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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 17, p. 229.

,4.DMINI STPfI TION 229 practically all river-borne. A good deal of firewood goes to Rangoon. The imports consist for the most part of hardware, piece-goods, and kerosene oil. In 1903-4, 48 miles of metalled roads and 18 miles of unmetalled roads were maintained from the District cess fund. In addition, a number of unmetalled roads are kept up from Provincial funds, but the numerous waterways provide the chief communications. The majority of the larger creeks and streams, with which the southern areas are intersected, are navigable by light-draught steamers, launches, and boats. Ma-ubin is well served by the steamers and launches of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, and to a small extent also by launches and boats belonging to natives. There are 14 licensed ferries. For administrative purposes the District is divided into two sub- divisions: Ma-ubin, comprising the MA-UBIN and PANTANAW town- ships; and Yandoon, comprising the YANDOON Administration. and DANUBYU townships. These are under the usual executive officers, assisted by 422 village headmen. The District forms a subdivision of the Myaungmya Public Works divi- sion, and is included in the Henzada-Thongwa Forest division. Ma-ubin forms part of the Delta (judicial) Division, and the Divisional judge tries sessions cases. Till recently the judicial work was performed by the executive staff; but the new scheme has pro- vided a special District judge, with head-quarters at Myaungmya, who exercises jurisdiction in Ma-ubin, Myaungmya, and Pyapon, a subdivisional judge for Ma-ubin, and three township judges, one for Ma-ubin, one for Pantanaw and Yandoon, and one for Danubyu. The crime of the District presents no special features. The method of assessing land revenue under the Burmese r6gime varied in different localities, but the recognized demand was based on the number of yoke of plough cattle used by the cultivator, and amounted to about half the gross out-turn. The first settlement was made in 1868, when a uniform rate of Rs. 1-12 per acre was levied on all classes of cultivation in the Danubyu township. In 1869-70 further portions of the District were settled. The rates of assess- ment then imposed ranged from Rs. 1-4 to Rs. 2-4 per acre, accord- ing to the distance of the land from Rangoon and the fertility of the soil. In 1879-8o these were summarily enhanced in certain circles by amounts varying from 6 to 25 per cent. ; and in 1889--91 the rates ranged from Rs. 1-8 to Rs. 2-8. The first regular settlement of the whole District was made between 1888 and 1891,, when rates were fixed ranging from Rs. 1-8 to Rs. 3 per acre for rice cultivation, and from RS. 2 to Rs. 3 for orchards; vegetables, tobacco, &c., were assessed at Rs. 2 per acre.