Burma: An Undeveloped Monsoon Country

Abstract

IN many respects Burma is an anomaly. Geographically an integral part of Indo-China, politically it is one of the major provinces in British India. Yet the contrast between Burma and the remainder of is such that one tends instinctively to consider India as excluding Burma unless that province is specifically mentioned. In common with most of Indo-China, Burma remains at the present day a markedly underpopulated country, thus contrasting with the densely peopled lands of on the one hand and China on the other. This low density of population is due to the geographical isolation of the country, certainly not to lack of natural resources. Surrounded by a wall of mountains, Burma even at the present day remains unconnected with the rest of or with any of her neighbors by either railway or metaled road; and, unless one is willing to spend weary days and nights trekking along mountain tracks in tenor fifteen-mile daily stages, the only access is by sea. Even so Burma lies rather off the main lines of world trade. Modern steamers from the Far East to