Indian Antiquary Vol 21

SR No.: 032513
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 236

222
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JULY, 1892.
Moonlight nights are usually chosen for raids domestic animals they keep, and the game and and a "surprise" is always attempted. While fish they shoot and catch. Grain and vegetables retreating they generally spike the path behind are boiled, except chaiksin, which is generally them with bamboos and, if pressed, they often kill roasted, as is also the flesh of animals. They cook their captives. On this account the Burmans like the Burmans, but do not use oil. frequently hesitate to follow them ap.
Except the beer they brew, water is their only Warfare.The Chin system of warfare is beverage. The women draw water in ghards, almost identical with the system of raiding.
gourds or bamboos. When attacking an enemy's village, or a force Drunkenness.-The most remarkable custom encamped, they always attempt a surprise, and of these people is their habit of getting drunk unless they consider themselves very strong, they on every possible occasion. Every and any in. content themselves with harassing a column on cident is an excuse to bring out the beer jars (see the line of march by creeping up and discharg. Plate C)-the arrival of a stranger or visitor, the ing arrows, generally at tbe reur-guard. They birth of a child, a marriage, a death, a case of will also roll down boulders and rocks, if appor- sickness, an offering to or consultation of nats, tunity offers, upon an advancing force, and will are all sufficient excuses for every one present, attempt to burn the jungle through which a men, women, and even tiny children, to get column is passing. They only attempt a front drunk. They frequently keep up these debauches attack when confident of success, and then for days. The liquor is made of grain, boiled and advance yelling and shouting. On the defensive fermented, and varies much in quality, depending they roll down rocks, spike roads, and discharge on the grain used (rice is the best) and the length arrows from behind cover. They do not dig pits. of time the liquor has been kept. Good Chin Chinbók villages are not fenced in any way.
beer is a very palatable drink, much resembling Yindu villages have a thorn or bamboo fence
cider in taste, but more like perry in appearance. which presents no serious obstacle.
The liquor is stored in jars, standing over two
feet in height and filled half full with the ferment. Chinbône stockade with what is known as “ Chin
ing grain. As the liquor is drawn off the jar is stookade-work" and form most.forunidable abettis filled up with water. by felling the bamboo jungle in which their
The liquor is drunk as follows:-A villages are generally built, sharpening the ends of
hollow the bamboos, and planting innumerable spikes.
bamboo, the thickness of a little finger, is thrust There is only one gate to a Chinbôn village and
into the jar, and pressed well down into the it is a very narrow one, approached by a path
grain. The company sit round this and take which admits of men advancing in single file only. 1
sucks in turn. A few of the villages are not stockaded, but built A more civilized way of drawing off the liquor on high poles.
is sometimes followed. A hole is made in the Chin villages are generally built in dense jungle
side of the bamboo above mentioned, the hollow hollows on the sides of the hills. They can
top being stopped up; into this hole another always be taken in rear and commanded, and
bamboo is inserted sloping downwards over the
side of the jar (see Plate C). The host gives a should never be attacked from below. Approaches will always be found to be spiked, and rocks will
Buck to start the liquor running: gourds are
then filled and handed round. be rolled on the advancing column.
Tattooing.--All women have their faces Smoking and Washing.-Men, women, and
tattooed (see Plate A). The process is comeven small children are never without their pipes
menced' when they are small children and and tobacco, and smoke constantly. A descrip
gradually completed, the operatione extending tion has already been given of the different kinds
over bereral years. of pipes they smoke. The tobacco used is grown by themselves and sun-dried. It is very rank.
The Chinbôks cover the face with nicks, lines,
and dots in a uniform design, the women's breasts Chins, especially the Northern Chinbôks, have
being also surrounded with a circle of dots. The the greatest dislike to water. They never wash
Yindus tattoo in lines across the face, showing their bodies, and very seldom touch their faces
glimpses of the skin. The Chinbûns tattoo jet and hands, with water. Their clothes are never
black and are the most repulsive in appearance, washed.
though often fair-skinned. The beauty of a Food and Drink.-The food of the Chine con. woman is judged by the style in which the tattoo sists of the grain and vegetables they grow, the ing has been done. Men are not tattooed at all.