Myitkyina Town
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.
Myitkyina Town
Head-quarters of the District of the same name in Upper Burma, situated in 25 23' N. and 97'^ 24' E., on a level plain surrounded by hills on the western bank of the Irra- waddy, and at the terminus of the Sagaing-Myitkyina railwa}-, 724 miles from Rangoon. Population (1901), 3,618, The station has risen to importance only since the British occupation. Prior to 1892 it was a small Shan-Burmese village, its name denoting the fact thai it was near to the banks of the great river, the Irrawaddy ; and even now the military police and the officials form more than a fourth of the inhabitants.
The town was attacked by a party of Sana Kachins in December, 1892, when the military police siibahddr-Vi\?^]QX was killed and the subdivisional officer's courthouse and residence were burnt ; but since then its history has not been marked by any stirring incidents. Myitkyina is increasing in importance as an ex- change for Chinese traders, who bring large quantities of opium, and take away india-rubber and jade and foreign commodities brought up by rail. Details of the frontier trade, which converges almost entirely at Myitkyina, are given in the District article. The town contains a bazar and the usual public buildings.
