Burma
Burma names 4 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Burma A country east of India and south of China
An Encyclopaedia of Occultism (1920)
A country east of India and south of China , and a province of British India, inhabited by an indigenous stock of Indo-Chinese type which originally migrated from Western China, at different periods, and which is now represented by three principal divisions, the Talaings, the Shans, and the Bama, or Burmese proper, although groups of several other allied races are found in the more remote portions of the country. The civilised part of the community, which, roughly speaking, is perhaps one half of the population, recognizes a religion the constituents of which are animism (q.v.) and Indian Brahmanic demonolatry, modified to some extent by Buddhistic influences, and this cult is steadily making progress in the less enlightened and outlying tribes. We have here to do only with that portion of the popular belief which deals with the more directly occult and with superstition, and we shall refrain from any description of Burmese religion proper which presents similar features to those cults from which it takes its origin, and which are fully described elsewhere. The Burmese believe the soul immaterial and independent of the body, to which it is only bound by special attraction. It can quit and return to the body at will, but can also be captured and kept from returning to it. After death the soul hovers near the corpse as an invisible butterfly, known as leippya. A witch or demon may capture the leippya while it wanders during the hours of sleep, when sickness is sure to result. Offerings are made to the magician or devil to induce him to release the soul. The Kachins of the Northern Hills of Burma believe that persons having the evil eye possess two souls, the secondary soul being the cause of the malign influence. Belief in Spirits. - Belief in spirits, mostly malign, is very general in Burma, and takes a prominent place in the religious belief of the people. The spirits of rain, wind Burma and the heavenly bodies are in that condition of evolution which usually results in their becoming fuli-fledged deities, with whom placation gives place to worship. But the spirits of the forest are true demons with well-marked animistic characteristics. Thus the nat or seiktha dwells in every tree or grove. His nature is usually malign, but occasionally we find him the tutelar or guardian of a village. In any case he possesses a shrine where he may be propiatiated by gifts of food and drink. Several of these demoniac figures have almost achieved godhead, so widespread have their cults become, and Hmin Nat , Chiton, and Wannein Nat , may be instanced as fiends of power, the dread of which has spread across extensive district. The nats are probably of Indian origin, and although now quite animistic in character may at one time have been members of the Hindu pantheon. Many spirit families such as the Seikkaso, Akathaso , and Bommaso, who inhabit various parts of the jungle trees, are of Indian origin. The fulfilment of every wish depends upon the nats or spirits, who are all powerful as far as man is concerned. They are innumerable. Every house has its complement, who swarm in its several rooms and take up their abode in its hearth, door-posts, verandahs, and corners. The nats also inhabit or inspire wild beasts, and all misfortune is supposed to emanate from them. The Burmans believe that the more materialistic dead haunt the living with a malign purpose. The people have a great dread of their newly deceased ancestors, whom they imagine to haunt the vicinity of their dwellings for the purpose of ambushing them. No dead body may be carried to a cemetery except by the shortest route, even should this necessitate the cutting a hole in the wall of the house. The spirits of those who have died a violent death haunt the scene of their fatality. Like the ancient Mexicans (See Ciupipiltin, the Burmans have a great dread of the ghosts of women who have died in childbed. The Kachins believe such women to turn into vampires (swawmx) who are accompanied by their children when these die with them. The spirits of children are often supposed to inhabit the bodies of cats and dogs. The Burmans are extremely circumspect as to how they speak and act towards the inhabitants of the spirit-world, as they believe that disrespect or mockery will at once bring down upon them misfortune or disease. An infinite number of guardian spirits is included in the Burman demonological system, and these are chiefly supposed to be Brahmanic importations. These dwell in the houses like the evil nats, and are the tutelars of village communities, and even of clans. They are duly propitiated, at which ceremonies rice, beer, and tea-salad are offered to them. Women are employed as exorcists in a case of driving out the evil nats, but at the festivals connected with the guardian nats they are not permitted to officiate. Necromancy and Occult Medicine. - Necromancy is of general occurrence among the Burmese. The weza or wizards are of two kinds, good and evil, and these are again each subdivided into four classes, according to the materials which they employ, as, for example, magic squares, mercury or iron. The native doctors profess to cure the diseases caused by witchcraft, and often specialise in various ailments. Besides being necromantic, medicine is largely astrological. There is said to be in Lower Burma a town of wizards at Kale Thaungtot on the Chindwin River, and many journey thence to have the effects of bewitchment neutralised by its chief. Sympathetic magic is employed to render an enemy sick. Indian and native alchemy and cheiromancy are exceedingly rife. Noise is the universal method of exorcism, and in cases of illness the patient is often severely beaten, the idea being that the fiend which possesses him is the sufferer. G Mediums and Exorcists. The tumsa or natsaw are magicians, diviners, or "wise" men and women who practise their arts in a private and not in a hierophantic capacity among the rural Burmans. The wise man physician who works in iron (than weza) is at the head of his profession, and sells amulets which guard the purchasers from injury. female mediums profess to be the spouses of certain nats, and can only retain their supernatural connection with a certain spirit so long as they are wed to him. With the exorcists training is voluntary and even perfunctory. But with the mediums it is severe and prolonged. Among the civilised Burmans a much more exhaustive apprenticeship is demanded. Indeed a thorough and intricate knowledge of some departments of magical and astrological practice is necessary to recognition by the brotherhood, the entire art of which is medico-magical, consisting of the eorcism of evil spirits from human beings and animals. The methods employed are such as usually accompany exorcism among all semi-civilised peoples, that is, dancing, flagellation of the afflicted person, induction of ectasy, oblation to the fiend in possession, and noise. Prophecy and Divination. - These are purely popular in Burma, and not hierophantic, and in some measure are controlled by the use of the Deitton, an astrological book of Indian origin. The direction in which the blood of a sacrificed animal flows, the knots in torn leaves, the length of a split bamboo pole, and the whiteness or otherwise of a hard-boiled egg, serve among others as methods of augury. But by far the most important mode of divination in use in Burma is that by means of the bones of fowls. It is indeed universal as deciding all the difficulties of Burmese existence. Those wing or thigh bones in which the holes exhibit regularity are chosen. Pieces of bamboo are inserted into these holes, and the resulting slant of the stick defines the augury. If the stick slants outwards it decides in favour of the measure under test. If it slants inwards, the omen is unfavourable. Other methods of divination are by the entrails of animals and by the contents of blown eggs. Astrology. Burmese astrology derives both from Indian and Chinese sources, and powerfully affects the entire people. Every Burman is fully aware from his private astrologer, of the trend of his horoscope regarding the near future, and while active and enterprising on his lucky days, nothing will induce him to undertake any form of work should the day be pyatthadane or ominous. The Bedinsaya, or astrologers proper, practise a fully developed Hindu astrology, but they are few in number, and are practically neglected for the rural soothsayers, who follow the Chinese system known as Hpewan, almost identical with the Taoist astrological tables of Chinese diviners. From this system are derived horoscopes, fortunes, happy marriages, and prognostications regarding business affairs. But in practice the system is often confounded with the Buddhist calendar and much confusion results. The Buddhist calendar is in popular use, whilst the Hpewan is purely astrological. Therefore the Burman who is ignorant of the latter must perforce consult an astrologer who is able to collate the two regarding his lucky and unlucky days. The chief horoscopic influences are day of birth, day of the week, which is represented by the symbol of a certain animal, and the position of the dragon's mouth to the terminal syllables of the day-names. Byron by Indian and Buddhist monks, who also draw on native sources to enlarge their own knowledge. LITERATURE. -Temple, The Thirty-seven Nats, 1906; Scott and Hardiman, Gazeteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States, 1900-1901; The Indian Antiquary, Vols. XVII.-XXXVI.; Fielding Hall, The Soul of a people.
Burma SIAM, Lingyuen Yungning Tszku Chantung FRENCH INDO-CHINA
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
SIAM, Lingyuen Yungning Tszku Chantung FRENCH INDO-CHINA, Kinsha Tung-chwan N R Hweili Likiang Mekong Kweilin Tal Kutsing Hsing-i Yunnan Yung-chang Tien-sch C Chingkiang Liuchau Malungk Papienk Wuchau Kwangnan S Kiang TROPIC OF CANCER Nanning Mongtse 2 Kunlong Bao-lac Nam. Sip-son Cao-bang Taipin M.Mad Bac-ka Lao-Kare Vinthuy Sumao Kauchau Mt/Babe Lienchau Muong Laidon M.Hodo 6560 Dong-Dang OKI Langson Keng - hung CM.Wag-chau-that Moncay Tuyen-quang Muong Yang Van-bu Baominh Pt. Wallut Song-b PIRATE IS. Leichau M. Theng Sontay M.You A binh HAWOT Haifong Sing Koun ko STATES M. Het Hoa-binh str.. Keng - tung GULF OF M. Luong 20 Nam-dinh Nam Hy Ker Pu Limo NIGHTINGALE 1. Hainan Inleng-lap Lor PM.Soj Kiung-chau Song-ka Hsai Hong - luk Ninh-bình 19/(Red R.) - Kiang-kheng Ba lat Pak-ben Santai Thanh-hoa CHAINANE X.Sen San Ph TONKIN Kwang-kuong Luang9010 P.Tinh-gia Prabang Wanchau K.Hai HON-ME P.Qui-chu M.Tern Khouang Louang Pk. M.Pon M.Lang Pakmon P.Dien Prayao TRÀN-NINH 6528 Toum Pk. Yaickau Vinh ale M.Koung khom Borikan Vuong Har. MiNang Nakau Ha-tinh C.Bastion M.Liep P. Ha-tanh M.Sa kheut Lampun M. Hin Palaz 3 Chosorol P.Cho-don PARACEL IS Pon-pissal & REEFS 6560 Quang-binh Nong-khay Pre X. Khạn ma keng Outhen TIGER 1. Deua-ma-keng taradit Tarn Lakhon Loeul None han Lai-thuy Quang-tri M. Pitschal Kumpu-wapi Bakhon-lakhom Panon Thuan-an Churray Bay M.Sakotaip Savanaket M.Pitsanulok Hue Tourane A Calassim Mang dahanong khon Atouat Pk. Lome CU-LAO-CHAM muc-dahan Kampang Quang-nam Na A Si M.Kemmarat M.Saravan Ho-dong Tia-tuo M.Petschabun M.Suvanapumar.lot-so-ton Sapat 15 Pou Jong M. Ciom HONG KONG Quang-ngai M.Tschatapon/o-thai-song Kam-tong-noi20009 ramy - nam - po Nakon Sawan M. Ubon Pak-moun Pimum Lagree PHO Mo-duc Nam Mun Bua Sum M.Pimai M.Manorom M.Det Ba Bassac Monong M.Attopea Mt. Copra Binh-chuong M.Chainat TO N Kontouno Phu-My M. Promc Lopburi Sanka Binh-dinh Ta-li SUB. TEL. TO M.Sara-buri Kahin M.Supane C.Santo Khong Khon Avuthia Bang-pa-in Mang 4192 M.Chonkan Kan-buri Batong M. Melouprey Phu-Yen Pekin Nwatabo Sisophon pakna Petriuwatam Tay-hoa Siem-reap ban Tam-phong-son C.Varella Bot-buril Panat Roluos Sambor B.Don I 4 Bang pla-soi Meklon L. Ronle B. Metlalot ekong Battambang Hon-coe B. Kg.Thom Samboc Darlac Nha-trang Petscin buri Rayong | Pailino Moung Kraitié Khan hoa Pursat CAMBOMIA Kompong Chenang IM:Prion C.Liant SAMIT Shantabu Cam-ranh B. Dong-kia Djambra H Phan-rang Krai Chelong / Djiring Mt.Pan Oudong Tenasserim im Kuei PNUM PENH CHANG C.Padaran 3200 Thông Mt Nui-bang-thoum Tay-ninh Maw-daung P KOH KUT Binh thuan, 6904 M.Soton MINERVA BK. Kg Speu (SAIGON Phan tiet Khaw-Lwung H KOH KONG Ba-nam Sre-umbel 4327 C.Kega PO CECIR DE MER Color Baria Bang-tapan Chau doc C.Samit BKampot C.Ba-ke C.Chong-pra Compong-som Kho C.St.Jacques Ha-tien CATWICK ULF Putiu G SAPATOU Chumpon JULIA BK. TANG PHU QUOC Mouths of 1STHMUS OF KRAW Rach-gia TAU the Mekong + Lang-suon Tau Passage OF PULO WAY Bassac FL PULO DAMA c-traULO PENNAN Bac-lieu Bandon SAMUIE PULO PANJANG, CONDOR Mt. Sema M C Cha-ja A I Northeast Pt.S H Cua-lon B. Takmao BROTHERS Bandon C.Cambodia M. Takua pa PULO OBI HULL PR.CONSORT BK. Khao Luong Ligor, BANDA 10 ROYALIST Bk, Nakon Sitamarat (Lakon) 1.PANDJANG VANGUARD BK. Seheh SCAWFELL Patalung CHARLOTTE BK. TINGEING a cora PROJECTED LOSIN LANTAR Tara Chana Kobatani MOHEA, LEBONG Palean dering U AλouKoля Baru Rahman TERUTAU Saiburi BUTANG IS.. Kelantan MALAK ta Baru PERHENTIAN IS. GR.REDANG CABLE Mt.Jeral Tomoh KEDA PERA Tringanu 0 PROV.WELLESLEY NORTH NATUNA Georgetown Prai Tingeran KELANTAN (Penang) TENG-GOL PR.OF WALES Mt Karbu Mt.Tahang NORTH NATUNA IS. Port. Weld Perak 216 C.Labuan 9840 BUNGURAN SELUAN Tpoh (GREAT NATUNA) Ka.Goyah Kemaman DINDINGS! K Tapan Ka. Lipis Lumut C.Gelang ANSORSTRAITS Telok A PAHANG Pahang R. MATA Pekan Deli ANAMBAS IS. SUBI IS. Ka. Kubu SIANTAN MIDAI SOUTH NATUNA IS. S Ka. Lumpur Mt. Temuan JEMADJARIABU JUMAN Api Passage SERASAN Klang SETTLEMENTS D TR Pt. Dicksono Tg. Bale RITTAN C.Datu Do BAUA Tangat o Soremban REPON TINGGI ST.P'ERRE Toba Malakka Mt.Ophir E Greenwich B0110R Mt.Blumut Singkel Balige Mahara 3280 Kota Tings na 15% from RUPAT Romania D East 100° Longitude SINGAPORE Singapore RIOU ARCH. BINTANG 90° Copyright. L. L. Poates Eng. Co., 1921 over 800 miles. In their lower courses the rivers often overflow their banks in the rainy season. Though its resources are almost entirely undeveloped, the country, as a whole, is productive, especially in the lower portions. Here grow rice, sugar cane , tobacco, cotton, amber, and jade are also obtained. Among wild animals are the elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, deer of various kinds, and the wild hog. Among domestic animals are the ox, buffalo, horse, and elephant. The rivers abound with fish. The most common fruits are indigo, etc. Cotton is grown almost the guava, custard apple; tamarind, الله M TEMPLE OF THREE HUNDRED everywhere; tea is cultivated in many of the more elevated parts. The forests produce timber of many sorts, including teak, which grows most luxuriantly, and is largely exported. Ironwood is another valuable timber ; and among forest products are also the bamboo, cutch, sticklac, and rubber. Burma has great mineral wealth-gold, silver, precious stones, iron, marble, lead, tin, coal, petroleum, etc.; but these resources have not yet been much developed. The chief precious stone is the ruby, and the mines of this gem belong to the crown. Sapphire, LIONS AT SAGAING, BURMA pine, orange, banana, jack, and mango. The yam and sweet potato are cultivated, and in some parts the common potato. The climate , of course, varies according to elevation and other circumstances, but, as a whole, is warm, though not unhealthful, except in low, jungly districts. The rainfall among the mountains reaches as high as 190 inches per annum . 12,000,000, made up of a great variety The population may be stated at about of races besides the Burmese proper, as Talaings, Shans , Karens, etc. The Burmese proper are of a brown color, with lank, black hair (seldom any on the face), and have active, vigorous, wellproportioned frames. They are a cheerful, lively people, fond of amusement, averse to continuous exertion, free from prejudice of caste or creed, temperate and hardy. The predominant religion is Buddhism. Missionaries are active in their efforts, but the Christian faith has not yet made much progress in the country. Polygamy is permitted by Buddhist law, but is rare, and is considered as not altogether respectable. Divorce is easily ١١٧١ ہے obtained. Women in Burma occupy a much freer and happier position than they do in Indian social life. They go about freely, manage the household, and make successful women of business, conducting not merely retail trades but also large wholesale concerns. Education is very general, one of the chief occupations of the monks in the numerous monasteries being the teaching of boys to read and write. Many of these monastic schools are under government inspection. The Burmese are skillful weavers, smiths, sculptors, workers in gold and silver, joiners, etc. The ordinary buildings are of a very slight construction, chiefly of timber or bamboo raised on posts; but the religious edifices are in many cases imposing, though the material is but brick. Carving and gilding are features of their architecture. The Burmese language is monosyllabic, like Chinese, and is written with an alphabet the characters of which (derived from India) are more or less circular. There is a considerable literature. Burma is now divided into Lower Burma and Upper Burma, the former till 1886 being called British Burma, while the latter till that date was an independent kingdom or empire. Lower Burma was acquired from Independent Burma in 1826 and 1852 as the result of two wars terminating in favor of Great Britain. It comprises the divisions of Aracan, Pegu, Irrawaddy, and Tenasserim; area, 87,473 square miles; pop. about 3,000,000. Under British rule A VILLAGE IN BURMA it has prospered greatly, the population and trade having increased immensely, there being regularly a large surplus revenue. Roads, canals, and railways have been constructed and other public works carried out, as also public buildings erected. The total foreign trade is valued at over $120,000,000. The chief city and port is Rangoon, which is now connected by railway with Mandalay in Upper Burma. The government is administered by a lieutenant-governor, and a legislative council of 19 members. The Burmese Empire is of little note in ancient or general history. Since the 16th century the Burmese proper have mostly been the predominant race, and ruled the Peguans, Karens, etc., throughout the country. The capital has at different times been at Ava, Pegu, Prome, or elsewhere. In the latter half of the 18th century the Burmese Emperors began a series of wars of conquest with China, Siam, and Assam, through which treatment of them imaginative and they greatly enlarged the Empire. This brought them into contact with the British, and, in 1824, war was declared against them on account of their encroachments on British territory and their seizure of British subjects. The war terminated in the cession of the provinces of Aracan and Tenasserim to the British. Peace continued for some years, but latterly various acts of hostility were committed by the Burmese, and, in 1852, the maltreatment of British subjects occasioned a second war, at the end of which the British possessions were extended to include the whole of Pegu. The third and last war occurred in 1885 in consequence of the arrogance and arbitrary conduct of King Theebaw. The result was that Upper Burma was annexed to the British Empire by proclamation of the Viceroy of India, Jan. 1, 1886. The area thus annexed was about 200,000 square miles, of which half belonged to the Kingdom proper, and half to the semi-independent Shan states.
Burma a country of southern Asia
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a country of southern Asia, bounded on the N. by Assam and Tibet, by on the E. by Chinese territory and Siam, elsewhere mainly by the Bay of Bengal; area, about 230,000 square miles. It is traversed by great mountain ranges branching off from those of northern India and running parallel to each other southward to the sea. Between these ranges and in the plains or valleys here situated the four great rivers of Burma - the Irrawaddy, its tributary the Chindwin, the Sittang, and the Salwen-flow in a southerly direction to the sea, watering the rich alluvial tracts of Lower Burma, and having at their mouths all the great seaports of the ( KYAILTEYO PAGODA, BURMA country-Rangoon, Bassein, Moulmein, Akyab, etc. The Irrawaddy is of great value as a highway of communication and traffic, being navigable beyond Bhamo, near the Chinese frontier, or C 95° B A 90。 T Tha-kang D MB Chomto Nizam Dong L. Mandum Ghat ப Khongmalong H Mt.Chamalhari 23,920 BHUTANI Tezpuro M Makum Jo Maku Sadiya Chona Jong Mt.Daphapum Talap PUNAKHA Tawana R 15,010 Tasgong Taklung Jong Dibrugarb Nmai-Kha Malikha Chaukon Lakhimpur patkal Hills SIKKIM Pardo BH Pass Jaipur Khallak Watan Gohpur R Biswanath Sibsagar Darjiling Bijn Barpeta Hajo Brahmaputra Jorhat Kantao Diwangiri 8 Pasi 1 Mawun Lumtona o Gerua Jalpaiguri Kapa R Golaghat Maingkwan Baka Sidli Ba Joypu Dimapur Wokha 0 • Nowgong Ningsun (Kuch Beharo Thekadaung Gauhati Dobaka Nimpa Jade Mines Marapoon Goalpara- Adalara Jirang Jirang Dimlah Dhubril Tuku Pum Shillong Lunding Malin Myitkyina 11,192 Rangpur Kohima Salwin 6 Jatrapur Jowai Dumchara Nong-stain Shwedwin Mogaung Talaw Dinaipur Tura R. Cherra Punji Ukrul o Nurgapuro? Hilli Maingwe Sinbo Sylhet Silchar 25 Nasirabad Manipur Mansi Moda Bogra Tamphilat Tsav Bhamo Habiganj Kuendwin Katha Surma Sultanpur Shwegu Muong Mâu Tangail Ganges Wuntho Muong Si ha Namkham Rindat Pabna Sajjuk Brahmanbaria Dacca Agartala Tigyaing Hsein Pintha Tipperah Comilla N E Re Mansak UPPER I Taridpur Chandn Tiddim Pur Laksham Savanga Momeit Kalemyo Krishnagar Lashio Mukadau Tangon Lungleh Jessar Madaripore Sudharam Mirsarai Mogok Hsipaw Lom Yeu Hugli Khulna Gokteik NORTHERN Mingin Shwelo 0 b Na Lawt A 12 Barisal Haka CALCUTTA Mayanyo Alor againg O Mansani Chittagong Blue Mt. MANDALAY 5600 Monywa Satkoonca BURM. MA Khungchu KUTABDIA Hugl Mouths of the Ganges SHAN Maskhal Ramoa Myingyan Victoria Pakokku Takao Lawk Sawk YauoPagan Meiktila Toungyi Palekwa Legya Muong Mt. Elephant Pt. Muong abyMt. Popa Veowah That Stedman Muong Nai Kul Mungdu Thazi 4851 YamethinOUTHERN SHAHPUR Toungd wen Muong Pan ST. MARTIN IS Salin Mrohaung Rassedong Samka Mawkmal Aracan Minbudo Magwe Akyab Talak An Minchla Pyinmana WEST BORONGO 20 Taindah M.Ngai To Meaday- Hunter Combermere Yvathit B Swang-ngu Thayet- Kyauk-pyn Tay myo Kiangmal Prome RAMRI I. Pazaung Cheduba Mt.Intanon Shwedaung Mt. Sawsiso Taungup CHEDUBA 8628 Malulong Maju Lakhon Paungdeh S Sandoway Kyongin Papun MaHaut Letpadan Deikuo Shwegy Kintalee Tharawadio M.Tun Zi-gon Gon Hanzada Pegu Sutang Na 3 Thaton Nyaung-aun nheng Kyaung-tac Martaba Trawan Y A B RANGOON Maulmain Bassein Thong wa Gulf of Martaban Myaung-mya Altaran BILUGYUN Amherst Dalhousie Phya pon of the Irawadi Mt.MM.Pak 5292 Nearais Kyonglong Mouths of Ye Preparis North Channei DELPHIN NOSE 15 Conpo *PREPARIS I. Heanzay B PTS F 0 Preparis South Channel 2. Mats MO MOSCOS IS. Tavoy Mt. TABLE I.. GR. COCO 05042 PA LIT. COCO, Coco Channel C.Tavoy LANDFALL 1. Myeng - mo - let - khat NARCONDAM S 6987 Saddle PkPt. Cornwallis Peenbo TAVOY NORTH ANDAMAN CABOOSAD L A G N E B TENASSERIM 1.0 ELPHINSTONE, Mergui MIDDLE ANDAMAN Pt. Andaman KINGS Z 4 BARREN I. MERGUI KISSERAIN (Gt. Brit.) NDAMA BENTINCKS 1 SOUTH ANDAMAN ARCH. DOMEL Lenya Pt. Blair OWEN RUTLAND Duncan Str. CLARAD SULLIVAN Pakchan LIT. ANDAMAN LOUGHBOROUGH HECKFORD BK. A Ten Degree Strait BIRDSNEST IS. 10 CHANCE 1.৫ 2 PA-TONG. Kopah Inle KAR NIKOBAR Paklan BATTI MALVE SAYER IS. SUB. TEL. TILLANGSHONG Takuatung O PUKET, SALANG TERESSA CAMORTA TO MADRAS Puket NANKAURI KATCHALL Sombrero Str. (Gt. Brito) 7 R LIT.NIKOBAR 5 GREAT NIKOBAR s. INDIAN OCEAN Bengalen Str. -Diamond Pt. Achi (Kota Radja S Samalanga 5° M SCALE OF STATUTE MILES Meulaboh 300 200 A 100 50 Medan SCALE OF KILOMETERS 6 500 400 300 200 100 Tarumun Important towns are shown in heavy face type SIMEULU BANJAK IS. o Sub. Tel. ・セーターターキ Railways C 95° B 105° D 100° Yangtse R Lei-pe Dichu
Burma SIAM, FRENCH INDO-CHINA CENTRAL AMERICA CHINESE REPUBLIC "BERN-CIRCUMFERENCE" iii
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
SIAM, FRENCH INDO-CHINA CENTRAL AMERICA CHINESE REPUBLIC "BERN-CIRCUMFERENCE" iii
What Has Changed in the Last Century
When the Occultism encyclopaedia wrote this in 1920, Burma was "a province of British India"; it was separated administratively in 1937, occupied by Japan, and became independent in 1948. The country has been renamed Myanmar (1989), moved its capital from Rangoon/Yangon to the purpose-built Naypyidaw in 2005, and has spent most of its independent life under military rule, most recently after the coup of February 2021. The ethnic labels have also shifted: the "Talaings" are now called Mon, and modern writers would reverse the article's framing, treating the country as overwhelmingly Theravada Buddhist with nat worship running alongside it rather than Buddhism as a gloss on animism. The nats themselves persist — the pantheon of thirty-seven is still honoured at Mount Popa, and spirit-medium nat pwe festivals continue to draw crowds.
Written for this edition, 2026.