Southwest Yunnan

Before the 19th century, when British and French possessions in Asia were still a long way from Yunnan, the status of the southwest part of the province was not clear. In particular, the border with Burma between Xishuangbanna and Dehong was not defined. In these border counties, today comprising Menglian, Lancang, Ximeng, Shuangjiang, Gengma, Cangyuan and Zhenkang, the social make-up of the population was similar to Banna and Dehong. The Dai occupied the plains and valleys and various ethnic groups inhabited the hills. But, though Buddhist, these Dai were mainly of a completely different branch-the Nua-and neither Dehong sawbas nor Banna princes ever had any authority over them......