 These included Kantarawadi, the only state whose ruler was promoted to a "saopha" or "sawba", Kyebogyi, Bawlake, Nammekon and Naungpale.They were independent until British rule in Burma, and had feudal ties to the Burmese kingdom.The states bordered the Shan States of Mong Pai, Hsatung and Mawkmai to the north, Thailand to the east, the Papun district of Lower Burma to the south, and a stretch of the Karen Hills inhabited by the Bre and various other small tribes to the west.