MYELAT  , a

division of the southern Shan States of Burma, including sixteen states, none of any great size, with a total area of 3723 sq. m., and a population in 1901 of 119,415 . The name properly means " the unoccupied country," but it has been occupied for many centuries . All central Myelat and great parts of the northern and southern portions consist of rolling grassy downs quite denuded of jungle . It has a great variey of different races, Taungthus and Danus being perhaps the most numerous . They are all more or less hybrid races . The chiefs of the Myelat are known by the Burmese title of gwegunlamu, i.e. chiefs paying the revenue in silver . The amount paid by the chiefs to the British government is Rs . 99,567 . The largest state, Loi Long, has an area of 1600 sq. m., a great part of which is barren hills . The smallest, Nam Hkon, had no more than 4 sq. m., and has been recently absorbed in a neighbouring state . The majority of the states cover less than loo sq. m . Under British administration the chiefs have powers of a magistrate of the second class .

The

chief cultivation besides rice is sugar-cane, and considerable quantities of crude sugar are exported . There is a considerable potato cultivation, which can be indefinitely extended when cheaper means of export are provided . Wheat also grows very well .