UPPER

CHINDWIN  and LOWER, two districts in the Sagaing division of Upper Burma . Upper Chindwin has an area of 19,062 sq. m., and a population, according to the census of 1901, of 154,551 . Lower Chindwin has an area of 3480 sq. m., and a population of 276,383 . Upper Chindwin lies to the north of the lower district, and is bounded on the N. by the Chin, Naga and Kachin hills; on the E. they are bounded by the Myitkyina, Katha and Shwebo districts; Lower Chindwin is bounded on the S. by the Pakbkku and Sagaing districts; and both districts are bounded on the W. by the Chin hills, and by Pakbkku on the southern stretch . The western portion of both districts is hilly, and the greater part of Upper Chindwin is of the same character . Both have valuable teak forests . The total rainfall averages in Lower Chindwin 27 and in Upper Chindwin 6o in . Coal exists in extensive fields, but these are not very accessible . Rice forms the great crop, but a certain amount of til-seed and of indigo is also cultivated . Kindat, a mere village, is the head-quarters of the upper district, and Monywa, with a population of 7869, of the lower . Both are on the Chindwin river, and are served by the steamers of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company . Albn, close to Monywa, and formerly the headquarters, is the terminus of the railway from Sagaing westwards, which was opened in 1900 .