But legends tell of a powerful predecessor Tai state having been established in the area previously which had its capital at the now ruined place of Sampenago.

The Burmese Buddhists know little of Kanishka, but the name of Dhammathawka is well known, and tradition credits him with the foundation of many pagodas with the bones and relics of the Buddha.

There are many of these shwemōkthos and shwemōkdaws in the Upper Province, and even farther off still, in the tributary Shan States : at Kyaukse, Sampenago, in the Bhamo District ; at Pwela in the Myelat, round the Inle lake, and in many parts of the hills.

They are all implicitly credited to Dhammathawka...[2]In 1668 a saopha of Wanmaw named Sao Ngawk Hpa is said to have instigated an attack by the Chinese against the Kingdom of Burma.

[3] The control of this frontier state by the Burmese Kingdom was loose and at the time of the beginning of British rule in Burma the wun in charge of the administration of the territory was de facto quite independent.