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Kaman Muslims
The real Muslim settlement began only after Min Saw Mun (Man Saw
Muan) regained the throne of Arakan with the help of the Sultan of
Gaur. There were some Muslim troops in Mrauk U to protect Min Saw
Mun (Man Saw Muan) from the Burmese invasion. About two hundred
years later, some followers of Mogul Prince Shah Shuja joined the
descendants of these soldiers. These groups of mercenaries were
Afghans and Moguls. They were called "Kamans", meaning archers in
Persian language. Their descendants still live in the Rakhine State,
particularly in Akyab (Sittwe) District and Rambree Island. Now they
are assimilated into the Arakanese society. Only in religion and
complexion do they differ from the Arakanese (Rakhaing), they know
the Arakanese language, literature and Buddhist traditions very
well. Most of them have Burmese/Arakanese names. They rarely used
their Muslim names.
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