THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION. VOLUME XVII. BOSTON: JOHN PUTNAM, 41 WASHINGTON-STREET. MDCCCXXXVII. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. Vol. 17. January, 1837. QUARTERLY PAPER.-No. I. Maulmein, (pron. Mol-me-ine,) the chief town of the province of Amherst, in British Burmah, is situated on the east bank of the Salwen, or Martaban river, twenty-five miles from its mouth, in lat. 16 and about 28. It was once the site of a city and capital, under the Hindú name of Ramapúra, or the city of Rama, and the high earthen walls and ditch could be easily traced, on its re-occupancy by the British. The territory fell into the hands of the Burmans soon after the reduction of | the capital city of Pegu by Alom-praw, in 1757, and was ceded by them to the Hon. East India Company, together with the provinces of Tavoy, Yéh and Mergui, and the four provinces of Arracan, at the conclusion of the treaty of peace in Jan. 1826. Maulmein was contemplated as the seat of the capital of British Burmah immediately on the restoration of Martaban (city) to the Burmese, and part of the ground was cleared of forest, for this purpose, as early as the following April. But it was not until near the close of 1827 that its claims above its rival, Amherst, at the mouth of the river, appear to have been fully admitted. It is now the residence of the Commissioner of the Province, and is garrisoned by a regiment of soldiers attached to the Madras Presidency. Population, at the close of 1834, including suburbs, 16,182, of whom 13,702 were Burmans and Talings. The entire province contained 46,502 inhabitants. The entrance of the river on which Maulmein stands, is about 70 miles distant from that of Rangoon r., and is at least 7 miles wide. It soon contracts, however, to the width of 2 or 3 miles, as you ascend, having the island Bilú (or Balú) on the left, but has a deep and broad channel, to the town, marked off by buoys all the way. A little above Maulmein, and in front of Martaban, the Salwen is joined by the Ataran and the Gyieng. "The prospect which opens itself upon the stranger here, is probably one of the most beautiful and No. 1. imposing which oriental scenery can present. The waters of three large rivers, the Salwen, the Ataran, and the Gyieng, meet at this spot, and immediately proceed to the sea by two wide channels; so that, in fact, the courses of five distinct rivers are, as it were, seen at one view, proceeding like radii from a centre. This centre itself is a wide expanse of waters interspersed by numerous islets. The surrounding country consists generally of woody hills, frequently crowned with white temples, and in the distance are to be seen the high mountains of Zingai; and, in favorable weather, the more distant and lofty ones which separate Martaban from Laos and the Siamese territory." These last run in a parallel line with those which skirt the sea-shore, at about the distance of 100 or 150 miles. They abound in lead and copper. The Zingai range yields blende, or the sulphurate of zinc. A range of hills not very high, extends southerly from Maulmein to the river Kalyen, which empties into the Salwen at Amherst, composed mostly of sand-stone, and affording in various parts, a rich and abundant ore of antimony. The chief article of export is rice, which is raised in immense quantities. Indigo, cotton, and tobacco, are cultivated to some extent. The province yields, also, pepper, cardamons, areca nut, and teak wood. The upper part of the country has been pronounced peculiarly fitted for the culture of the sugar-cane and coffee plant.-Its climate is remarkable, among eastern countries, for agreeableness and salubrity. The mission buildings stand on a plat of ground granted for the purpose, about a mile south of the military cantonments, bounded on the north and south by small creeks, with mostly a southern and western declivity, and embracing about four hundred yards in length, and two hundred and fifty in breadth. The sketch of Maulmein, on the following page, was kindly furnished by Mr. |