Karenni

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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.

Karenni

The country of the Red Karens, Burma, lying on both banks of the Salween, between 18 degree 50' and 19 degree 55' N. and 97 degree 10' and 97 degree 50' E. It is bounded on the north by the Shan States, on the south by Salween District, on the east by Siam, and on the west by Toungoo District. At Loikaw, a village of 2,042 inhabitants towards the north of the tract, an Assistant Superintendent of the Shan States is posted as Agent of the British Government, with a military police guard under an assistant commandant, and control is exercised by him and the Superintendent at Taunggyi over the chiefs. The tract is divided in a general way into eastern and western Karenni, the former consisting of the single State of Gantarawadi (2,500 square miles), the latter of the four small States of Kyebogyi (350 square miles), Bawlake (200 square miles), Nammekon (50 square miles), and Naungpale (30 square miles). The north-western portion is an open, fairly level plain, well watered and in some parts swampy. It lies in the basin of the Nam Pilu or Balu stream, which drains the Inle Lake, and, after flowing past Loikaw, sinks into the ground to the south-east of that village before joining the Nam Pawn. The rest of the Karenni country is mountainous, with occasional fertile valleys, but for the most part arid. It is watered by the Salween and its tributary the Nam Pawn, which are separated by a ridge 5,000 feet in height.

Nothing definite is known of the history of the Karenni States prior to the middle of the nineteenth century. During the latter part of that century they were the scene of constant hostilities, occasioned by incursions from the Shan States and by intestinal disputes. Certain features of their history since the annexation of Upper Burma are given in the article on the Southern Shan States. Gantarawadi was heavily fined for the disturbances which Sawlapaw had occasioned in 1888, and Sawlawi undertook to pay a tribute of Rs. 5,000 to the British Government. This chief was raised to the dignity of Sawbwa in 1 90 1. The other four chiefs were formally recognized as feudatories in 1892, and appointed Myozas. Kyebogyi, Bawlake, and Nammekon pay a tribute of Rs. 100 each, and Naungpale Rs. 50. The population of Karenni was estimated in 1901 at 45,975, distributed as follows over the different States : Gantarawadi, 26,333 ; Kyebogyi, 9,867 ; Bawlake, 5,701; Nammekon, 2,629; and Naungpale, 1,265. The inhabitants are said to have decreased considerably of late, owing to the diminution of water in the Nam Pilu valley, the most cultivated part of the country. More than half are Red Karens, who are at a low stage of civilization, and very far from clean in their persons and habits. Other people represented are Shans, Taungthus, Bres, Padaungs, and White and other Karens. The chief wealth of the country is teak timber, rich forests lying on the left bank of the Salween, on both banks of the Nam Pawn, and in the north-western States. The total revenue of the States in 1893-4 was Rs. 37,000.