history of the zo mi

8/11/2019 History of the Zo Mi

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HISTORY

OF THE ZO Ml

CHIN)

RACE

"The C h i n is o f i n te res t , b ecaus e he revea ls the mate r ia l ou t o f wh ich Buddh ism

and c iv i l i sa t ion have be tween them e vo lv ed the Burmese pe op le ; the

C h i n ,

in

shor t , is the rough wo od ou t o f wh ich the Burman has been c ar ve d " .

— " Th e S il k e n Ea s t " , b y V . C . Sc o t t O 'C o n n o r

T H E

Ch i n H i l l s G a z e t t e e r r e c o r d e d t h e f a c t s

that

Zo (Ch ins) and the so ca l led Kuk is were o ne

and the same race and that Sok tes , Yo s and Kam haus were one pe op le . It further summar ized the

f a c t that a l l b e l o n g t o o n e a n d th e s a m e Ku k i r a c e . H a d th e wo r d Ku k i b e e n c h a n g e d t o Z o

a t that t ime, the right wo rd fo r ca l l i ng the var ious t r i bes an d c lans o f the Zo race inhab i t i ng

the areas jo in ing Burma, Eas t Pak is tan and As sa m wo u ld have been answ ered a long time a g o .

Th is pub l i ca t ion was ra re fo r a long time a nd was no t ava i lab le to la te r au thors on the var iou s

races

o f Burma.

"There can be no doubt that the C h ins and the K uk is a re one and the same race , fo r the i r

appearance, manners , cus toms, and language a l l

point

t o th i s c o n c l u s i o n " . Th e Ch i n H i l l s G a z e t t e e r

1896 chap x i i pp 135.

"Se c t ions o f the Ch ins who have m igra ted into Burma

from

the T ibe tan p la teau a lmo s t i n

a

s t ra igh t l ine dow n south a re to be foun d

from

t h e So m r a H i l l T r a c t s d o wn C a p e Ne g r a i s . Th e

C h i n s , the peo p le l i v ing in the nor thern C h i n H i l l s be l ie ved then most l y that the i r fo rem ost

fa thers se t t l ed in C i m nu a i , Sa iz ing

from

where they sp read to o ther p la ces in the Ch in H i l l s .

Th e p e o p l e c a l l t h e m s el v e s Z O M l . M i m e a n i n g M a n . F r o m C i m n u a i s o m e

went

sou th and ca l led

themse lves Suk te , some move d eas t to the a lka l i va l le y S i Za ng and la te r known as S izang (S iy in ) .

The Tha do branch move d nor th , and some more branches m ove d wes t and s t i l l ca l l the mse lves

M l Z O but known by the Br i t ish as Lushai (Luse i ) .

"Se c t ion s o f the Ch ins who have m igra te d into Burma

from

the T ibe tan p la teau a lmos t i n

a s t ra ight l ine down south are to be found

from

t h e So m r a H i l l T r a c t s d o wn t o C a p e Ne g r a i s .

The Ch ins , then most l y in No r th - We ste rn Burma, a re known to have h ad soc ia l i n te rcourse with

the Burmese at the

time

o f the K ingd om o f P agan (104 4-12 87) . There were Ch in lev ies in the

a r m i es o f K i n g Ba y i n n a u n g o f To u n g o o ( 1 5 5 1 - 8 1 ) a n d o f K i n g A l a u n g p a y a o f A v a ( 1 7 5 2 - 6 0 ) .

" L o c a l tradition

has it

that

the ances tors o f some o f the pe op le fo rm ing the p r in c ipa l

t r i bes asce nde d the Ch in lands

from

t h e Ka l e - K a b a w a n d t h e M y i t t h a R i v e r v a l l e y s . O n e g r o u p

went

there by the

foothill

Burmese v i l l ag e , Ya za gy o, and are the c lans now inhab i t i ng the nor th

e a s t r e g i o n o f T i d d i m . An o t h e r g r o u p

went

up M o u n t K e n n e d y

from

the K a le Va l ley . They then

d e s c e n d e d t h e we s t e rn s l o p e o f Ke n n e d y Pe ak a n d s e tt l e d in Za n g p i t a m a b o v e Th u k l a i V i l l a g e ,

Siy in

Va l l e y . L a t e r t h e y c o n t i n u e d th e i r m o v e t o C i m n u a i n e a r S a i z a n g V i l l a g e , So k t e a r e a .

The i r descendants spread a long var ious rou tes

from

C i m n u a i a n d a r e b e l i e v e d t o b e t h e

ances tors o f the p resent t r i bes o f S iy in , Sok te , Ka mh au, Zo an d Tha do . The rem ainder mo ved

from

th e M y i t t h a R i v e r v a l l e y into the C en t ra l Ch in count ry and were the ances tors o f the

Zan n ia ts , Zaha us , Tashons o f F a lam and var ious t r i bes o f H ak a.

97



It is not

within

tribal

m e m o r y

that

a n y f u l l -s c a l e o rg a n i z e d w a r w a s e v e r w a g e d b e tw e e n t h e

Burmese K ings and the C h i n s , bu t m ino r hos t i l i t i es used to occ ur a t t imes in the

foothill

va l leys ,

resul t ing in ra ids and sk i rmishes on the bo rde r.

Br i t ish t roop s were in ac t ion aga ins t the Nor th e rn C h in s a f te r the annexa t ion o f Up pe r

Burma fo r a con t inue d pe r iod o f seven mon ths o r the rea bou ts am ong the foo th i l l s now passed

b y th e K a l e m y o - F o r t W h i t e - T i d d i m

R o a d ,

a t a p la ce c a l le d L e isan (now known as the

Basha

H i l l ) .

The Ch in s res is ted the adv anc e o f B r i t ish t roop s fea r less ly

til l

they were subdued . I t was

n o t

until

1892

that

t h e n o rt h e rn p e o p le n o w in h a b i t i n g t h e T i d d im S u b d i v i s i o n w e re

totally

d i s a r m e d .

The Ce n t ra l Ch ins d id no t o f fe r any fu l l -sca le res is tance . Fu r the r dow n in the sou th ,

the va r ious t r ibes o f the H ak a Su bd iv is ion , res is ted s te rn ly the ad van ce o f the fo rces

from

the

G a n g a w

V a l l e y .

Th e r e

i s a g rea t de a l o f soc ia l in te rcourse be twe en the C h in s and the Burmese an d a

c o n

s i d e r a b l e

num ber o f C h ins speak Burmese . M an y Ch in s l iv ing in the Pakokku , Tha ye tm yo , Prome

e n d

H en zad a D is t r i c ts have bec om e Burm an ized , be in g mos t ly Buddh is ts . Even in respec t o f the

C h i n s

in the C h i n H i l l s D is t r i c t , those who inhab i t the sou the rn po r t ion and those a reas ad jace n t

t o t h e K a le -K a b a w V a l l e y a re in c l o s e t o u c h

with

the Burm ese . The Ch ins have f re quen t ly

expressed

a des i re to have Burmese as the me d ium o f ins t ruc t ion in the i r sc hoo ls . Re por t o f

F ro n t i e r A re a s C o m m i t t e e o f E n q u i r y 1 9 4 7 .

' A m o n g s t

the Khon g ja is (Khuan gsa i ) themse lves , the c ream o f the Thad os , the Thados pa r

e x c e l l e n c e a re ma le descenda n ts o f Tha do in d i re c t l ine a l desc en t . To these much respec t is

pa id by the youn ger b ranche s , who in token the r eo f p rese n t to the C h i e f o f the i r pa r t i c u la r

b r a n c h e s

one tusk o f e ach e lepha n t they m ay cap tu re , these Ch ie fs aga in mak ing a p resen t to the i r -

super io r , the head o f a l l .

"O r i g i na l l y they were no t m ig ra to ry , bu t have assumed th is cha rac te r la te ly . S ince the i r

expu ls ion

from

the ir own h i l ls , the

different

t r ibes have beco me mixed up toge th e r in the v i l lages

s i tua ted in pos i t ions se lec ted

with

r e fe re n c e t o c o n v e n ie n c e o f c u l t i v a t i o n , b u t

with little

r e g a rd

to heal th iness.

" T h e

Y o

tribe

t h re e g e n e ra t i o n s b a c k o c c u p i e d t h e

tract

o f coun t ry now inhab i ted by the

K a n h o w c lan o f Sok tes , and many o f the Kan how v i l lage s a re in hab i ted s t i l l by Y os , whose

tribal

name has g iven way to that o f " K a n h o w " . S o k t e s , Y o s , a n d K a n h o w s a r e p r a c t i c a l l y o n e p e o p l e ;

fo r m any years pas t , as i s shown in the M an ipu r reco rds , numbers o f emig ran ts c r ossed the No r

thern

C h in b o rd e r a n d s e t t l e d d o w n a l o n g th e s o uth o f M a n ip u r p l a i n , w e s t o f t h e l o n g i t u d e

o f H o w b i

Peak.

The Chin Hills are peopled by many clans and comm unities, calling themse lves by various

name s and believing themse lves to be of distinct and superior origin. It is evident, howev er that

all belong to one and the same , the Kuki race, which, owing firstly to the want of a written

language and secondly to the interminable inter-village warfare, has split up and resulted in a

babel of tongues, a variety of custom s, and a diversity of modes of living.

" P h y s i c a l l y

the C h i n is a f ine man , ta l le r and s tou te r than h is ne ighbours in the p la ins on

both

th e

north

and eas t , and a l thoug h he fa l l s sho r t o f the bu i ld o f the Pa than , h is measurements

c o m p a r e

m o re t h a n f a v o u ra b l y

with

those o f the Gu rk ha . It is no uncom mon o ccu renc e to

find

men 5

feet

10 inches and 5

feet

M inches in he igh t

with

ches t measurement o f 39 inches and

298



with a c a l f m e a s u re m e n t o f t h e a b n o rm a l size o f 16 inche s. Ind iv idua l fa l l m en are fou nd in the

Ku k i v i l l a g e s im m e d ia te l y s o u th o f M a n ip u r a n d a m o n g th e S o k te s , b u t t h e f i n e s t built men in the

h i l ls a re the S iy ins , H aka s , and inde pen den t sou the rners .

"The S iy ins , though sma l l in s ta tu re , a re sp le nd i d ly l imb ed and a re the mos t even ly

built

tribe

in the h i l l s , though the H aka s and indep end en t sou the rners a re as a wh o le ta l le r and p roduce

the f ines t ind iv id ua l me n . The Ch in s and the sou the rn Kuk is o f M an ip u r be in g the same race , l i v ing

in the same c lass o f coun t ry and under the same cond i t ion s , a re , as is to be exp ec t ed , equ a l l y g oo d

c a r r i e r s " .

C h i n H i l l s G a z e t t e e r .

C h i n Lev ies bes ide invad ing coun t r ies ad ja cen t to the C h i n H i l l s such as the Eas t Ind ia

c o m p a n y o c c u p ie d a re a s o f E a s t B e n g a l i n c l u d i n g t h e C h i t t a g o n g a re a s , t h e y v o l u n te e re d f o r

s e r v i c e

u n d e r K i n g A l a u n g p a y a .

" A l a u n g p a y a h imse l f re tu rned with a l a rg e f o r c e , c o n ta i n i n g S h a n a n d C h in l e v i e s, t o S y r i a m

w h i c h his m e n h a d s ta r t e d t o b e s ie g e s o o n a f t e r t h e c a p tu re o f R a n g o o n " H a rv e y .

"The app rox im ate cause in 1757 was , f i rs t l y , the fa i lu re o f the Ta la in g gove rnm ent to

sub juga te the north im m e d ia te l y a f t e r e n te r i n g A v a a n d b e fo re w i t h d ra w in g t h e b u lk o f t h e a rm y ;

s e c o n d l y ,

they were d iv i de d in the i r coun c i l s , wh i le the Burmese were un i ted under a g rea t

leade r ; th i rd ly , th ey had on ly the i r own co rn er o f Burma to d r aw on fo r men , whereas A la un g

p a y a ' s

numbers were fed by

Shan , Kach in ,

C h i n a n d K a d u l e v i e s " . H a r v e y 1 9 2 5.

The

p op u la t ion o f the Kh yen g (C h in ) in the d is t r i c ts o f A r ak an as i t s tood a t the census

o f 1 87 2 w a s a s f o l l o w s :

( J A S B

fo r 1875 V o l . XL IV P t I) .

I. A ky ab 3 ,917

'2 .

Ram ree 10 ,324

3. S a n d o w a y 4 , 7 1 5

18,956

" T h e K h y e n g s c a l l t h e m s e l v e s H IO U o r

S H O U

(zo , yo ) and s ta te

that

the Sh indoo s , Khum is ,

and Lungkhes , a re mem bers o f the same race as them se lves . They ha ve a t rad i t io n

that

they

c a m e

d o w n f r o m th e K y e n d w e n g (C h in d w in ) r i ve r , b u t t h e y

possess

no

written

reco rd o f the i r

d e s c e n t ;

they a re fon d , howe ver , o f s ing ing rude ba l lads , wh ich po r t ra y the de l igh ts o f the i r

a n c i e n t c o u n t r y " .

In h is " M i s s i o n t o th e C o u r t o f A v a " , H e n r y Y u le re c o rd e d t h e s u rv e y s m a d e a b o u t t h e

o c c u p i e d and u noc cup ied pa r ts o f Burma :

" O f

la rge t rac ts w e have s t il l no accura te desc r ip t ion . Such a re the eas te rn pa r ts o f Burma

Pr o p e r f r o m th e I r a w a d i to t h e S h a n s ta te s , t h o u g h o n t hi s M a j o r A l l a n h a s c o l l e c te d a g o o d

d e a l

o f n a t i v e i n fo rm a t i o n ; t h e Y a u (Z o ) c o u n t r y , w e s t o f t h e m o u th o f t h e K y e n -d w e n ; t h e

i n te r i o r o f t h e D o a b , b e tw e e n t h e I r a w a d i a n d K y e n -d w e n , f r o m M o u t - s h o b o (M u k s o b u ) u p

ward s ; and the who le o f the h i l l coun t ry eas t and no r th -eas t o f the ca p i ta l , towa rds the Ruby -

mines,

t h e u p p e r co u rs e o f t h e M y i t n g e , a n d t h e C h in e s e

frontier.

' S e v e n

races a re re cogn ised by the Burmese as o f the M ya m m a s tock ; v iz . the Raka in , o r

p e o p l e o f A r a c a n ; t he p r o p e r

B u rm a ; t h e T a la i n ; t h e K y e n o f t h e A r a c a n m o u n ta i n s ; t h e

299



Karen o f the fo res ts o f l ower Burma, Pegu , a n d Te n n a s s e r i m ; t h e Y a u ; a n d t h e T a v o y e r . Th e r e

are t rac es , ho we ver , i n the Burmese h is to ry , o f even the p ro pe r Burma hav ing bee n am alg am ate d

f r o m v a r i o u s r a c e s . Y u l e ' s M i s s i o n t o Av a .

" S t i l l further we s t wa r d i n t h e N a g a c o u n t r y , b e t we e n lo n g i t u d e 9 3 ° a n d 9 5 °, a n d a g r e a t

mu l t i p le mass o f m oun ta ins s ta r ts sou thwards f rom the

A s s a m

c h a i n . En c l o s i n g

first

the leve l

a l l u v i a l v a l l e y o f M u n n i p o o r , a t a h e i g h t o f 2 5 0 0 f e e t a b o v e t h e s e a , i t t h e n s p r e a d o u t we s t wa r d

t o T i p u r a a n d t h e c o a s t o f Ch i t t a g o n g a n d n o r t h e r n A r a c a n a b r o a d s u c c e s s i o n o f u n e x p l o r e d

a n d f o r e s t - c o v e r e d s p u rs , in h a b i t e d b y a v a s t v a r i e t y o f w i l d t r i b e s o f I n d o - Ch i n e s e k i n d r e d , kn o wn

as K o o k i s , N a g a s , Kh y e n s , a n d b y m a n y m o r e s p e c i f i c n a m e s . Co n t r a c t i n g t o a m o re d e f i n e d

c h a i n ,

o r to us mo re de f i ne d be cau se we know i t be t te r , th i s me r id ian range s t i ll passes s o u t h wa r d

u n d e r t h e n a m e o f t h e A r a c a n Y u m a - d o u n g , til l 700 m i les f rom i ts o r ig in in the N ag a w i lds i t

s inks in the sea hard by Negrais, i ts last bluff c ro w n e d b y t h e g o l d e n P a g o d a o f M o d a i n ,

g l e a m i n g f a r t o s e a w a r d , a Bu rm e s e Su n i u m . Fa n c y m i g h t t r a c e t h e s u b m a r in e p r o l o n g a t i o n o f t h e

range in the do t ted l i ne o f the Prep ar i s , the C c c o s , t h e A n d a m a n s , t h e N i c o b a r s , til l i t emerges

a g a i n t o t r a v e r s e Su m a t r a a n d t h e v a s t c h a i n o f t h e J a v a n i c isles.

" Be t w e e n t h e s e t wo g r e a t m e r i d i a n r a n g e s that h a v e b e e n i n d i c a t e d , th e o n e e a s t wa r d o f

the I raw ad i a nd the S i tan g , the o ther w es tw ard o f the Ky en- dw en and the I rawad i , li e what ha ve

b e e n c h a r a c t e r i s e d a b o v e a s t h e first th ree d iv i s ions o f the Bu rman territory, and these be fore

t h e d e t a c h m e n t o f Pe g u m ig h t h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r e d as f o r m i n g t h e k i n g d o m o f Bu r m a .

" A

little

b e l o w t h e Sh w e - l i , e a c h s id e o f th e I r a wa d i , a t M y a d o u n g o n t h e e a s t a n d a t

Th igya in on th e wes t , there a re the remains o f o ld s tone fo r ts . Tha t a t Th igya in i s sa id to ha ve

been in anc ien t t imes the cap i ta l o f the K a d o s , a tribe now sca t te re d over the in te r io r o f the

M o n y e e n

d is t r i c t a nd that o f P y e n z a l a , west of the r iver .

( " A p r i v a t e n o t e f r o m C o l o n e l Ha n n y s p e a k s o f th e Ka d o s as b e i n g t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g

o f the nor thern t r i bes , " l i ke the Yo s , one o f the o ld Burmese races , and s im i la r i n t ype to wha t

we see o f the Bhurs an d Ra u je Bhurs o f the p resen t da y , a race known by t rad i t i o n as the o ldes t

o f I n d i a n r a c e s " ) .

Yule's Mission to Ava mentions fhe YAU (ZO) country.

" W e s t o f t h e ri v e r , b e t we e n t h e p a r a l l e l s o f 2 2 °3 0 ' a n d 2 4 °3 0 ' , s t r e tc h e s f r o m

north

to

south the va l ley o f K a b o . ( K a b o i s t h e n a m e a p p l i e d t o t h e Sh a n s i n t h e M u n n i p o o r i l a n g u a g e ) .

Th i s v a l l e y , t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t o f wh i c h wa s lo n g a b o n e o f c o n t e n t i o n b e t we e n A v a a n d M u n n i

po or , was in 1833 ma de ove r to the fo rm er by the au thor i t y o f the B r i ti sh Gov ern me nt , a t the

i n s t a n c e o f C o l o n e l Bu r n e y , c o m p e n s a t i o n b e i n g m a d e t o M u n n i p o o r . I t is a l o n g s t r ip , n o t m o r e

t h a n te n t o f i f t e e n m i le s i n g r e a t e s t w i d t h , s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e Ky e n - d w e n b y a r a n g e o f u n in

h a b i t e d a n d f o r e s t - c o v e r e d h i ll s , c a l l e d U n g o c h i n g . Th e n o r t h e rn p o r t i o n o f t h e v a l l e y , c a l l e d

b y t h e Bu r m e se Th o u n g t h wo t , b y t h e Ka t h e s , o r M u n n i p o o r i e s , Sa m j o k ; a n d t h e s o u t h e r n , c a l l e d

K a l e , a re s t i l l under the ru le o f the n a t i ve Shan Tsaubw as

tributary

t o A v a ; t h e o n l y s uc h wh o

h a v e 'm a i n t a i n e d t h e i r p o s i t i o n u n d e r t h e Bu r m e s e G o v e r n m e n t o n th i s s i d e o f t h e I r a w a d i . Th e

c e n t r a l p o r t i o n , Kh u m b a t , i s u n d e r a Bu r m e s e G o v e r n o r . Ka l e is m u c h t h e m o s t p o p u l o u s p a r t

o f the va l ley , and i t has an ex i t fo r i ts teak by the Na re n ja ra , o r M un n ip oo r r i ver , wh ich

'passes

th rough i t into t h e Ky e n - d we n . It a l s o p r o d u c e s r ic e a n d c o t t o n , with wax and i vory . Ka le i s one

of the s i tes to w h ich Burman h is to ry o r l egen d a t tach es the dyn as ty o f anc ien t H ind oo

3 0 0



im m ig ra n t s . A n d t h e

c lass ic

name o f the Kab o va l le y i s M au re ey a . The h i ll s on the wes t o f

K a l e

a re occu p ie d by the Kh yens , a race ex tend ing sou thward th roughou t the long range o f the

Y o m a - d o u n g to the la t i tude o f P rom e.

( " C o lo n e l H a n n y i d e n t i f i e s t h e K h y e n s with the Na ga s o f the A s s a m moun ta ins . They mus t

also be c lose ly a l l ie d to the K ook is . In T ran t ' s accou n t o f the Khyen s , on the Ae n g pass, he

ment ions the i r worsh ip o f a d iv in i ty c a l le d

Passine

(Pas ian ) ; and L ieu tenan t S tew ar t , in h is

no t ice o f the "ne w K oo k is " o f no r the rn K ach ar , says

that

t h ey re c o g n i s e o n e a l l - p o w e r fu l G o d

as

th e a u th o r o f t h e u n i v e rs e , w h o m th e y t e rm " P u t h e n " (P a th i a n ) T ra n t ' s T w o Y e a rs in A v a ,

a n d

J o u r . A s i a t i c S o c ie t y B e n . 1 8 5 5 , p . 6 2 8 ) .

" O f

the Y O o r Y au coun t ry , l y ing a lo ng the r i ve r o f

that

name, be tw een the ba r ren Ta ngy i

hil ls that l in e t h e I ra w a d i , o p p o s i t e P a g a n a n d t h e b a s e o f t h e A ra c a n Y o m a -d o u n g , n o th i n g m o re

is known, I am so r ry to say , than was reco rded long a go by Dr . Bu chanan . The peo p le a re be l i

e v e d

to be o f the same race

with

the Burmese , bu t , f r om the i r sec lud ed pos i t io n , speak the

l a n g u a g e

in a pec u l ia r d ia le c t . There a re pa ths f rom the Ya u cou n t ry

into

t h e K a la d a n v a l l e y

i n A r a c a n , w h i c h K in g T h a w a w a d i m a d e s o m e talk o f render ing passa b le fo r t ro ops , when he

w as

b rea th ing wa r in 1839 . They mus t t rave rs e the coun t ry o f some o f the w i ldes t t r ibes o f the

Y u m a , and no th ing o f them is known. The Yaus a re g rea t t raders , and a re the ch ie f ped le rs and

.carr iers of northern B urm a.

" S o u t h o f the Yaus come s the d is t r i c t o f Tsa len , a r i ch a l luv ia l va l ley be tween the sk i r ts o f the

Y u m a - d o u n g ,

a nd the r i ve r , and con s ide re d one o f the mos t p roduc t ive d is t r i c ts o f the emp i re .

" T r i b e s under a g r ea t va r ie ty o f names , and in eve ry s tage f rom se mi -c iv i l i sa t ion to de ep

b a r b a r i s m ,

inhab i t the b roa des t pa r t o f th is g rea t wes te rn moun ta in bou ndar y o f Burma . The mos t

ex ten s ive ly -d i f fused o f these t r ibes , ex tend ing f rom la t . 28 °, pe rhaps , to the

A s s a m frontier,

is

the race o f the Khyens .

Fr o m

T rave ls in Sou th Eas t

A s i a

b y t h e R e v . H o w a r d M a l c o m , o f B o s to n 1 8 3 9 :

" T o w a r d s

the h i ll s is the M ro o o r M ro on g t r ibe , a bou t f i ve thousa nd . Beyond these , on the

lower h i l ls , are the Kyens , a m o u n t i n g t o f i f t e e n t h o u s a n d ; a n d b e y o n d t h e s e, o n t h e Y o m a d o n g

M o u n t a i n s , a re the Arung s o r Ar ing s , am oun t ing to ten thou sand .

" T h e Y a w s (Z o ) a re o n t h e l o w e r w a te rs o f t h e K y e n d w e e n (C h in d w in ) , n o t f a r f r o m A v a .

The

d is t r i c t is somet imes ca l le d Y o o r J o . The langu age is essen t ia l l y B urman , bu t spoken

with

a

d ia lec t in te l l ig ib le on ly to themse lves . They a re an ag r ic u l tu ra l and pas to ra l pe op le , en jo y ing

a

coun t ry o f ex t reme sa lub r i ty and f ru i t fu lness . They manu fac tu re sugar , and expor t i t to o the r

par ts o f the em p i re ; and o f te n reso r t to A v a fo r the pu rpose o f t rad e .

" T h e

K y e n s a re s o m e t im e s c a l l e d

N a - g a s ,

and by the Burmans C h i n s . They occupy pa r t o f

t h e A r r a c a n a n d M u n i p o r e

frontier,

ch ie f l y the moun ta ins o f the d is t r i c t o f K ub o , and am oun t

t o a b o u t

f i f ty

t h o u s a n d , d i v i d e d

into

va r ious t r ibes , as the

C h a n g s e l ,

t h e K o n g ju , t h e C h e d o o ,

the K upo ree , e tc . Som e o f the t r ibes a re

tributary

o f Burmah , o the rs to the Eas t Ind ia C om pa ny ,

a n d

so m e a re c o m p le te l y i n d e p e n d e n t . O n e tribe

tattoo

the i r women ' s faces in a ho r r ib le man

ner ; o f whom I have seen a number . They gen era l l y ca l l themse lves Ko lou n . Ha m i l to n regards

them as one o f the o r ig in a l t r ibes o f fa r the r Ind ia , an d

that,

u nder v ar iou s nam es, such as

Ko o k i e s (Kuk is ) ,

C o s s y a h s

(Kh as i ) , e tc . , and in va r ious s tages o f c iv i l i sa t ion , they a re sp rea d ,

more o r less ove r th is who le p en insu la . W i t h i n the l im i ts o f A r r ac an a re abo u t f i f te en thousa nd ,

301



wh o m i g h t b e r e a c h e d t h r o u g h Ak y a b a n d Ky o u k Ph y o o . A c o n s i d e r a b l e v i l l a g e o f t h e se p e o p l e

s t an d s a t t h e e n t r a n c e o f t h e O o - t h a - l o n g Nu l l a h , te n d a y s b y wa t e r f r o m Ak y a b . M a n y o f

them l i ve in the in te rmed ia te space . The h i l l t r i bes a re f i e rce , and dreaded by a l l the i r ne igh

b o u r s , b u t t h e l o w l a n d e r s c u l t i v a t e t h e e a r t h p e a c e f u l l y , a n d h a v e s e t t l e d h a b i t a t i o n s . Th o s e

u n d e r Bu rm a n a u t h o r i ty p a y t h e i r tribute ch ie f l y i n i vory , wax , coarse co t ton s , g inger , and

turme r i c . Th ey are g rea t l y ad d ic te d to a r rack ex t rac t ed f rom r i ce . I have seen c lo ths and o ther

ar t i c les ma de by them , wh ich d isp la y exce l len t sk i ll and tas te . The i r l angua ge is pec u l ia r and

u n wr i t t e n , a n d th e d i a l e c t s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t t r i b e s v a r y c o n s i d e r a b l y .

" Th e Na g a s a r e a v e r y n u m e r o u s p e o p l e o n t h e b o r d e r s o f C a c h a r , M u n i p o r e , a n d A s a m .

Th e i r c o u n t r y b e l o n g s p a r t l y t o t h e o t h e r o f t h e s e s t a t e s . Th e y a re c a l l e d Na g a s ( l i t e r a l l y " n a k e d

p e o p l e " ) f r o m t h e i r a l m o s t total wan t o f d ress . There a re many c lans o r t r i bes o f them , d i f fe r ing

grea t l y i n the i r measure o f c i v i l i sa t ion . The be t te r sor t dw e l l i n co mp ac t v i l lage s o f we l l -bu i l t

houses

on h i g h h i l ls , a n d a r e re p o r t e d t o b e a v e r y h a n d s o m e a n d a t h l e t i c r a c e ; a c t i v e , b o t h

i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d m e r c h a n d i s e .

" T h e J O O - M E A r e s i d e c h i e f l y i n C h i t t a g o n g , o n a r a n g e o f h i ll c o u n t r y , o n t h e h e a d wa te r s

o f the K u l la d in e , be twee n the m ounta ins an d the p la ins . There a re some t r i bes o f them in T ip pe ra ,

a n d s o m e i n A r r a c a n . Th e y c u l t i v a t e h i ll r i c e a n d c o t t o n . Th e i r l a n g u a g e is wh o l l y u n i n t e l l i g i b l e

bo th to Mug s an d Beng a lees , an d is unw r i t ten . T he i r re l i g io n is impure Bo odh ism. They p ay

tribute t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t a t Ch i t t a g o n g , t h r o u g h a n a t i v e z e m i n d a r ; wh o l iv e s in c o n s i d e r a b l e

s ta te a t Baz i l eah , e a s t wa r d o f C h i t t a g o n g a n d c a l l s h i m s e l f r a j a .

" T h e C H A K - M A tribe i s a l l i e d t o t h e J o o M e a ( Z O M l ) , a n d p r a c t i s e th e s a m e r e l ig i o n

Th e y a r e wh o l l y c o n f i n e d t o t h e h i l ly i n t e r io r o f Ch i t t a g o n g , a n d a r e s u p p o s e d t o a m o u n t t o

a b o u t s e v e n t e e n t h o u s a n d . Th e y a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y c i v i l i z e d , a n d s o m e c a n r e a d Be n g a l e e ; b u t

g e n e r a l l y write i t i n Burman cha rac te r . These an d the Joo -m ea s are a hard ly a nd indus t r ious

peop le , and cu t a l l the sh ip and furniture t i m b e r w h i c h is b r o u g h t d o wn Ch i t t a g o n g R i v e r . Th e y

are remarked a lso fo r i n t rep id i t y as hunters , and fo r gene ra l gen t leness and p rob i t y o f man ners"

A l tho ug h there were t r i b a l wars and m igra t ions fo r o ther causes fo r genera t ion s many c lans

had s tuck to the i r fa m i l y t rees acco rd in g to cus tom A s a resu l t very fa i r l y a ccu ra te ge ne a lo g ica l

t r e e s o f t h e Zo f a m i l y c o u l d b e c o m p i l e d .

Ac c o r d i n g t o t h e S i y i n p ri e s t s a n d S i y i n c l a n f a m i l i e s Ng e n g u , Va n g l o k a n d D a i t o n g h a d

one more bro ther Ne i lu t . The i r fa the r was Thuantak w ho had two o ther b ro thers T oh in an d

Seak tak .

Thuantak was the younges t and he i r . Toh in and S eak tak m igra ted to the

north

and

the i r des cend ants a re now known as Y o , Tha do or Khua ngsa i So me c lan o f the Zo fam i l y a re

n o w i n t h e M a n i p u r S t a t e , A s s a m a n d t h e N a q a H i l l s . Th a d o a n d T h a l u n w e r e t h e t wo s o ns o f

Seak tak . Seak tak had four

sons,

Th a d o , Th a l u n , To n g l u a i a n d Ha n g s i n g . M o s t o f th e v o c a b u l a r i e s

are s t i ll t he same and even the cus tom o f abs t .ne nce f rom m eat by w ives o f abse ntee husbands

is s t i l l t he same The comm on gen ea log ica l t ree ta l l i es up to the time o f sepa ra t ion be twee n the

three bro thers o f Toh in , Seakrak and Thuantak (S uanta k) .

Th e c o m p i l e r s o f th e C h i n H i l l s G a z e t t e e r r e c o r d s u n d e r t h e title " H i s t o r y o f t h e Th a d o s ,

Y o s and Nw i te s" , ,The h ' l lmen, known as the Kuk is o r Kh ong ja is , l ive fo r the g re a ter par t

north

of the Ch in H i l l s boundary l i ne and in h i l l

territory

b e l o n g i n g t o M a n i p u r . Th e M a n i p u r i s c a l l

i he Kuk is , Kh ong ja i Th e,C h in s , how ever , know thern on ly by the name o f the i r o r ig ina l p rog en i to r ,

302



Th a d o , t h o u g h t h e y d i v i d e t h e m into va r ious fam i l i es , the ch ie f o f wh ich i s the M a n g Vu m fa m i l y ,

wh i c h is a t th e p r e s e n t d a y f o u n d i n h a b i t in g t h e v i ll a g e s o f L o r m p i ( M o m b e e ) , Tw e l b u n g ,

Ewan-

kwa,

S i n n u m , Sa i v u m , a n d S h i m w e l l , a l l u n d e r M a n i p u r . O t h e r a n d le ss a r i s t o c r a t i c f a m i l i e s a r e

i h e Vu m l u a n d Vu n t a m , wh i c h a r e f o u n d in Ka i n z o i a n d Kwu n Ka m ( Sa v u m Kwa ) i n M a n i p u r

territory,

a n d i n H i a n z a n ( H i a n g z a n g ) , B a l b i l , H a i t s i , H a n k e n , a n d H o l k o m i n t h e C h i n H i l l s .

C o l o n e l M c C u l l o c h wh o wa s Po l i t i c a l Ag e n t in M a n i p u r f o r m a n y y e a r s r e c o r d s :

" Th e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t that the Ch ins and the Kuk is a re one and the same race , fo r the i r

a p p e a r a n c e ,

man ners ; cus toms, and languag e a l l po in t to th is con c lus ion .

" Th e y p a y m u c h a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i r g e n e a l o g y , a n d p r o f e s s t o k n o w t h e n am e s o f t h e i r Ch i e f s

i n s u c c e s s io n f r o m t h e i r l e a d e r u p t o t h e p r e s e n t t i m e . A b o u t t h e n a m e s o f t h o s e p r e v i o u s

t o Th a d o t h e r e m a y b e d o u b t , b u t f r o m t h is g r e a t C h i e f — f r o m wh o m t h e w h o l e r a c e t a k e s t h e

a p p e l l a t i o n o f Th a d o — I d o n o t think there is any.

" Am o n g s t t h e K h o n g j a i s t h e m s e l v e s , t h e c r e a m o f t h e Th a d o s , t h e Th a d o s p o r e x c e l l e n c e a r e

male descend ants o f Tha do in d i re c t l i nea l desce nt . The present Ch ie f o f a l l the Thado s is a

y o u n g m a n n a m e d K o o d i n g M a n g . Th e Th l un g u m s a r e d i s t i n c t f r o m t h e

C h a n s e l s ,

and the Thados

t h e m s e l v e s a r e d i v i d e d

into

t h e g r e a t e r c l an s o f T h a d o , S h in g s o l , C h o n g l o i , H a n g s e e n ( H a n g -

s i n g ), Ke e p g e n ( K i p n g e n ) , Ha n k e e p , f r o m wh o m a g a i n h a v e s p r u ng m a n y o t h e r c l a n s i n f e r io r i n

r an k b u t n um e r ou s as t h e m s e l v e s , s u c h a s Ch o n g f o o t , Te l n o k , Ho l t u n g , M a n g v o o n g ( M a n g Vu m ) ,

V o o n g t u n g ( V u m T a rn ) e t c " — C o l .

M c C u l l o c h .

" T h e Y o

tribe

t h r e e g e n e r a t i o n s b a c k o c c u p i e d t h e

tract

o f count ry now inhab i ted by the

Kanhow c lan o f Sok tes , and many o f the Kan how v i l l ages are inh ab i te d s t i l l by Y os . Sok tes , Yo s

a n d Ka n h o ws a r e p r a c t i c a l l y o n e p e o p l e , t h o u g h n o So k t e C h i e f wo u l d a d m i t that he is not of

super io r birth t o a Y o . Yo s a s we l l as t h e Th a d o s a n d Nw i t e s a r e c a l l e d b y t h e M a n i p u r i s Ku k i s

o r Kh o n g j a i s , b u t th e p e o p l e c a l l t h e m s e l v e s b y t h e n a m e o f Yo , a n d t h o s e w h o b e l o n g t o t h e

" M a n

L u n " f a m i l y c o n s i d e r

that

they have a

right

t o b e p r o u d o f th e i r b i r t h " .

" Th e Ta s h o n t r i b e s m e n , u n l ik e t h e S i y i n s a n d t h e So k t e s , d o n o t c l a i m o n e c o m m o n p r o

g e n i t o r . Th e y a r e a c o m m u n i t y c o m p o s e d o f a l i e n s , wh o h a v e b e e n c o l l e c t e d u n d e r o n e f a m i l y

b y c o n q u e s t , o r m o r e c o r r e c t l y b y s t r a t e g y . Th e e s p r i f d e c o r p s i n t h e tribe there fo re fa l l s fa r

shor t o f that d i s p l a y e d i n t h e S i y in , So k t e , a n d Th a d o t r i b e s . Th e m e m b e r s o f t h e Fa l a m c o u n c i l

a re no t l ook ed up to as eve ry man 's hered i ta ry an d lawfu l l o rd , as in the case with Ch i e f s i n

t h e n o r t h . Th e y a r e p a r v e n u s a n d a l i e n s wh o c a n n o t e x p e c t t o b e t r e a t e d with the respec t wh ich

h igh birth demands and secures in a l l Kuk i t r i bes .

var ious

" Th e Ch i n H i l l s a r e p e o p l e d b y m a n y c l a n s a n d c o m m u n i t i e s c a l l i n g t h e m s e l v e s b y

names

and be l ie v ing themse lves to be o f d i s t i nc t and sup er io r o r ig in . It is ev id ent , how ever , that

a l l be lon g to one an d the sam e, rhe Kuk i race , wh ich , ow ing

firstly

to the want of a

written

l angua ge and sec ond ly to the in te rm inab le in te r -v i l l age wa r fa re , has sp l i t up and resu l ted in a

b a b e l o f t o n g u e s , a v a r i e t y o f c u s t o m s , a n d a d i v e r s i t y o f m o d e s o f l i v i n g " .

" Ind iv idu a l ta l l m en are found in the Ku k i v i l l ages imm edia te ly sou th o f M an ipu r and amo ng

the Sok tes , bu t the f i ne s t built men in the h i l l s a re S iy ins , H aka s and in dep en den t sou therners

"Th e S iy ins , though smal l i n s ta tu re , a re sp lend id ly l imb ed and are the most even ly built

tribe

i n t h e H i l l s , t h o u g h t h e H a k a s a n d i n d e p e n d e n t s o u t h e r n e rs a r e a wh o l e t a l l e r a n d p r o d u c e

303



t h e f i n e s t i n d i v i d u a l m e n . Th e wo r s t

built

and pun ies t m en in the h i l l s a re found am ong the '

Tashons, who are as a who le d is t inc t l y i n fe r io r to the o ther t r i bes in phys iqu e and in ca r ry in g

capab i l i t y . There i s a say ing in the

north

" on e S iy in is equa l to th ree Tashons , bu t then there

a r e o v e r 1 5 Ta s h o n s t o e v e r y S i y i n " .

If the h igh de ve lop me nt o f l i t e ra ry and ar t i s t i c tas tes i s to be taken as a c r i te r ion o f c i v i l i

sat ion i t is not l ikely that eve n in th i s respec t Eu rope 'has muc h cause to th row contem ptuous

g lances

a t C h i n a .

I think th e t e n d e n c y i n o l d e n d a y s wa s t o c a l l th e o t h e r r a c e " b a r b a r i a n " .

J o h n s t o n e s ay s " A t Ta c h i e n l u we c o m e i n c o n t a c t with represen ta t i ves o f a l l the var ious

t r ibes o f w es tern Ch in a and eas tern T ibe t , bu t they a re near l y a l l l ab e l l ed e i ther Man-ch ' ia o r

M a n - t z u . Th e f o r m e r t e r m m e a n s " b a r b a r i a n f a m i l i e s , a n d in p r a c t i c e i s a p p l i e d t o t h e p e o p l e

wh o m t h e C h i n e s e c h o o s e t o r e g a r d a s true T ibe tan s as d is t inc t f rom the w i lde r den izens o f the

h i l ls and fo res ts . The T ibe tan lang uage i s Ma n-h ua ( the langu age o f the ba rba r ians ) , and the

C h i n e s e l a n g u a g e i s H a n - h u a ( t he l a n g u a g e o f th e m e n o f H a n ) . "

The te rm Ma n- tz u ma y now fo r p ra c t i c a l purpo se be res t r i c ted to cer ta in o f the wes tern

h i l l- t r ib e s t o wh o m b o t h T i b e t a n a n d C h i n e s e a r e f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s , a n d wh o p r e s e r v e d i s t i n c t

cus toms o f the i r own in the mat te rs o f d ress , re l i g ion and so c ia l i n te rcourse . A c ons idera b le p ro

p o r t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e wh o i n h a b i t t h e s c a t t e r e d v il l a g e s o f th e k i n g d o m o f

C h a l a ,

th rough wh ich

l a y m y r o u te t o t h e Y a l u n g , a r e t h e M a n - t z u , n o t M a n - c h i a . M . Bo n i n , wh o ha s t r a v e l l e d w i d e l y

in wes tern S such u 'an , i den t i f i es the Ma n- t zu (us ing the te rm in the nar row er sense) with the Lo los .

I n c o m m o n with m a n y o t h e r Eu r o p e a n s h e ha s o b s e r v e d that the word Lo lo , wha tever i t ma y

m e a n ,

i s an oppr obr ious ep i th e t , wh ich is no t used by the L o los themse lves and shou ld never

be used in the i r p res ence . H e cons ide rs that t h e wo r d L o l o s h o u l d b e d r o p p e d a l t o g e t h e r , a n d

that we s h o u l d s u b s t i tu t e M a n - t z u a s t h e d e s i g n a l i o n o f b o t h p e o p l e s . Th i s wo r d , h e

says,

has the

a d v a n t a g e o f c o m p r e h e n d i n g M o - s o , H s i F a n , K u - t s u n g , M e n i a a n d

L i so ,

who are , he cons ide rs ,

a l l o f the same or ig in .

P r o b a b l y n o o n e h a s a b e t t e r a c q u a i n t a n c e with t h e L o l o s th a n t h e C a t h o l i c m i s s i o n a ry ,

M .

Pau l V i a l . H e has l i ved fo r many years amo ng the N y i (o r N g i ) Lo lo s o f Y unn an, and has

c o m e t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n that " M a n - t z u e t L o l o s n e s o n t q u ' u n e s e u l e e t m e m e r a c e " .

In the s tudy o f l angua ges and d ia lec fs I foun d that there a re many words wh ich a re very

m u c h t h e s a m e b e t we e n t h e T i b e t a n l a n g u a g e a n d t h e l a n g u a g e s s p o k e n b y t h e Z O M l ( C h i n )

and Burmans .

Engl ish

O n e

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

N i n e

Ten

Tibetan

Z o M i (Chin)

Burmese

chig

khat

tit

nyi ni

hnit

sum

thum

thone

zhi

li

li

nga

nga

nga

dirug

luk (rug)

chauk

dun

salih

khuhnit

gye

liat giat;

riat)

shit

gu

kua

ku

chu

sawm (hra)

seh

304



In the lower p la ins o f B urma the Z o Ch ins have ass im i la ted with f h e Bu r m a n s g r a d u a l l y ,

b u t i n t h e s u b - m o n t a n e r e g i o n s li k e Na t c h a u n g , S i d o k - t a y a , Ya w - T i l i n a n d G a n g a w a n d Pa u k a n d

o t h e r a r e a s a l o n g t h e m a i n A r a k a n Yo m a h d o w n t o P r o m e , t h e p e o p l e s a l t h o u g h Bu r m a n i s e d

t h e m s e lv e s a d m i t th e i r b e i n g Z o , Ya w , Y o , Sh o wh i c h is t h e s a m e n a m e g i v e n b y t h e e a r l i e r

p m a k e r s t o a l l t h e p e o p l e i n h a b i t i n g t h e wh o l e W e s t e r n r a n g e s u p t o A s s a m i d e n t i f y i n g t h e m -

ve s

with t h e n o m e c l a t u r e g i v e n t h e m s e l v e s b y t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e Ch i n s within a. id without the

a

selves with

Chin Hi l ls .

N o t o n l y a r e t h e Ch i n s s c a t t e r e d o u t s i d e Bu r m a b u t th e i r a l l i e d l a n g u a g e s a r e f o u n d i n

severa l par ts o f A s s a m : " So u t h o f t h e N a g a H i l l s l ie s t h e S t a t e o f M a n i p u r , a n d h e re we first

m e e t t h e g r o u p o f la n g u a g e s k n o wn a s Ku k i - C h i n . M e i t h e i , t h e o f f i c i a l l a n g u a g e o f t h e S t a t e , is

the one o f them wh ich possesses a n a l p h a b e t a n d a l i t e r a t u r e . O w i n g t o t h e e x is t e n c e o f t h e

l a t t e r i t s d e v e l o p m e n t h a s b e e n r e t a r d e d , s o that i t is in an older stage that the rest . The others

a r e s c a t t e r e d i n c o l o n i e s o v e r M a n i p u r a n d C a c h a r , a n d e x t e n d s o u t h , t h r o u g h t h e h i l l c o u n t r y ,

as f a r a s t h e Sa n d o wa y D i s t r i c t o f Bu r m a . S i n c e th e y o c c u p i e d t h is l a t t e r a r e a , t h e r e h a s b e e n a

c o n s t a n t t e n d e n c y t o e x p a n d n o r t h wa r d s . O n th e W e s t t h e y we r e b a r r e d b y t h e s e a , a n d o n t h e

s o u th a n d e a s t b y th e s t a b l e g o v e r n m e n t o f Bu r m a . Th u s wa v e a f t e r wa v e h a s b e e n d r i v e n t o

th e

north

b y t h o s e wh o we r e b e h i n d . Th e Ku k i - Ch i n s o f M a n i p u r a n d C a c h a r o n c e o c c u p i e d t h e

h i l ls imm edia te ly to the south , and these are now he ld b y the Lu sha is , who w ere o r ig ina l l y

p u s h e d f o r w a r d f r o m t h e s o u t h - e a s t a n d d r o v e t h e m o n . Thi s p r o g r e s s ha s b e e n a r r e s t e d b y

o u r c o n v e r s i o n o f C a c h a r

into

s e t t l e d territory. Th e r e a r e m o r e t h a n

thirty

K u k i - C h i n l a n g u a g e s ,

our convers ion

some with severa l d ia lec ts

Th e Kh y e n g s c a l l th e m s e l v e s H i o u o r Sh o u a n d s t a t e that the S h indo os , Khum is , and Lungkhes

are mem bers o f the same race as themse lves . They have a t rad i t i on that t h e y c a m e d o wn f r o m

t h e Ky e n d we n g r i v e r , b u t t h e y possess no written r e c o r d o f t h e i r d e s c e n t ; t h e y a r e f o n d , h o we v e r ,

o f s ing ing rude ba l lads , wh ich por t r ay the de l igh ts o f the i r anc ien t cou nt ry , sp ec ime n o f wh ich

is

here g iven :

1 . A n i a la chan do n a kho a , e e e e

2 .

h toan za na ba le ng a hpuan a , e e e e

3 .

apok a po ich i a oa t m lu a , e e e e

4 .

h toan za na ba leng a hpuan a ,

5. ane ye olo ve dim o e , e e e e

6. s i sho e lo po e hn aun g e, e e e e

7. son sho e a toan e sy e, e e e e

8 . kanau o suam e i o htui y o .

T r a n s l a t i o n

1. To t h e u p p e r ( c o u n t r y o f t h e ) K y e n d w e n g river)

2 . To the leve l (p la ins o f the) ba len g and dry h toan (g rasses)

3 .

To the b r ick (wa l led ) c i t y o f our fo re fa the rs

4 . To the leve l (p la ins o f the) b a le ng and dry h toan (g rasses)

5 . W h ic h are so charm ing ( l i t . no t a

little

c h a r m i n g )

6 . Le t us h ie , com e a lo ng "

7. Let us has te with e v e r y s p e e d

8 O h my fa i ry — l i ke you ng bro th er "

3 0 5



The above is quoted from " O n the Khyeng People of the Sandoway District , Ara ka n" by

M ajor G . E. Fryer, Deputy C omm issioner, Sandoway.

The words "Hiou or Shou" has

little

di fference p honetical ly from " Zo , Yo , Y aw ". Taking

into accou nt the distance of the hundred miles or so which separates the Z o Chins from the

pla ins Hiou/Shou or Yaw Chins, the similarity existing among the differe nt words is sti l l most

striking. Thus we might conclude that the races foun d in between or around must have once

belonged to the same stock.

O ne

historical account of the Siyin Zos is

that

once al l the Zo (Yaw Chins) inhabited the

Kalemyo

val ley. The Go ve rno r of K ale who was a son of the King of A va was, however, most

oppressive and force d the peop le to construct a pa latia l four walled fort

with

a moat running

all around it l ike the one at Av a . W ith the incessant raids from M an ipur the peop le could devote

little

t ime to ploughing their f ields and al l the time was spent in building the fort. It is related

that

the fingers accid en tal ly cut during the course of this forc ed labo ur fi l led a whole basket. The

people tired of this oppression decided to migrate west and south. Those who went up the west

came into the hi l l region by way of Thuam Vum (Kennedy Peak) and by Natchaung-Webula road,

and several went down south to Ti l in, Ga nga w, Sidoktaya, M inbu and down to Arak an. The Hiou

or Shou (Khyengs) l iving in Sandoway distr ict, whose ballads are recorded by Fryer mention a

brick walled city :

"To the brick (walled) city of our forefa thers " in the third stanza and they claimed also

to have descen ded from the Kyend weng river. The Frontier Are as Enquiry Com mission of 1947

recorded the same history.

F A C T U A L D I S TR IB U TI ON O F Z O M l ( Y A W C H I N )

P O P U L A T I O N

• IN

PLA INS

B U R M A .

Ac co rdin g to the 1931 census the fo l lowin g towns in Burma proper have the most Z o Chins :

Thayetmyo : 22,803; Minbu : 20,961; Ma gwe • 2,348; Pakokku : 22,149 Prome : 13,951; Ak yab :

29,516; Kyaukpyu : 17,935; Sa nd ow ay : 8,425.

The pop ulation of the Khyeng (H iou , Shou) in the distr icts o f Ara kan as it stood a t the

census of 1872 was according to M ajo r G . E. Fryer as fo l lo ws :

1. Ak ya b ' 3,917

2.

Ram ree 10,324

3.

Sandoway 4,715

18,956

An othe r prov incial census of Z o Chins found in British Burma (Lower Burma) pr io r ' to the

annexation of the Chin Hil ls proper, taken in 1881 according to Dr Forchhammer was:

1. Tha yetm yo district 16,416

2.

Kyau kpyu I 1.617

3., Prome 10,000

4. He nzada 3,652

306

history of the zo mi

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