---

Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 17, p. 276.

276 ,VF.1KTII,A DISTRICT the limits of the District, being more or less dry, except during the rains. Between it and the Pwemingyi ridge is a valley, 6 or 7 miles in width, which gradually rises towards the south, and is irrigated by numerous tanks. The Thinbon chaung rises on the eastern slopes of Popa, flows in a north-easterly direction through the .Mahlaing and Wundwin townships, and falls eventually into the Samon at the ex- treme northern end of the District. Within the limits of Meiktila the Panlaung is merely a mountain brook. One of the main features is the Meiktila lake, situated on the Minwin ridge, about Boo feet above sea-level. This artificial stretch of water is about 7 miles long and 311 square miles in extent, and at the centre, near Meiktila, is so narrow as to be practically divided into two sections, north and south. The northern lake is diminishing in capacity yearly, owing to the deposit of silt from its feeder streams, the Shanmange and the Mondaing ; and both sections are subject to very rapid rises after heavy rain over their area of supply. Another impor- tant piece of water is the Nyaungyan-Minhla tank or lake, situated near the southern border of the District. It derives its water from the Chaunggauk and Chaungmagyi streams, both of which rise in the west, the former bounding the District on the south, the latter watering a considerable area of Yamethin District. The Nyaungyan and Minhla tanks were originally separated, but have now, been joined by a canal. The whole of the District is occupied by rocks of Upper Tertiary (pliocene) age, covered to a great extent with alluvium. In the western portion of the Mahlaing township the abrupt dip of the strata, visible to the naked eye by reason of the erosive action of the streams, appears to indicate that the tract has been the scene of violent volcanic up- heavals, the slopes in some cases being not less than 70° to 8o from the horizontal. In the western areas the trunks of large petrified trees are found in the alluvium, and in some cases large areas are strewn with fragments of fossilized wood. The vegetation of the District resembles that of KYAUKSE. In the plains it is of a very dry type ; and sparse scrub jungle, with cactus, tamarind, cutch, and several species of capers, covers the greater part of the non-cultivated area. On the hills in the east the growth is more luxuriant, and the bamboo is found. Its main features are described under the head of Forests below. Tigers, bears, bison, elephants, and siimbar are all found, but only to the east of the Samon near the hills. Leopards are said to be increasing in numbers. Other kinds of deer besides the sāmbar are shot in the plains, and in the cold season ducks and snipe are plentiful. As in most of the dry zone Districts, snakes (including the cobra, the karait, and the Russell's viper) are very common. Meiktila lies along the eastern edge of the dry zone of Upper