Burma: Census of India 1901 Vol. I - Khamkoo

Ixiv
APPENDICES.
8. During the past decade a goodly number of persons have returned to their native
States, who had left them owing to the disturbances of previous years. No record is. avail-,
able of the number of such people, and the fact can only be stated generally. There has
been some migration to Hsipaw from Burma and to North and South Hsenwi from places
beyond the Salween, both from British and foreign territory. The southern movement of the
Kachin tribes continues. Here and there they have been checked, but on the whole they
spread a little farther each year. Kachin villages are found in South Hsenwi, in Tawngpeng,
and in the Mong Long sub-State of Hsipaw. They have settled on the fringe of I he Wa
country and in Mang L6n and have begun to get a footing in Kengtung. These latter districts
are beyond the area covered by Census operations in the Northern Shan States and
are only referred to in connection with the southward movement of the Kachins. It is a
serious matter for the Shan population. The more far-sighted recognize it as such, and all
keenly resent it. But the Shans have neither the numbers nor the fighting qualities to check
the tide.
9. The railway has not yet been opened for traffic beyond Nawnghkio in the Hsumhsai
sub-State of Hsipaw. Its influence on the population is still rather a question of the future.
But it has already begun to be felt in Hsipaw State. Natives of India have settled at
Nawnghkio and Hsipaw town, and stray bunniahs have penetrated to some of the larger villages
along the main cart-roads. Railway construction has of course attracted Indian and
Chinese coolies. These are shown separately in the railway returns. The Chinese [locally
known as Maingthas (Burmese) ; Tai No, Tai Na (Shan)] come from the Chinese Shan States.
Men of this race visit the Northern Shan States every year. They work at road-making,
irrigation, carpentering, sawing timber, blacksmithing, &c, and leave at the end of the dry
weather.
The immediate effect of cart-roads is often to reduce the number of the villages through
which they pass. Demands for supplies and transport, the trouble of protecting their crops
from mules and bullocks, &c, are cordially disliked by the ease-loving Shan. He takes
time to realize that he can sell his produce at far better prices than he ever got before. It
thus happens that small villages frequently move when a cart-road is opened, while on an
established and well travelled route new villages and small bazaars spring up. Instances in
recent years of both processes could be given.
10. No tribe was discovered which has not already been reported on.
11. The cost of the operations was :—
as follows
Rs. A. P.
(a) Contingencies ... ... ... ... 434 o o
(b) Pay of two special Census officers from the 25th
October 1900 to the 30th April 1901 ... 2,365 12 10
(c) Travelling allowance of above ... ... 1,407 4
(d) Pay of two interpreters, one from the 1st November to
the 15th April (Rs. no), one from the 1st November
to April (Rs. 113-5-4) ... ... 223 5 4
Total ... 4,430 6 2
12. (b) Estimated area.—The Kachin districts of North Hsenwi were treated as an
estimated area. A list of the various circles and the estimated population of each is appended.
The latter was arrived at by applying the average ascertained number per household
of actually counted villages to the total number of houses in the area. The result of course
can only be regarded as an approximation to the true population. Neither the number of
households nor the factor by which these have been multiplied has any claim to accuracy.
The number of houses has been obtained (a) by actual count between November and April,
(b) from returns made by headmen within the same period, and (c) from last year's revenue
lists. Reliance can be placed only on the first named, but as the latter returns were connected
with revenue assessment it is obvious that they will only contain errors of omission. It
may therefore be claimed that the population of the estimated area is at least tl.it stated, and
perhaps a good deal more.
The area included is not a compact block. It comprises settlements of Kachins in various
parts of the State from North to South. Its extent in square miles can hardly be given, but, if
desired, a map will be submitted roughly showing the localities embraced.
People of other races living amongst the Kachins are included. Kachins living in Shan
or Palaung districts and subject to the authority of the local officials are excluded. These
have been enumerated in the standard form. The estimate therefore does not deal exclusively
with Kachitis, nor does it include all Kachins. A table showing distribution by races
is appended.
The average number of persons to a house in the case of the Kachins was calculated
from actual count of a small number of villages only. This is regrettable, but it was uuavoidable.
From the point of view of the Census (as well as for other considerations) the Northern
frontier circles had to be visited first. These had not yet been brought under revenue assessment,
and no information as to the number of houses, or even of villages, was available. By
the time lists of houses had been obtained, but a few weeks remained before the close of Census
operations to devote to more settled districts. The newly-administered districts were not