo stock, who also live in Kengtung. A number <I>of </I>the Shan <I>sawbwas </I>belong to these subsidiary races; thus the Kengtung chief is a Hkun, the Tawngpeng chief a Palaung. In the north-east <I>of </I>the Shan States, the Kokang area is inhabited almost exclusively by Chinese, who have their own <I>Myosa.</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >     </FONT>6.  <A NAME="karena"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><I>Karena</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><I>, </I>of Tai-Chinese origin, fall into two main groups, the Pwo generally found in Tenasserim and much mixed with the Mons, and the  Sgaw found in the Karenni and Irrawaddy Delta. Those of Karenni are known as red Karens, whence the name of their hills. Karenni consists of three states, Bawlake, Kantarawadi and Kyebogyi, each ruled by Myosa, their total area is about 4000 sq miles. These three states are not British territory but stand in treaty relationship to the crown.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>   The great majority of Karens have spread from the hillls into the Irrwaddy delta-and the Tenasserim Division. They form one of the most important minorities in Burma and communal tension between them and the Burmans is not unknown. By religion the Karens of  the hills are mostly animists but those of the plains are in the majority Buddhists; Christianity has made some progress among them, partly owing to their tradition,  perhaps derived ultimately, from an Hebraic source, that Y'Wa, the Creator entrusted to His youngest son, the white man, a silver- and gold book to be taken to His eldest son, the Karen ; the book is identified by many with the Bible.</div> <div>        In Karenni and the neighbouring hills as in the Shan States is a variety of races, mainly of Mon-Khmer stock, such as <I>Bre(k), Bwe., Padaung  Y imbaw, </I>Y<I>intale, </I>and the curious <I>Banyok </I>of whom only six families remain owing to their marked distaste for marriage to which they submit only under official compulsion.</div> <div>      </div> <div>        <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >7  <A NAME="kachins"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><I>Kachins</I></FONT><I>.- </I>The original name of the race known as Kachin is Jinghpawi. The word Jinghpaw, is probably of Tibetan origin <I>(Sin-po-a </I>cannibal ) a  this name was probably given by the civilised Tibetans to the wild, semi nomadic border tribes who when on the war path may have in those remote days practised cannibalism. The name, given originally as a reproach by a higher tribe, assumed the dignity of a generic term and racial designation. The opprobrious name Kachin-said to be derived by the Burmans from the Chinese <I>Ye </I>jein.(wild man) is now graduaJly being accepted by Europeans as a generic term describing the Jinghpaws.  Jinghpaw is the racial name for the tribes known as the Hkahkus, Gauris, Lashis, Marus, Atsis, and Nunga as well as for the Jinghpaws proper. </div> <div>         </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >       </FONT>8   <A NAME="the_jinghpaws"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>The Jinghpaws<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >, according to their own history, desoonded from the QentraI Tibetan Plateau about 1,200 years ago by way of the N'Mai and Mali valleys. They have now descended as far down as the Kengtung State though they are mainly concentrated in the hills of the Myitkyina, Bhamo and Katha districts and in the Northern Shan States. The Jinghpaws practise shifting cultivation, which is bound up with their Animism and customs. A small percentage of the race is Christian but in the main a form of Animisim prevails amongst the people.</FONT></div> <div>        </div> <div>         The five parent tribes of the Jinghpaws are generally recognised as the Lahtawng, Marip, Maran, and N'Hkum. These tribes are not usually found in particular areas as they are scattered through the hills; but there are considrable groups of Lahpais in the South Triangle, of Marips in the Kmaing and Hukawng Valley tracts, and of N' Hkums in the North Triangle. The triangle is the country between the Mall and N'Mai rivers. The true Jinghpaws far outnumber all the other members of th  group, (ie Marus, Lashls, etc.), and are both morally and intellectually the more advanced at the present time.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="climate"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>CLIMATE</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Burma is for the greater part within the tropics, lying roughly between the 28th and 10th degrees of latitude; it lies Between the 93rd and 103rd degree of longitude. There is a well defined rainy season, from the middle of May to the middle of October, when the south-west monsoon blows; rain at other seasons is extremely rare. The coastal regions of Arakan and Tenasserim and the mountains of the extreme north have a rainfall of about 200 inches a year; the Irrawaddy delta has about 100 inches; the hills of (the west and east average about 80. The Arakan Yoma cutts off central Burma from the monsoon and this area, known as the Dry Zone, has only from 25 to 45 inches.</div> <bR> <div> The following table shows the annual average rainfall in inches by districts:<I>     </I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Costal Region</B>                     Insein. .     . .         90   Kyaukse                      30</div> <div> Thaton                         216     Tharrawaddy     . .88   Myingyan                    26</div> <div> Tavoy                           215     Henzada     . .       84   Pakokku                     24</div> <div> Sandoway                   211     <B>Intermediate Zone </B>   <B>Northern Zone</B></div> <div> Akyab                          203     Toungoo     . .        83   Myitkyina                     19</div> <div> Amherst                      190     Prome..     . .         47   Bhamo                         72</div> <div> Kyaukpyu                    185     <B>Dry Zone</B>.                     Katha                          58</div> <div> Mergui                         161     Thayetmyo     . .     45   <B>Hills</B><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>lrrawaddy Delta</B>.                  Yamethin     . .        38   Arakan Hill Tracts    125</div> <div> Pegu                            127     Minbu     . .             25    Salween                   111</div> <div> Ranthawaddy              113     Shwebo ..     . .      34    Chin Hills                    90</div> <div> Bassein                       109     Mandalay     . .       33    Upper Chindwin        67</div> <div> Myaungmya                104      Meiktila..     . .        33    Karenni                      60</div> <div> Rangoon                       99      Magwe..     . .         31   Northern Shan States 50</div> <div> Maubin                          96      Sagaing ..     . .      31   Southern Shan States  45</div> <div> Pyapon                         96      Lower Chindwin ..  31</div> <div> The hottest season comes immediately before the rains begin; a shade temperature of about 100 degrees may then be expected in the Irrawaddy delta, while the Dry Zone runs to a few degrees over 100. In the coolest months, December and January, the temperature in southern Burma may fall to the neighbourhood of 60 degrees minimum, and in the Dry Zone to less than 60. In the hills temperatures are lower and ground frost occurs in the cold weather.</div> <bR> <div> The delta and coastlands are extremely humid at all times of year. The following table shows the mean monthly temperature in degrees F at Hmawbi north of Rangoon, at Mahlaing in the Dry Zone, and at Akyab.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>AVERAGE TEMPERATURE</U></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>    </B></FONT><B>      </B><B>Jan     Feb     Mar     Apr     May     Jun     Jul     Aug     Sep     Oct     Nov     Dec</B></div> <div> <B>Hmawbi</B></div> <div> <B>Max</B>     85      91       96         96       94         84        83      83         84        84        87        87     </div> <div> <B>Min</B>      60      61       69         82       77         75        76      75         75        73        71        66</div> <bR> <div> <B>MahIaing</B></div> <div> <B>Max</B>     92     93      102       103     100         91       92      92         95         93       98         93</div> <div> <B>Min</B>      60     61        67         75      77          75        76     76          75         72       69         59</div> <bR> <div> <B>Akyab</B></div> <div> <B>Max</B>     80     83       88         89       87          84        85      86         86         86        86         83</div> <div> <B>Min</B>      51     59       64         76       77          76        77      77         76         75         71        62     </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> back to mainpage<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="burma_1942.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BURMA"><U>BURMA</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U><IMG SRC="22932320.gif" border=0 width="50" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="burma_m.htm" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U> </U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="burma_m.htm" TITLE="PEOPLE OF BURMA 1942"><U>BACK TO TOP</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>