TENASSERIM, a long strip of country extending along
the west coast of Further India, between N. Lat. 10. 48.
and 18. 52.; E. Long. 96. 35. and 99. 30. Length from
north to south 500 miles, greatest breadth about 80, area
estimated at 30,000 square miles. It forms part of the
British possessions, and is divided into the four provinces of
Amherst, Tavoy, Ye, and Mergui. It is bounded on the
E. and N. by Siam and its tributary states, from which it
is separated by the Siamese range of mountains; on the
W. it is separated from Pegu by the Salween, and bounded
also by the Bay of Bengal; while on the S. it comes to a
point at the mouth of the River Packshan. The coast of
this country, which is extensive in comparison with the
area, presents in its general character a great uniformity. It
is, except at the deltas of the larger rivers, bold and rocky,
indented with many creeks, and lined with clusters of small
islands, the most important of which is the Mergui Archi-
pelago, lying opposite the province of that name. The
general character of the surface is mountainous; but there
are also extensive plains and valleys, watered by rivers of
considerable size. The mountains run in three parallel
chains from N.N.W. to S.S.E., and vary in height from
3000 to nearly 5000 feet above the sea, those nearest the
sea being inferior to the more inland ranges. From base to
summit they are covered with dense forests and brushwood,
which extend in some places to the very edge of the sea.
The largest river entirely within the limits of the country
is the Tenasserim, which flows for about 200 miles south-
wards, parallel to the mountains, then turns westwards,
and falls by several mouths into the sea. The Salween is
a much larger river, but belongs more properly to the
Burman empire than to Tenasserim, as the greater part
of its course is in the former country, and it only separates
for a short distance Tenasserim from Pegu. It flows
southwards, and enters the sea near Moulmain. The Sitang
and the Attaran, which both flow from east to west, fall
into the Salween; a short distance above its mouth are the
chief other rivers of the country. The Packshan forms
the S.E. boundary of Tenasserim, and flows S.W. into the
sea. The tide flows for some distance up all these rivers;
and they can all be navigated, though the channels are
sometimes intricate and interrupted. And not only do they
thus facilitate internal communications and commerce, but
by annually overflowing the surrounding country they also
greatly fertilize the soil. The climate is remarkably uni-
form, both in the different parts of the country and in the
different seasons of the year. The heat is in general very
great, especially in the month of April, when it rises above
100°. From June till October the rainy season lasts; but
in some parts of the country there are showers more or
less frequent through all the year. It is remarkable that,
notwithstanding its heat and moisture, Tenasserim is a very
healthy country; the mortality both among Europeans and
Hindoos being less here than in any other part of British
India. Agriculture is only carried on to a limited extent,
as but a small proportion of the area has been cleared and
brought into cultivation. Rice is one of the chief crops
raised, especially in the north, where the alluvial regions
are more extensive than in the other parts. Cotton is not
indigenous to the country, but has been introduced from
Western India; it is grown to a small extent, chiefly along
the rivers' banks. The sugar-cane thrives well, but is not
extensively cultivated. Tobacco is raised for home con-
sumption, as also are the betel-nut, the areca-nut, and
other plants. The vast forests afford supplies of valuable
timber. Teak grows in abundance on the upper course of the
Attaran; jack-trees, sapan-trees, sandalwood-trees, and many
trees yielding caoutchouc are also found here. Spices of
all kinds are abundant. The wild animals which roam
over the uncleared country are numerous; elephants, rhino-
ceroses, and tigers being the chief. Of the mineral re-
sources of the country one of the most important is coal,
which is found in considerable quantities and of good quality
near Tavoy, and also on the River Packshan. Iron exists
throughout the country, and tin in the southern portion.
Gold has been found in the sands of some rivers, and
copper in some of the islands of the Mergui Archipelago. In
some places sulphureous springs exist. The tin seems to
have been worked at a remote period; but the other minerals
have not yet been turned to much account. Tenasserim
is inhabited by several different races of people, and it is
not certainly known which of them formed the original popu-
lation. The Talians, who speak a different language from
the Burmese, are at present the most numerous; but with
them are intermingled Karens, Siamese, Burmese, Peguans,
and Tounthoos, and the language of Burmah is used in all public transactions. The prevailing religion is Buddhism, except among the Karens, who have no religion except what is embodied in vague popular traditions. Churches and mission stations have been erected throughout the province by the American Baptist Missionary Society; and much has been done by these means to improve the moral character and condition of the people. The early history of Tenasserim is involved in obscurity and confusion. The country seems to have been now in the hands of the Siamese, now in those of Pegu, and now in those of the Burmese, who finally gained a lasting hold over it about 1760, and retained it under their oppressive government till it was ceded to the English by the treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. It was then in a miserable state, with a scanty population, and yielding no revenue; but under the British government it has rapidly risen to a very prosperous condition. Pop. 191,476.