Provincial Geographies of India/Volume 4/Chapter 6
CHAPTER VI
LAKES
The largest lake is Indawgyi in Myitkyina, covering an area of 80 square miles. Surrounded on three sides by
Fig. 22. Royal Lake, Rangoon.
wooded hills, its placid waters present a scene of unsurpassed loveliness. Seldom visited in former years, it was a favourite theme of legend and romance. Fair floating islands moved upon its bosom and the fabled unicorn roamed on its grassy borders. These roseate visions have vanished, but the perfect beauty of Indawgyi is not a dream or myth.
In the Shan State of Yawnghwe is the large and famous Inle lake. Here are lake-dwellers, amphibious progeny of captive Tavoyans, who practise the curious art of paddling, by holding the paddles with their legs.
Other lakes of note are Indaw (60 square miles) in Katha; Shwepyi and Taungthaman in Mandalay; Mahananda, Halin, Kadu and Thamantha in Shwebo; Ye-myet in Sagaing (10 miles by 3); the large artificial lake of Meiktila, constructed under the orders and immediate supervision of King Bodawpaya rather more than a hundred years ago; Inma in Prome (10 miles by 4); Inye in Bassein (7 miles in circuit). In Rangoon, the Royal Lakes in Dalhousie Park, memorable for beauty and association, and the Victoria Lake, a fine stretch of water, were both made by hands. The Royal Lakes were made after the acquisition of Pegu in 1852. The Victoria Lake, completed in 1884, had the utilitarian object of providing the water-supply of Rangoon. This does not render it less picturesque.
In most districts are to be found shallow meres, teeming in due season with water-fowl.