Sawbwan.

1800 M. Symes Acct. Embassy to Ava xvi. 375 We were told that there were fifty-six Chobwas dependent on the Birman state; if it be true, their territories must be very inconsiderable.

1829 J. Crawfurd Jrnl. Embassy to Court of Ava xv. 395 The only class of public officers which can be called hereditary under the Burmese Government, are the Thaubwas, or Saubwas, the tributary princes of the subjugated countries.

1858 H. Yule Narr. Mission to Court of Ava xiii. 303 The Tsaubwas..retain all the forms and appurtenances of royalty.

1875 H. A. Browne Jrnl. 18 Jan. in Reminisc. Court of Mandalay (1907) 67 Kut-Loon..is in the jurisdiction of the Maing-maw Tsawbwa, or Chinese Shan chieftain.

1911 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 802/1 Politically, where not under the direct control of Chinese magistrates, the tribes are organized under their own chiefs, who are recognized by the Chinese government and endowed with official rank and title. In Burmese such native chiefs are termed Sawbwa.

1929 F. T. Jesse Lacquer Lady iii. 276 The Shan Sawbwas were in open revolt.

1962 Listener 25 Oct. 646/2 Some of the Shans, led by some of the Sawbwas, agitated for separation from Burma.

1973 Dict. World Hist. 1378/2 The Shans have retained their racial identity and a high degree of separatism, with numbers of small states each until recently having its own ruling chief. The chiefs were known as Sawbwas, Myosas, or Ngwegunhmus, according to rank.