British Colonial Period: texts (official and quasi-official documents)

expand all
collapse all

Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: See the top-level "Censuses" category of OBL which has sections and full texts of the Reports and Tables of a number of Burma/Myanmar censuses, including those conducted under the British colonial administration
Source/publisher: Online Burma/Myanmar Library
Date of entry/update: 2016-08-22
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
more
Description: The Burma holdings of this digital library cover the period when Burma was part of British India... Major texts (fully searchable) are the "Statistical abstract relating to British India" 1840-1920 in digital book and Excel spreadsheet form and "The Imperial Gazetteer of India" (1909 edition, 24 volumes, each of more than 400 pages)... Reference Resources: Scholarly reference books and a link to full text dictionaries at Digital Dictionaries of South Asia (DDSA)... Bibliographies and Union Lists: Electronic catalogs and finding aids for dispersed resources and collections... Images: Photographs are arranged in databases organized by the original collections... Indexes: Includes periodical indexes and document delivery mechanisms... Maps: Catalogs of maps and maps themselves, ranging from historical to topographic... Books and Journals: This section includes pedagogical books, general scholarly titles, journals and newspapers... Statistics: Statistical information from the colonial period through the present, available in a variety of formats... Other Internet Resources: A link to SARAI, South Asia Resource Access on the Internet.
Source/publisher: DSAL, (University of Chicago)
Date of entry/update: 2005-05-03
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
more
Description: 8 files in digital book and Excel spreadsheet formats... The last file, for example, has data on: * No. 1.-Area and Population of British India and Native States (Census of 1911). * No. 2.-Variation in Population since 1891. * No. 3.-Density of the Population according to Natural and Administrative Divisions (Census of 1911). * No. 4.-Towns and Villages Classified by Population (Census of 1911). * No. 5.-Main Statistics for Cities (including Cantonments). * No. 6.-Population of Principal Towns (Census of 1911). (Names of Towns in Native States are in Italics.) * No. 7.-Distribution of Population according to Religion (Census of 1911). * No. 8.-Variation in Distribution of the Population by Religion (Census of 1911). * No. 9.-Distribution of Christians by Race and Denomination (Census of 1911). * No. 10.-Territorial Distribution of Christians according to Race (Census of 1911). * No. 11.-Distribution of Population by Main Provinces and States according to Sex, and Civil Condition (Census of 1911). * No. 12.-Distribution of Population according to Religion, Sex, and Civil Condition (Census of 1911). * No. 13.-Age, Sex and Civil Condition (Census of 1911). * No. 14.-Distribution of Population by main Provinces and States according to Residence, Age and Sex (Census of 1911). * No. 15.-Distribution of Population according to Religion and Education (Census of 1911). * No. 16.-Distribution of Population according to Residence and Education (Census of 1911). * No. 17.-Statistics of Chief Castes (Census of 1911). * No. 18.-Distribution of Population according to Occupation or Means of Livelihood (Census of 1911). * No. 19.-Classes, Sub-Classes, and Orders of Occupations of the Population. * No. 20.-Distribution of Population according to Language (Census of 1911). * No. 21.-Languages Chiefly Spoken in the British Provinces and Native States (Census of 1911). * No. 22.-Infirmities According to Residence (Census of 1911). * No. 23.-Infirmities According to Age (Census of 1911). * No. 24.-Number of Judicial Divisions, and Number of Officers Exercising Appellate or Original Jurisdiction, in British India on 31st December, 1919. * No. 25.-Number of Cases Decided in, and Receipts and Charges of, the Courts. * No. 26.-Number and Description of Civil Suits Instituted. * No. 27.-Number and Value of Civil Suits Instituted. * No. 28.-General Results of Trial of Civil and Revenue Cases in Courts of Original Jurisdiction.--Civil Suits. * No. 29.-General Results of Trial of Civil and Revenue Cases in Courts of Original Jurisdiction.--Miscellaneous Cases. * No. 30.-Civil Appellate Courts.--Appeals from Decrees. * No. 31.-Civil Appellate Courts.--Miscellaneous Appeals. * No. 32.-General Results of Trials of Criminal Cases. * No. 33.-General Results of Appeals and Revisions in Criminal Cases. * No. 34.-Punishments Inflicted in Criminal Cases. * No. 35.-Strength and Cost of Civil Police. * No. 36.-Principal Police Offences. * No. 37.-Number and Distribution of Prisoners. * No. 38.-Religion, Age, and State of Education of Convicts. * No. 39.-Sickness and Mortality among Prisoners. * No. 40.-Number of Convicts who had been Admitted Previously Convicted. * No. 41.-Expenditure incurred in Guarding and Maintaining Prisoners, exclusive of Cost of Building, Repairs, &c. * No. 42.-Convict Settlement of Port Blair. * No. 43.-Number and Description of Registered Documents, and Value of Property transferred. * No. 44.-General Statement of Gross Revenue and Expenditure, Charged against Revenue or Capital, with Annual Surplus or Deficit and Cash Balances (in India and England). * No. 45.-General Statement of the Gross Revenue in India and England; in � (15 Rupees = �1). * No. 46.-General Statement of the Gross Expenditure charged against Revenue in India and England; in � (15 Rupees=�). * No. 47.-Net Revenue and Expenditure; in � (15 Rupees = �1). * No. 48.-Amount of Land Revenue* and Charges. * No. 49.-Details of Land Revenue and Charges. * No. 50.-Amount of Opium Revenue and Charges. * No. 51.-Number of Chests of Bengal Opium sold for Export and issued to Excise and Medical Departments, and Number of Chests paying Duty in Bombay. * No. 52.-Amount of Salt Revenue and Charges. * No. 53.-Statement showing Consumption of Salt in India. * No. 54.-Amount of Stamp Revenue and Charges. * No. 55.-Details of Stamp Revenue. * No. 56.-Amount of Excise Revenue and Charges. * No. 57.-Details of Excise Revenue. * No. 58.-Amount of Customs Revenue and Charges. * No. 59.-Amount of Forest Revenue and Charges. * No. 60.-Details of Forest Revenue and Charges. * No. 61.-Amount of Provincial Rates and Charges. * No. 62.-Details of Provincial Rates. * No. 63.-Amount of Income Tax and Charges. * No. 64.-Details of Income Tax. * No. 65.-Refunds and Drawbacks. * No. 66.-Assignments and Compensations. * No. 67.-Expenditure on Famine Relief (excluding Outlay on Protective Railways and Irrigation Works). * No. 68.-Distribution of Expenditure on Famine Relief. * No. 69.-Expenditure in India and England on Construction of Protective Railway and Irrigation Works (charged against Famine Relief and Insurance). * No. 70.-Military Expenditure in India and England. * No. 71.-Distribution of Expenditure (charged against Revenue) and Receipts of the Government of India in England, in Sterling. * No. 72.-Ways and Means of the Home Government, in Sterling. * No. 73.-Burden of Taxation. * No. 74.-Statement of Expenditure on Railways, Irrigation, and other Public Works (chargeable to Revenue), by Provinces. * No. 75.-Expenditure on State Railways and Irrigation Works in India chargeable against Capital.* * No. 76.-Amount of Debt and of Other Obligations (with Interest thereon) of the Government of India at the close of each of the undermentioned Years in Rupees and Sterling. * No. 77.-Return of all Loans bearing Interest raised in India and England, chargeable on the Revenues of India, and outstanding on 31st March, 1921, with the date of the Termination of each Loan. * No. 78.-Sinking Funds created and the application thereof. * No. 79.-Prices of Principal Kinds of Indian Government Stock. * No. 80.-Government Promissory Notes enfaced for payment of Interest in London; in Rupees. * No. 81.-Loans and Advances by Government; Balances on 31st March of each year and Amount of Interest received. * No. 82.-Bank of Bengal Rates of Interest for Demand Loans on Government Paper. * No. 83.-Gold Standard Reserve. * No. 84.-Bills and Telegraphic Transfers drawn on India by the Secretary of State. * No. 84A.-Sterling Bills and Telegraphic Transfers drawn on London by the Government of India. * No. 85.-Cash Balances at the Treasuries and Agencies of the Government of India, at the close of each of the undermentioned Years; in Rupees and Sterling. * No. 86.-Value of Money Coined at the Calcutta and Bombay Mints. * No. 87.-Number and Value of Government Currency Notes of each Denomination in Circulation on 31st March in each Year. * No. 88.-Average Value of Government Currency Notes in Circulation throughout India; in thousands of Rupees. * No. 89.-Value of Note Circulation, and Amount of each Description of Reserve of the Paper Currency Department, and Net Receipts, on 31st March in each Year; in Rupees. * No. 90.-General Statistics of the Post Office of British India. * No. 91.-Estimated Number of Letters, Postcards, Newspapers, Parcels and Packets. * No. 92.-Total Number and Amount of Money Orders, with Annual Increase. * No. 93.-Receipts and Charges of the Post Office of British India. * No. 94.-Number of Post Office Savings Banks, Depositors and Amount (in rupees) of Deposits. * No. 95.-Progress of Banking Capital in India. * No. 96.-General Statistics of the Indo-European (Government of India) Telegraph Department. *
Source/publisher: HMSO via Digital South Asia Library
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-17
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
more
Description: The 26 volumes of The Imperial Gazetteer of India published in 1908 or 1909 when Burma was administered as part of India, are a major source of information about Burma. The most accessible online sources of the Gazetteer we have found are Archive.org, Osmania University Digital Library and Chicago University?s Digital South Asia Library. We have mainly used the versions at Archive.org, but since these are rather large files, we have reduced them using Finereader Pro 11 Optical Character Recognition software. We produced two ?OBL versions” of each volume, one with a crisp text of 3-4MB containing numerous digitisation errors, mostly figures, accents, transliteration symbols and tables (we did some light editing, but with a total of about 12,000 pages, detailed editing was beyond our capacity); and one of 12-16MB with fuzzier text but with less errors. The smaller files, some of which are taken direct from the Osmania University collection, can be opened and searched more easily, but if greater accuracy is needed, use the larger OBL versions or the original scans. These can be accessed via the links provided to Archive.org or the DSAL, which has read-only versions organised by volume and chapter and an overall search engine... The editions used here are those of 1908 or 1909. The online collections at Osmania University Digital Library and Archive.org also contain the editions of 1886
Source/publisher: His Majesty?s Secretary of State for India
1908-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2015-02-18
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 119.61 KB
more
expand all
collapse all

Individual Documents

Description: "The Chin Hills" vol. I (9.5MB)... "The Chin Hills" vol. II (6.9MB)
Creator/author: Bertram S. Carey & H. N. Tuc k
Source/publisher: Government Printing, Burma
1896-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2015-03-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 54.68 KB
more
Description: A Myanmar foreign mission was despatched to Bengal by King Bagyidaw in 1831. After the first Anglo - Burmese War, the Myanmar king signed the Treaty of Yandabo with the British. Under the terms of the Treaty, the British Government sent Major Henry Burney to Innwa (Ava) and the Myanmar King sent a diplomatic mission to Bengal. The leader was Maha Sithu U Rhwai (Twinthin Taik wun). The delegations included 84 officers and attendants who were sent to Bengal on 9 October 1830. They were to meet with the Governor-General of India and discuss (1) The return of the Kabaw valley to Myanmar, (2) Return of Martaban (3) Return of Tenasserim and Arakan, and (4) Repeal of an item calling for an exchange of emissaries. The mission met with many difficulties in India. They remained for three years and succeded only in getting the Kabaw valley back. The mission [of the?] Myanmar Government cost 168,000 kyats annually......Subject Terms: 1. Myanmar - Foreign relations - India, 2. Myanmar - Foreign relations - Bengal, 3. Myanmar - History - King Bagyidaw, 1819-1837.....Key Words: 1. Burney , Henry , Major, 2. Burney?s Journal, 3. Bengal Secret and Political Consultations, 4. Rhwai , U , Maha Sithu (Twin thin taik wun).
Creator/author: KYAN, Daw
Source/publisher: Historical Research Department, (Burma Historical Research Department Silver Jubilee publication), via Washington University
1982-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2014-10-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Burmese/ မြန်မာဘာသာ (Metadata: English and Burmese)
Format : pdf
Size: 932.85 KB
more
Description: 1. Letter from the Government of India to the Secretary of state for India, No. 1 (Reforms), dated 25th March, 1920: Enclosures in No. 1.: 1. Resolution by tbe Government of Burma, No. 1 L—7, dated 17th December, 1918, publishing for discussion and criticism a provisional scheme of reform ... Annexures to Enclosure No. 1. 1. Budget Committee under the proposed scheme; 2. (1) Board for Home Affairs; (2) Board of Revenue and Finance; (3) Board of Development ; (4) Board of Local Self-Government... 3. Summary of Recommendations..... 2. Government of Burma?s first scheme.: Letter from the Government of Burma to the Government of India, No. 21—1—L—1. dated 2 June, 1919.... Annexures to Enclosure No. 2. 1. Speech by Sir Reginald Craddock, Lieutenant-Governor of Burma, 19th April, 1919, (Extract); 2. Proposed grouping of towns for purpose of representation on the Burma Legislative Council; 3. Budget Committee under the proposed scheme; 4. (1) Board for Home Affairs... (2) Board of Revenue and Finance; (3) Board of Development; (4) Board of Local Self-Govermnent ….. 3. Criticism by the Government of India of the first scheme of the Government of Burma. Letter from the Government of India to the Government of Burma, No. 2425, dated 18th November, 1919; 4. Second scheme of the Government of Burma; Letter from the Government of Burma to the Government of India, No. 59 T—1—L—8, dated 22nd January, 1920 .
Source/publisher: Government of India via His Majesty?s Stationary Office
1920-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2012-09-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 3.41 MB
more
Description: "The area covered by the sixth general census of India is approximately identical with that covered by the census of 1921 and differs little from the area of previous occasions from 1881 onwards; 2,308 sq. miles containing some 34,000 inhabitants have been added in Burma and in the North of Assam, while on the other hand, six sq. miles have been lost to Nepal. The statistics therefore cover the whole empire of India with, Burma and the adjacent islands and islets (Exclusive of Ceylon and the Maldives) as well as Aden and Perim Island, but not the Kuria Muria Islands* and Sokotra, which is part of the Aden Protectorate, administered from Aden on behalf of the Colonial Office, and not part of British India. The statistics the tables do not of course cover those parts of the peninsula, which are not parts of the British Empire, that is to say, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the French and Portuguese possessions, the area and population of which, together with the rate of increase since 1921 where available, are shown in the marginal table. For the rest the scope of this census extended to the whole of the peninsula of India, forming what is commonly described as a sub continent between long. 61 o and 101 o E. and lat 6 o to 37 o N. Some information has also been included with regard to natives of India resident permanently or temporarily outside the Indian Empire or serving on the High Seas at the time the census was taken..."
Source/publisher: Government of India
1931-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2011-12-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: The District of Minbu is bounded on the north by Pakokku District, on the south by Thayetmyo District and on the west by the Rakhine Yomas. The article describes the geography, narrative history, canals and water courses of Minbu district.....Subject Terms: 1. Minbu District-History... 2. Geography-Minbu District... 3. Mibu District-Gazetter... 4. Historical Sites-Minbu District
Creator/author: Ba Shin, Col.
Source/publisher: "Journal of the Burma Research Society", Vol. 26, Part 1,1936, pp.43-51, via University of Washington
1936-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-11-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 794.1 KB
more
Description: Contents: Introduction 3 BIB-1 The British Conquest, 1827-1905; BIB-2 Gazetteers and handbooks, 1879-1944; BIB-3 Military Reports and Route Books, 1903-1945; BIB-4 Boundaries: Reports and Examinations, 1892-1937; BIB-5 Reports on Districts and States, 1868-1936; Index
Creator/author: A.J. Farrington (ed.)
Source/publisher: A.J. Farrington (ed.)
2007-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: A-Z list of villages and other entities in (Lower?) Burma
Creator/author: Horace Ralph Spearman
Source/publisher: Government of Burma
1879-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Her Majesty?s Command. June 4, 1852......LIST OF PAPERS (enclosures not listed here): No. 1. Letter from the President of the Council of India in Council to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company (No. 8): Thirty-seven Inclosures: ...... The President of the Council of India in Council to the Secret Committee (No. 1): Twenty Inclosures..... 3. The President of the Council of India in Council to the Secret Com- mittee .. .. .. .. .. (No. 2) Seventeen Inclosures...... 4. The Governor-General of India to the Secret Committee..... 5. The Governor-General of India in Council to the Secret Com- mittee (No.3.): Six Inclosures..... 6. The Governor-General in Council to the Secret Committee (No. 4.) Thirty Inclosures..... 7. The Governor-General in Council to the Secret Committee (No. 8): Nine Inclosures..... 8. The Governor-General in Council to the Secret Committee . (No. 14) Five Inclosures..... Treaty with the King of Ava, signed at Yandaboo, February 24, 1826 Commercial Treaty with Ava
Source/publisher: Parliamentary Papers, Vol. 36
1852-06-04
Date of entry/update: 2010-09-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 3.06 MB
more
Creator/author: Scott, James George, Sir; Hardiman, J. P. (John Percy)
Source/publisher: Government of Burma
1900-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-09-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 11.57 MB
Local URL:
more
Description: KEYWORDS: hkam, upper burma, mogaung, lower burma, kachins, police posts, thibaw, military police, shans, hill tribes, hsen, six villages, bhamo, men five, shwebo, deputy commissioner, mindon min, ney elias, kanaung mintha, marco polo
Creator/author: Scott, James George, Sir; Hardiman, J. P. (John Percy)
Source/publisher: Government of Burma
1900-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-09-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 15.13 MB
Local URL:
more
Description: KEY WORDS AND PHRASES: Myingyan, Sagaing district, Myitkyina district, Shwegu, Sawbwa, Keng Tung, Myelat, Irrawaddy river, Chin Hills, Palaung, Yamethin, Amarapura, Pyinmana, Wuntho, Meiktila, Tang Yan, Chindwin river, Magwe, square miles, Northern subdivision
Creator/author: James George Scott, John Percy Hardiman
Source/publisher: Government of Burma
1901-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-09-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 9.25 MB
Local URL:
more
Description: KEY WORDS AND PHRASES: kengtung, paddy cultivation, hkam, revenue paid, shwebo, eight annas, myingyan, land revenue, chindwin, east longitude, bhamo, fifteen houses, hsen, revenue amounted, daung, mawk mai, hsam tao, hsop nam, francis gamier, ken pwi
Creator/author: Scott, James George, Sir; Hardiman, J. P. (John Percy)
Source/publisher: Government of Burma
1901-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-09-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: KEY WORDS AND PHRASES: Key words and phrases kengtung, paddy cultivation, myingyan, revenue paid, hkam, eight annas, shwebo, east longitude, mogaung, fifteen houses, palaung, population numbered, hsen, upper burma, chindwin, deputy commissioner, irrawaddy flotilla, arakan yoma, mount victoria, hok lap
Creator/author: Scott, James George, Sir; Hardiman, J. P. (John Percy)
Source/publisher: Government of Burma
1901-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2009-09-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: This work is fully searchable by keyword... Apart from the first four, the 24 volumes (the index, named Vol. 25 has no content in this version) are arranged alphabetically. References to Burma can be found by browsing the volumes or using the search engine.... Volume 1 - The Indian Empire, Descriptive; Volume 2 - The Indian Empire, Historical; Volume 3 - The Indian Empire, Economic; and Volume 4 - The Indian Empire, Administrative, Volume 5 - Abazai-Arcot... Volume 6 - Argaon-Bardwan... Volume 7 - Bareilly-Berasia... Volume 8 - Berhampore-Bombay... Volume 9 - Bomjur-Central India... Volume 10 - Central Provinces-Coopta... Volume 11 - Coondapoor-Edwardesabad... Volume 12 - Einme-Gwalior... Volume 13 - Gyaraspur-Jais... Volume 14 - Jaisalmer-Kara... Volume 15 - Karachi-Kotayam... Volume 16 - Kotchandpur-Mahavinyaka... Volume 17 - Mahbubabad-Moradabad... Volume 18 - Moram-Nayagarh... Volume 19 - Nayakanthatti-Parbhani... Volume 20 - Pardi-Pusad... Volume 21 - Pushkar-Salween... Volume 22 - Samadhiala-Singhana... Volume 23 - Singhbhum-Trashi-Chod-Zong... Volume 24 - Travancore-Zira... Volume 25 - Index (no content)....Volumes 1, 2 and 4 are dated 1909. The rest are dated 1908.
Creator/author: Meyer, William Stevenson, Sir, 1860-1922; Burn, Richard, Sir, 1871-1947; Cotton, James Sutherland, 1847-1918; Risley, Sir Herbert Hope, 1851-1911.
Source/publisher: His Majesty's secretary of state for India in council via Clarendon Press, Oxford, via Digital South Asia Library (University of Chicago)
1908-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: General Maps, Provincial Maps and Plans of Towns
Creator/author: Meyer, William Stevenson, Sir, 1860-1922, et al.
Source/publisher: Oxford: Clarendon Press,
1909-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: General Maps, Provincial Maps, Maps of Towns.
Creator/author: Meyer, William Stevenson, Sir, 1860-1922, et al.
Source/publisher: Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1931. via South Asia Digital Library
1931-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: The following pieces found publication in 1895 and 1896: ?Burmese Buddhists and Mission Work? (Rangoon Gazette and Weekly Budget 23rd August 1895): The following is the reply from the joint secretaries to the Babuthutta Society Rangoon, to Mr. H. Dharmapala, General Secretary to the Mahabodhi Society...[Buddhagaya Temple Controversy] Rangoon Gazette and Weekly Budget 2 May 1896...?The Buddha Gaya Temple? [I] Rangoon Gazette and Weekly Budget 9 May 1896...?The Buddhagaya Temple? [II] Rangoon Gazette and Weekly Budget 23rd May 1896, p. 9...An Examination of Mr. Tsaw Hla Phroo?s Reasons for Embracing Christianity1 by Maung Chan Htwan Oung (1896)
Source/publisher: SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research, Vol. 1, No. 2, Autumn 2003,
1895-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2004-08-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Seminar summary:... "...Burma?s first newspaper, the Maulmain Chronicle, was also Burma?s first casualty to the colonial press laws. Its story shows that in the middle of the 19th century, colonial officials manipulated the press laws for political or personal ends, and that the English press served less as a tool of propaganda than a means for private merchants to manipulate and antagonize the administration. The laws controlling the press in India were patterned on the press laws in England. Formed in the crucible of radical politics and spurred on by widespread libel in the 18th and early 19th century press, these laws protected public officials from scurrilous personal attacks..."
Creator/author: William Womack
Source/publisher: SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research, Vol. 1, No., 1, Spring 2003
2003-03-20
Date of entry/update: 2003-03-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more