a maritime province of Eastern India. It was formerly an independent kingdom, but fell by conquest to the Burmese in 1783, and was by them ceded to the British in 1826. It is distributed into the districts of Ak-yab, Ramree, and Sandoway; and is bounded by the Chittagong district on the north, from which it is separated by the small river Naaf; by the Yoomadoung range of mountains on the east, dividing it from Ava and the British district of Pegu; and on the south and west by the Bay of Bengal. It lies between Lat. 16° 2' and 21° 33'; and Long. 92° 10' and 94° 50'. Its length from its northern extremity to Cape Negrais is about 400 miles; its greatest breadth is in the northern part, where it falls little short of 90 miles, but it gradually diminishes towards the south, until at the extreme point it tapers to a narrow strip not more than 15 miles across. The coast is studded with several islands, the most important and fertile of which are Chehuba, Ramree, and Shapooria. The Yoomadoung Mountains, forming part of the great chain stretching southward from Assam, attain a considerable elevation, averaging in this part from 3000 to 4000 feet, while one portion of the range called the Blue Mountain, situate about Lat. 22° 37', Long. 93° 11', rises 8000 feet above the level of the sea. Over these mountains there are several passes; that called the Aeng route, which leads from the village of that name to the Burmese capital, being superior to any of the others. On the summit of the ridge by this route, and immediately on the frontier line between the British and Ava territories, the Burmese had constructed the stockade of Nariengain. The fortification was originally of little consequence, deriving its importance solely from its position, which commanded the ascent as well from the side of Ava as from that of Arracan; but during the war of 1852 the Burmese had so added to the strength of the works that the place was deemed unassailable, except by mortars and rockets. A small force, however, under the command of Captain Nuttall, accompanied by Captain Sutherland, succeeded, on the night of the 6th January 1853, in arriving unobserved within a short distance of the spot. After a brief pause the men moved silently towards the stockade, and it being ascertained that the garrison were asleep, orders were given to charge the gate in force, and the fort regarded as impregnable was thus captured by surprise.

The principal rivers of the province are the Myoo, Kula-dyne or Arracan River, Leyryro, Talak, and Ayeng. A range of hills of no great height skirts the sea-shore; and the adjacent valleys are covered with thick jungle, and filled with wild animals, among which are the elephant, tiger, leopard, bison, and wild hog; but the natural history of Arracan has not received much attention, and the cursory notices of travellers afford the only existing information. Owing to the moist temperature (the periodical rains continuing from May till October, and occasionally to December) this tract of country is frequently flooded; and being much intersected by rivers and inlets of the sea, communication between the villages is generally maintained by means of boats. The soil is fertile, but the frequent rains and exhalations under the burning sun of the tropics are adverse to the European constitution. The staple produce is rice, of which the crops are represented as being the richest in India, and affording, in addition to the demand for home consumption, a large surplus for exportation. The other chief productions are sugar, cotton, tobacco, hemp, and indigo. The fruits, which are abundant and of superior quality, comprise pine-apples, plantains, mangoes, jacks, sweet limes, cocoa-nuts, and others requiring a tropical climate. The forests produce an abundance of excellent timber, the principal trees being oak and teak; but owing to the difficulty of conveyance from the hills, timber is usually imported from the district of Bascaia. Salt is produced in great plenty by solar evaporation, and forms a principal article of exportation. Limestone is procured from the adjacent islands.

The aboriginal inhabitants of Arracan are termed Mughs, who with Burmans, Mussulmans, sundry hill-tribes, and immigrants from various places, constitute the population. If, as is generally believed, the increasing numbers of a people indicate a wise and benevolent government, Arracan bears testimony to the character of that under which it has been placed. At the period of its occupation by the British the population did not exceed 100,000. In 1831 it had increased Arrack to 173,000, and in 1839 to 248,000. It is now upwards of 321,000. The Mughals follow in their religion the Buddhist doctrines which are universally maintained throughout Burmah. The priests are selected from all classes of men, and one of their chief employments is the education of children. Instruction is consequently widely diffused, and few persons, it is said, are found in the province who are unable to read. The qualifications for entering into the priestly order are good conduct and a fair measure of learning; such conduct at least as is good, according to Buddhist tenets, and such learning as is esteemed among their votaries. Polygamy is in general practice.

The natives of Arracan trace their history as far back as A.D. 701, and give a lineal succession of 120 native princes down to modern times. According to them their empire had at one period far wider limits, and extended over Ava, part of China, and a portion of Bengal. This extension of their empire is not, however, corroborated by any known facts in history. At different times the Moguls and Peguans carried their arms into the heart of the country. The Portuguese, during the era of their greatness in Asia, gained a temporary establishment in Arracan. But in 1783 the province was finally conquered by the Burmese; from which period until its cession to the British in 1826 under the treaty of Yandaboo, its history forms part of that of Burmah.

The old city of Arracan, formerly the capital of the province, is situated on an inferior branch of the Kuladyne River. Its remoteness from the ports and harbours of the country, combined with the extreme unhealthiness of its locality, have led to its gradual decay subsequently to the formation of the comparatively recent settlement of Akyab, which place is now the chief town of the province. Arracan is distant north-east from Akyab fifty miles; Lat. 20. 42. Long. 93. 24.