Chapter I: Preface

Upper Burma was invaded and annexed in the year 1885. The work hardly occupied a month. In the following year the subjugation of the people by the destruction of all formidable armed resistance was effected; lastly, the pacification of the country, including the establishment of an orderly government with peace and security, occupied four years.

As head of the civil administration, I was mainly concerned with this last phase.

It would be a difficult task to give a continuous history of the military operations by which the country was subjugated. The resistance opposed to our troops was desultory, spasmodic, and without definite plan or purpose. The measures taken to overcome it necessarily were affected by these characteristics, although they were framed on definite principles. A history of them would resolve itself into a number of more or less unconnected narratives.

A similar difficulty, but less in degree, meets the attempt to record the measures which I have included in the term "pacification." Certain definite objects were always before us. The policy to be followed for their attainment was fixed, and the measures and instruments by which it was to be carried out were selected and prepared. But I have found it best not to attempt to follow any order, either chronological or other, in writing this narrative.

My purpose in writing has been to give an intelligible narrative of the work done in Burma in the years following the annexation. It was certainly arduous work done under great difficulties of all kinds, and, from the nature of the case, with less chance of recognition or distinction than of disease or death. The work was, I believe, well done, and has proved itself to be good.

My narrative may not attract many who have no connection with Burma. But for those who served in Burma during the period covered by it, whether soldiers or civilians, it may have an interest, and especially for those still in the Burma Commission and their successors.

I hope that Field-Marshal Sir George White, V.C., to whom, and to all the officers and men of the Burma Field Force, I owe so much, may find my pages not without interest.

I have endeavoured to show how the conduct of the soldiers of the Queen, British and Indian, helped the civil administration to establish peace.

I believe, as I have said, that our work has been successful. The credit, let us remember, is due quite as much to India as to Britain. How long would it have taken to subjugate and pacify Burma if we had not been able to get the help of the fighting-men from India, and what would have been the cost in men and money? For the Burmans themselves I, in common with all who have been associated with them, have a sincere affection. Many of them assisted us from the first, and from the Upper Burmans many loyal and capable gentlemen are now helping to govern their country justly and efficiently.

It has been brought home to me in making this rough record how many of those who took part in this campaign against disorder have laid down their lives. I hope I may have helped to do honour to their memories.

I have to thank all the kind friends who have sent me photographs to illustrate this book, and especially Sir Harvey Adamson, the present Lieutenant-Governor, for his kindness in making my wants known.

C. H. C.
_February, 1912._

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE ADMINISTRATION OF BURMA 1
II. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONERSHIP OF BURMA 19
III. UPPER BURMA 30
IV. MANDALAY 37
V. DEALING WITH DACOITS 60
VI. CIVIL AND MILITARY WORKS 66
VII. A VISIT TO BHAMO 74
VIII. DISARMAMENT 80
IX. TROUBLE WITH THE WUNTHO SAWBWA 90
X. MILITARY REPLACED BY POLICE 95
XI. BURMA BECOMES A FRONTIER PROVINCE 100
XII. DACOITY IN THE MINBU AND MYINGYAN DISTRICTS 107
XIII. TROUBLE IN THE MAGWÈ DISTRICT 115
XIV. GRADUAL CREATION OF AN EFFICIENT POLICE FORCE 128
XV. THE SHAN STATES 133
XVI. THE SHAN STATES (_continued_) 160
XVII. THE KARENNIS, OR RED KARENS, AND SAWLAPAW 188
XVIII. THE TRANS-SALWEEN STATES 209
XIX. BHAMO AND MOGAUNG 234
XX. BHAMO, THE SOUTHERN TOWNSHIPS, AND MÖNG MIT 268
XXI. THE CHINS 287
XXII. THE CHIN-LUSHAI CAMPAIGN 308
XXIII. INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF BURMA 337
INDEX 343

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PICKET ON THE CHIN HILLS _Frontispiece_
FACING PAGE
THE PALACE, MANDALAY--"CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE" 6
THAYETMYO--MAIL STEAMER LEAVING 26
A PONGHI'S FUNERAL PROCESSION 38
MANDALAY 48
SHWÈTAKYAT PROMONTORY OPPOSITE SAGAING 64
"THE MOAT," MANDALAY, AND NORTH WALL OF FORT DUFFERIN 70
OUTER BAMBOO STOCKADE OF BURMESE FRONTIER VILLAGE 86
CONSULTATION OF VILLAGE HEADMEN WITH CHIEF COMMISSIONER 90
BURMESE DACOITS BEFORE TRIAL-WORST CHARACTERS AND
NATIVE POLICE GUARD 110
SAW MÖNG, SAWBWA OF YAWNGHWÈ, AND HIS CONSORT 142
PADAUNG LADIES--SHAN STATES 154
A JUNGLE CAMP IN THE SHAN STATES 166
PAGODAS AT MANG KAO-SHAN STATES 180
GROUP OF RED KARENS 190
SAWLAWI--SAWBWA GANTARAWADI. (RED KARENS) 202
THE EASTERNMOST POINT OF THE BRITISH-INDIAN EMPIRE--REACH
OF THE ME KHONG, WHERE OUR BOUNDARY
MARCHES WITH FRENCH INDO-CHINA 212
KACHIN WOMEN AND CHILDREN 244
YAWGIN WITH CROSS-BOW (MOUNTAINS NORTH OF MYIT KYINA) 250
KACHIN WOMEN (NORTHERN IRRAWADDY) 250
BHAMO BATTALION DRAWN UP FOR INSPECTION 252
GETTING A DHOOLIE UP AN AWKWARD BIT 268
CLIMBING UP THE STEEP CHIN HILLS (CHIN CAMPAIGN) 268
BARGAINING WITH HAKA CHINS 276
MARCHING INTO THE KLANG KLANG COUNTRY (CHIN-LUSHAI
CAMPAIGN) 282
HAKA SLAVE-WOMAN SMOKING A PIPE 284
HAKA BRAVES 284
ON THE CHIN HILLS--ARRANGING PLAN OF ATTACK (CHIN-LUSHAI
CAMPAIGN) 288
HAKA CHINS 292
A CHIN "ZU" DRINK 292
IN THE SECOND DEFILE OF THE IRRAWADDY BELOW BHAMO 304
BURMESE LADIES MAKING A CALL 324

MAPS

MAP OF SHAN STATES 133
MAP OF TRANS-SALWEEN 209
MAP OF BHAMO MONGMIT 234
MAP OF CHIN HILLS, ETC. 253
MAP OF KACHIN HILLS, BHAMO, KATHA 303

THE PACIFICATION OF BURMA