Legya

Legya, called by the Shans Lai-hka, a state in the central division of the southern Shan States of Burma, with an area of 1433 m². On the downfall of King Thibaw civil war broke out, and reduced the population to a few hundred. In 1901 it had risen again to 25,811. About seven-ninths of the land under cultivation consists of wet rice cultivation. A certain amount of upland rice is also cultivated, and cotton, sugarcane and garden produce make up the rest. Laihka, the capital, is noted for its ironwork, both the iron and the implements made being produced at Pang Lng in the west of the state. This and lacquerware are the chief exports, as also a considerable amount of pottery. The imports are chiefly cotton piece-goods and salt. The general character of the state is that of an undulating plateau, with a broad plain near the capital and along the Nam Teng, which is the chief river, with a general altitude of a little under 3000 ft.