Lawksawk
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Lawksawk
(Burmese, Yatsaik). — State in the central division of the Southern Shan States, Burma, lying between 20° 58' and 22° 16' N. and 96° 37' and 97° 20' E., with an area (including its dependency of Mongping) of 2,197 square miles. On the north it is bounded by the Hsipaw State, from which it is separated by the Myitnge or Nam Tu river ; on the east by Mongkiing, Laihka, and Mongnai ; on the south by Yawnghwe and two small Myelat States ; and on the west by the Myelat States of Yengan and Maw and by Kyaukse District. The Mongping (Burmese, Maingpyhi) dependency occupies the south-eastern portion, from which it is cut off by the Nam Et river. The State is broken and mountainous, the hills having a general north and south trend, with high ranges running along the eastern and western boundaries and down the centre. The eastern portion drains into the Nam Lang and its tributary the Nam Et, which run northwards throughout the length of the State to join the Nam Tu ; the western portion is watered by the Zawgyi, which is a tributary of the Irrawaddy, and irrigates a large area of Kyaukse District. The middle and southern portions of the State consist of a fine rolling plateau, 3,500 feet above the sea, on which clumps of pine and oak stand in fine grassy glades. Of the several important forest areas, the richest is known as the Pyaungshu forest. The crops grown in the State are rice, sesamum, cotton, ground-nuts, and oranges. The Taungthus cultivate the hill-sides, and the Shans and Danus irrigate their crops in the valleys. Thanatpet is cultivated for cigar-wrappers. The State had been ravaged and almost entirely depopulated at the time of annexation (j-^^ article on Southern Shan States). In 1901 the population numbered only 24,839 (distributed in 397 villages), of whom 11,847 spoke Shan, 10,077 Burmese (Burmans or Danus), and 2,056 Taungthu. There are a few Palaungs and Taungyos. The capital, Lawksawk (population, 1,648), is well situated on a slope rising from the valley of the Zawgyi, and was once strongly fortified. The revenue in 1903-4 amounted to Rs. 27,000, the main source being thathameda ) and the expenditure included Rs. 14,000 tribute to the British Government, Rs, 6,700 contribution to the privy purse, Rs. 2,600 pay of officials, Rs. 2,500 cost of general administration, and Rs. 1,300 public works.
