File:Shans at home. With two chapters on Shan history and literature (1910) (14577643669).jpg

Identifier: shansathomewitht00miln (find matches)
Title: Shans at home. With two chapters on Shan history and literature
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Milne, Leslie, Mrs., 1860-1952 Cochrane, Wilbur Willis
Subjects: Shan (Asian people)
Publisher: London : John Murray
Contributing Library: University of British Columbia Library
Digitizing Sponsor: University of British Columbia Library

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?which lies close to the Northern Shan States—if somesystem of drainage were applied to draw off the surpluswater from the soil. Numerous streams rise in thehills, and find their way through great marshes to theShwe-li river. A small amount of land round villageshas been reclaimed, but the quantity of grain grownthere is not enough for the demand, so paddy and ricefrom British territory find a ready sale in Yun-nan. The Chinese Shans do not lead peaceful lives. Theyare from time to time troubled and harassed by theKachins, who descend from their villages in themountains to carry off paddy and cattle from the Shansof the valleys. In some of the Chinese Shan prin-cipalities the people do not only dread the Kachins,but also live in fear of their own rulers. There arewell-governed principalities, such as M5ng-Mao andMOng-hkwan, but Shan traders speak with bitternessof the extortion and injustice of the Che-fang govern- Unhusked lice.148
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PADDY PLANTING 149 ment. It is easy to find coolies who are ready andwilling to carry loads from British territory to manyparts of Yun-nan, but they often object to enter theChe-fang territory, where, report says, the late rulerwas a monster of cruelty ; certainly the district hasnot a good name. In the Che-fang valley little hasbeen done to reclaim the soil. The streams cut theirway through deep black mud and enter the marsheswhich cover a large tract of country. Reeds growthere to the height of twenty feet, and are the haunt ofmyriads of wild-fowl. If a good chief ruled at Che-fang, who had powerto conciliate the Kachins and govern his Shan subjectswith justice, there is no doubt that the valley might bewell cultivated and bear enough grain to supply alarge number of people. Rice grown on Britishterritory and at present exported into Yun-nan, couldthen find a home market in lower Burma. In the month preceding the rains the preparationsfor the paddy planting begin. The grass is cut o

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