Pegu

Pegu, a town, division, and river of Lower Burma. The town stands on the river Pegu, 46 miles NE. of Rangoon. The old city was founded in 573 and was made the capital of a powerful independent kingdom. European travellers in the 16th century speak of its great size and magnificence. It was destroyed in the middle of the 18th century by Alompra; but was rebuilt. A celebrated pagoda still stands within part of the old walls. The place was handed over to the British by the inhabitants both in the first and the second Burmese war. Pop. 10,762.—The division has an area of 9160 sq. m. and a pop. (1891) of 1,456,489.—The river rises in the Pegu Yoma Mountains, and flows generally south for 180 miles, joining the Rangoon or Hlaing River.