Tanintharyi
Tanintharyi
တနင်္သာရီ ဏၚ်ကသဳ | |
|---|---|
Town | |
UTC+6.30 (MMT ) |
Tanintharyi or Taninthayi (widely known during the British occupation and since as Tenasserim) is a small town in
The town is built on a hill slope on the site of an ancient city which, for hundreds of years, served as the principal port of Siam.
Etymology
The town name has varied, often based on the nationality of the traveller. These variations include Tanaosi or Tannaw (Siamese); Tanah Sari (Malay); Tenanthari, Tanncthaice, Ta-nen-tkd-ri, and Tanang-sci (Burmese); and Ta-na-ssu-li-sen (Chinese).[7] Other sources have referred to it as Thenasserim, Tenáscri, Tciiaçar, Tanater, Tarnassari, Tenazar, Tannzzari, Tanaçari, Tanaçary, Tanaçarim, Taunararin, Tanaçarij, Tcnaiarij, Tanacarim, Tanassarim, Tenassarim, Tenasari, Tanussarin, Tenascri, Dahnnsari, Tanaseri, Tenauri, Tanasserin, Tananarino, Tenassarim, Tenassere, Tanararij, Tanassaria, Tonazarin, and Denouservn.[8]
History
The town's importance as a trade centre depended on it serving as the starting-point on the western coast of Siam as an overland route to the capital,
The town enjoyed a reputation for trade with European nations since the 17th century. In 1759, the Burmese conqueror Alaungpaya invaded the town. He pillaged it the following year and further damaged it in 1765. When Ayutthaya was destroyed in 1767, the town was brought to commercial ruin.[9]
The town fell under British control in the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824.[4]
Geography
Tanintharyi lies on the southern bank of the
Culture
Less than a mile from the present village stands and erected by the Siamese at the city's founding in 1383 AD is a large, roughly cut stone pillar weighing several tons which is said to have once been the original city centre.[10] Legend has it that a live woman was thrown into the hole where the pillar was planted and that she became the city's spiritual guardian.[10]
In earlier days, approximately 4 sq mi (10 km2) of the town were surrounded by a brick and mud wall. Though the wall has since been dismantled and the bricks repurposed within other buildings such as the jail, the wall's foundation can still be seen in certain places.[10] Its courthouse was erected on a hill above the village, and this is also the site of two ancient pagodas.[3]
In 1877, the population was approximately 666 inhabitants.[11] As of 1916, the village contained approximately 100 houses.[3]
Resources
The town's agricultural resources include the cultivation of rubber and fruit crops. Pearl farms are also established here by the Ministry of Mines.
References
- ^ a b Google (29 May 2023). "Tanintharyi" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Microsoft; Nokia (29 May 2023). "Tanintharyi" (Map). Bing Maps. Microsoft. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Bay of Bengal pilot: Bay of Bengal and the coasts of India and Siam, including the Nicobar and Andaman islands. United States Hydrographic Office. 1916. p. 418. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ ISBN 1-74059-695-1. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ ISBN 1-85743-133-2.
- ISBN 0-313-32384-4.
- ^ Anderson, pp. 11–12
- ^ Anderson, p. 11-12
- ^ a b Anderson, John (1890). English intercourse with Siam in the seventeenth century. K. Paul, Trench, Trübner, & co., ltd. p. 5.
- ^ a b c "South Tenasserim and the Mergui Archipelago". Scottish Geographical Magazine. 14. Royal Scottish Geographical Society: 453–454. 1898.
- ^ Hunter, Sir William Wilson (1881). The imperial gazetteer of India. Vol. 9. Trübner & Co. p. 25.
