Chapter I: Front Matter

THE LUSHEI KUKI CLANS

BY

Lt.-COLONEL J. SHAKESPEAR

Published under the orders of the
Government of Eastern Bengal
and Assam

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAP

MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON
1912

Copyright.

Richard Clay and Sons, Limited BRUNSWICK STREET,
STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK

TO

"THANGLIANA"

Lieut.-Colonel T. H. Lewin

THE FRUITS OF WHOSE LABOURS I WAS PRIVILEGED TO REAP,
AND WHO, AFTER AN ABSENCE OF NEARLY FORTY YEARS,
IS STILL AFFECTIONATELY REMEMBERED BY THE LUSHAIS.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction xiii
Bibliography xvii
Glossary xix

PART I

THE LUSHEI CLANS

CHAPTER I PAGE

General 1

1. Habitat. 2. Appearance and physical characteristics.
3. History. 4. Affinities. 5. Dress. 6. Tattooing.
7. Ornaments. 8. Weapons.

CHAPTER II

Domestic Life 17

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

1. 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.

CHAPTER IV

Religion 61

1. General form of religious beliefs--Pathian the
Creator, Other spirits, The world beyond the grave,
Re-incarnation. 2. Ancestor worship--Offerings 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 terms 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

Folk-lore 92

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

CHAPTER VI.

Language 113

Lushai or Dulien, Grammar, Word for word translation.

APPENDIX

Families and Branches of Lushei Clan 125

PART II

THE NON-LUSHEI CLANS

INTRODUCTORY

Division of Clans into Five Groups 129

CHAPTER I

Clans included in the term Lushai 130

Chawte, Chongthu, Hnamte, Kawlni, Kawlhring, Kiangte,
Ngente, Paotu, Rentlei, Vangchhia, Zawngte.

CHAPTER II

Clans which, though not absorbed, have been much
influenced by the Lushais 136

Fanai, Ralte, Paihte or Vuite, Rangte.

CHAPTER III

The old Kuki Clans 148

The old Kuki Clans of Manipur, Aimol, Anal, Chawte, Chiru,
Kolhen, Kom, Lamgang, Purum, Tikhup, Vaiphei. Other old
Kuki Clans, Khawtlang and Khawchhak.

CHAPTER IV

The Thado Clan 189

CHAPTER V

The Lakher or Mara Clan 213