The Lushei Kuki clans

Front matter

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE

SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND

THE GIFT OF

Chapter II

1. Occupation. 2. Weights and Measures. 3. Villages. 4. Houses. 5. Furniture. 6. Implements — Agricultural, Musical, Household. 7. Manufactures — Basket work. Pottery, Brass work, Iron work. Cloth manufacture, Dyeing, Ornamentation. 8. Domestic animals. 9. Agriculture. 10. Hunting and fishing. 11. Food and drink. 12. Amusements—Dances, Athletics, Games.

CHAPTER III Laws and Customs ....... 41

Internal structure — Formation and constitution of the Clan, Sub-division into Families and Branches. 2. Tribal organisation — The Chief, Village officials, Rights of chief, Boi, Sal, &c. 3. Marriage — Bride-price, Divorce, Widow remarriage. 4. Female chastity. 5. Inheritance — Adoption. 6. Offences regarding property. 7. Offences connected with the body. 8. Decisions of disputes. 9. War and head-hunting — Ambushing, Raiding, First use of guns, Head-hunting.

VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter IV Paqe

1. General form of religious beliefs — Pathian the Creator, Other spirits, The world beyond the grave, Re-incarnation.

2. Ancestor worship — OflFerings to the dead, Possession by spirit of the dead. 3. Worship of natural forces and deities — Spirits of hill, vale, and stream. The Lashi. 4. Religious rites and ceremonies— Definitions of tei'ms used. Sacrifices, Epidemics, " Ai " sacrifice. 5. Priesthood. 6. Ceremonies connected with childbirth. 7. Marriage ceremonies. 8. Funerals — Description, Disposal of corpse of infants, Lukawng, Unnatural deaths. 9. Festivals — Connected with crops, " Thangchhuah feasts," " Buh-ai."

Chapter V

1. Legends — Creation and natural phenomena, Nomenclature of hills, &c., Animal tales. Mythical heroes. 2. Superstitions — Connected with cultivation, with animals, house buUding, miscellaneous. 3. Snake worship — " Rulpui," "The great snake," Other superstitions regarding snakes. 4. Omens. 5. Witchcraft — " Khuavang zawl," "Khawhring," Origin of.

Chapter VI

Resemblances between languages of clans, Change of certain letters. Comparative vocabulary.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Khamliana, Sailo Chief {Golowred Plate) . . Frontispiece

LusHAi Weapons, Ornaments, &c. ..... 10

LusHAi Men's Haie Ornaments ... To face 12

Zawlbuk, or Young Men's House . . . ,, ,, 22

Plan of a Lushai's House ...... 26

A Rest by the Way — on the Way to the Jhums. Lushais

AND Pois . . . . . To face 32

Lushais Threshing Rice (fioloured Plate) . . ,, ,, 33

Z AT AX A, Sailo Chief and Family {Coloured Plate) . ,, ,, 44

Lushai Girls ...... „ ,, 53

Copy of a Map of the Route to Mi-thi-khua, drawn by a

Khwatlang Posts Erected to Commemorate the Slaying of

Mithans at a Feast . ... To face 65

Chief's House showing "She lu Pun," the Posts Supporting THE Skulls op Mithan Killed at One of the Feasts

To face 90

Cane Suspension Bridge . . . . ,, ,, 110

Fanai „ „ 136

Memorial Stone in Champhai, Known as Mangkhaia, Lung-

DAWR ....... To face 140

VuiTB Memorial . . . . . . >> » 147

Rangte Grave . . . . . d n 147

AiMOL Nautch Party. The Youth is Holding a Rotchem

To face 152

XII LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Heads of Kuki Clans . .... To face 184

Memorial to a Man who has Pbkfobmed the Ai of a Tiger 206

Memorial to a Woman who has Performed the Buh Ai . 206

Lakhbb Chief and Family (Coloured Plate) . To face 215

Lakhbr Baskets . . . . . ,, ,, 223 JIap ..... . . At end of Volume