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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 17, p. 225.

MA- U~.IM I~I S'TRICT 225 The District is an alluvial flat, unbroken by any rising ground, and it cannot be said to possess any geological features worthy of record. The vegetation, which is largely swamp, resembles that in HANTHA- WADDY DISTRICT, in the tracts farther from the sea. The fauna is similar to that Of MYAUNGMYA and PYAPON. The elephant and tiger are scarce, but leopards are not uncommon and crocodiles abound. The climate is generally healthy, but at the same time most enervating. The approximate mean temperature is about 82°. Low- lying and moist, the District swarms with mosquitoes. The European houses at the head-quarters are provided with rooms of which the doors and windows are made of perforated zinc to keep out these. pests, and in places the villagers have to protect not only their own bodies but those of their cattle at night by means of gauze curtains. Though the District is wet and flat, disastrous floods are extremely rare, owing to the embankments ; and when they occur, they are restricted to small areas. The rainfall is heaviest in the south, averaging 92 inches at Ma-ubin, 83 inches at Pantanaw, 8o inches at Yandoon, and 72 inches at the northernmost station, Danubyu, or an annual average of 82 inches for the District altogether. In the north it is more variable than in the south, but on the whole it is fairly regular and seldom insufficient. Danubyu, in the north of the District, on the western bank of the Irrawaddy, is the only place of historical importance. It is famous for the stand made against the British by the Burmese general, the Maha Bandula, in 1825. History. The side of the fort facing the river was nearly a mile long, and behind it was a garrison Of 20,000 men. This position was unsuccess- fully attacked by two columns under General Cotton, the greater part of the troops engaged being killed or wounded. Reinforcements were applied for, and the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Archibald Campbell, brought up his batteries. On the first day of the bombardment the Mahâ Bandula was killed by the bursting of a shell, and the Burmans thereupon evacuated the place. In the War of 1852 no attempt was made to hold Danubyu ; but after the occupation of Prome a force was gathered by an ex-thudyi named Nga Myat Tun, who repeatedly drove back, with considerable loss, the small detach meats sent against him. After some delay his stronghold was carried by a larger British force, and the country gradually settled down. Part of the fort walls are still to be seen at Danubyu, occupied by monasteries ; and under the shadow of the Nandawgon pagoda is a small cemetery containing the remains o£ those who fell in the second War.