The Lakhers Book

THE LAKHERS BY N. E. PARRY INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES BY DR. J. H. HUTTON, PREFACE THIS account of the Lakhers was originally intended to be a brief record of those customs concerning which litigation most often arises, in order to facilitate an equitable decision of such disputes as the chiefs may be unable to settle. So interwoven with the whole life of the people, however, are all Lakher customs, that I soon realised that the record would be incomplete if confined to those points on which cases might arise, as without some knowledge of the daily life of the people, it is impossible to appreciate either their point of view or the practical effect of their customs. This book therefore has expanded beyond its original scope. I have, however, kept in view throughout the object with which I started, and have endeavoured to give a clear and detailed account of all customs which are likely to come before the courts. All those, I think, who have had the good fortune to serve in the Assam hills will agree as to the importance to an official of a thorough knowledge of the customs and languages of the tribes under his charge, and it is in the hope that it may be of some use both to the friendly and pictur esque people with whom it deals and to those who have to control their destinies that this book has been written. I held charge of the Lushai Hills district in which the Lakher country is situated from February 1924 to April 1928. It was in 1924 that the hitherto independent Zeuhnang andSabeu villages lying between Assam and Burma were first brought under control, so I was fortunate enough to be able to observe the customs of those groups of the tribe while they were still practically untouched by foreign influences. I am deeply indebted to many Lakhers and Lusheis for much invaluable help while making my inquiries. Without the ungrudging assistance rendered me throughout by Chhali and Chhinga, the former a Lakher and the latter a Lushei interpreter, both of intelligence above the average and both keenly interested in their tribal customs, I could vii viii PREFACE not possibly have completed this work. Others who willingly told me all they could, though they must at times have been sadly bored at what they doubtless felt were tedious inquiries one of the Savang chieflings going so far as to compose a couplet expressing their feelings on the subject, which they afterwards sang to me are Taiveu, chief of Savang Eachi, chief of Chapi Zahia, chief of Paitha Deutha, chief of Vahia Tlaiko, chief of Tiahra Khangcheh, macha of Savang Sarong, macha of Saiko Khama, Lushei interpreter, and many other chiefs and elders from all the Lakher villages. I must not omit to mention the clerical work done for me by Saighninga, Saitowna, and Zialunga of the Aijal office and the typing done by Chhinga, the Aijal typist, and by Debendra Chisim, the Garo typist of the Tura office. To Dr. J. H. Hutton, C. I. E., I owe very many thanks indeed for much advice and assistance, and also for his intro duction and notes. I am indebted to Sir George Grierson, K. C. I. E., for very kindly allowing me to reproduce his list of Lai words from Vol. 3, Part III, of The Linguistic Survey of India. To the Eev. F. W. Savidge, till a few years ago of Serkawn, near Lungleh, my thanks are due for allowing me to make free use of his Grammar and Dictionary of the Lakher language. Miss Hughes of the Welsh mission at Aijal kindly reduced the Lakher tunes to tonic solfa for me, for which I am most grateful, and to Rev. R. A. Lorrain of Saiko I am indebted for information on certain points. The plants given in the list in Appendix VII were all collected by my wife...Read More