A Burmese wonderland; a tale of travel in Lower and ... - Khamkoo

CHAPTER VII.
Tenasserim.
(Map Squares E.N. and E.O.)
South of Moulmein, Burmese territory dwindles to a
long, thin strip of sea-coast, and shares with Siam the
narrow peninsula which stretches away down towards
the Malay States. Finally Burma ends in Victoria Point
and all the beautiful islands of the Mergui Archipelago.
Moulmein itself is only 40 miles wide in parts.
Tavoy, at its widest, is only 60 miles across : and in
places Mergui is but 10 or 15 miles wide, though its
''
townships " extend far out to sea to include the 80
islands of the Archipelago.
These three areas—Moulmein, Tavoy and Mergui'
once had a geographical importance which they no
longer possess. Moulmein, of course, was originally the
capital of British Burma. For many centuries beiore
that, Tenasserim (48 miles up the Tenasserim River), and
its seaport of Mergui, were the western termini of a
great trade route from China and Siam. The Tenasserim
route, while avoiding the pirate perils of the
Straits of Malacca, gave Siam safe and easy access to
the Indian Ocean : and on account of their commercial
importance Tenasserim and Mergui received a great deal
> Map Squares E.M. j E.N. ; and E.O.
E, BW 4