Burma: Census of India 1901 Vol. I - Khamkoo

—
xxvi
APPENDICES.
From G. F. S. Christie, Esq., i.c.s., Deputy Commissioner, Henzada, to the Superintendent of Census
Operations, Burma, No.—2ioo-4 r.— i, dated the 22nd April igoi.
I HAVE the honour, in accordance with Census Circular No. 24 of 190 1, to forward the
following
*****
brief report on the Census opcations in the Henzada district.
(a) In accordance with the instructions contained in Revenue Department letter No. 112-
3 CO., of the 6th April 1900, from the Revenue Secretary to the Government of Burma, the
forms for the preparation of the preliminary register (Appendix A) which were received from
the Superintendent of Government Printing, Burma, about the middle of April 1900 were
compiled in this office.
*****
They were then sent out to Township Officers to be carefully checked and corrected
whenever necessary.
* * * * *
After this was done, the registers were sent in for the preparation of abstracts showing
the number of villages,
*****
houses, blocks, &c.
When the whole of these registers and abstracts had been finished, circle lists were prepared
in the District office and completed on the 22nd of October igoo, but not sent out for
distribution to Supervisors till the 7th November owing to a slight delay in the preparation
of the charge and circle maps.
(b) House-numbering was begun on the 1st of October 1900 and completed on the 12th
January 1901.
* * * * *
(c) The total number of Charge Superintendents, Supervisors, and Enumerators in the
*****
dist'ict (including the towns of Lemyethna and Okpo) was eight, 195 and 2,302 respectively,
the Charge Superintendents being Inspectors of Land Records and the Supervisors and Enumerators
being circle thugyis, revenue surveyors, taiksayes, village headmen, and a few private ,
individuals.
(d) The preliminary enumeration was begun about the 15th of January and completed
about the end of February.
An almost universal error was the omission to enter the name Karen as a language in
which a person might have literary knowledge. The large majority of Christian Sgaw-
Karens can read and write this dialect and are accustomed in their ordinary daily life to use
it in preference to Burmese. It is to be feared that by this omission the true extent to which
the dialect is used may be insufficiently gauged. On the other hand, in this district at least,
literary attainments
*****
of any kind are rare amongst the Pwo-Karens. In a note on the Census
operations in Henzada Municipality the difficulties of classifying natives of India have been
pointed out, and it may only be said that similar errors on a smaller scale prevailed in the district.
It will be a long time indeed before Burmans begin to realize that there is no general
language in use named kulak. Perhaps they will begin to give names of their own to the
different dialects instead of trying to master the foreign pronunciation.
For the next Census I would suggest that a longer period, at least a full two months, be
allowed for checking the schedules. It is quite impossible for Subdivisional or even Township
Officers to get round the whole of their changes in a month and carry on their other duties
at the same time,
*****
while the Charge Superintendents have generally failed to do the amount
of work that is required.
The Subdivisional Officer, Henzada, specially commends the work of Maung Po Thu
Daw, the Myook of Okpo, and I should say that in all probability the work was better done
in Okpo and Lemyethna townships than in any other portion of the district. Mr. Andrew at
Myanaung took interest and gave careful instruction to his Township Officers.
(