The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XXIX, Part 1-2, 1936 - Khamkoo
The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XXIX, Part 1-2, 1936 - Khamkoo
The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XXIX, Part 1-2, 1936 - Khamkoo
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PT .. II] Sm J. GEORGE ScoTT 145<br />
who, like <strong>the</strong> Dann and Taungyo, speak an archaic form <strong>of</strong> Burmese.<br />
Mr. Giles adds that <strong>the</strong> Danaw, ·who also live on <strong>the</strong> Myelat<br />
plateau, "have a language <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own, and although only a remnant<br />
<strong>of</strong> this tribe still exists in <strong>the</strong> State <strong>of</strong> Pendaya <strong>the</strong>y are (pite<br />
interesting people. <strong>The</strong> surrounding people say that <strong>the</strong> Danaw<br />
Rpeak <strong>the</strong> language <strong>of</strong> birds."<br />
<strong>The</strong> Taungthus, alRo living in <strong>the</strong> Myelat, are, <strong>of</strong> course, well<br />
known in <strong>Siam</strong> as wandering pedlars. Here we call <strong>the</strong>m Dongsu.<br />
'!'hey are met with right over to <strong>the</strong> Mekhong river and even in<br />
Cambodian territory. Sir George thinkR <strong>the</strong>y are <strong>of</strong> Karen extraction.<br />
rrhis is confirmed by Mr. Giles who says:- "rrhe word<br />
Taungthu is Burmese and means a hill man. <strong>The</strong>y call <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
Ba-o, and I am inclined to think that <strong>the</strong>y are a sept <strong>of</strong> some very<br />
ancient. Karen or Kha tribe, probably mixed with Pyu blood. '<strong>The</strong>re<br />
is a state called 'l'hn,ton in <strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Shan States, entirely<br />
populated with ~tnd governed by rraungthus, and three o<strong>the</strong>r 'l'aungthu<br />
states; viz:- Loi-ai, Loi-maw and Pinhmi (in Tai, Pangmi) in<br />
<strong>the</strong> Myelat.<br />
<strong>The</strong> word 'l'aungyo is also Burmese and means <strong>the</strong> hone <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hill,<br />
for <strong>the</strong>se people live rnor;tly on <strong>the</strong> hills.<br />
'l'heir dress iR <strong>the</strong> same as that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Taungthus, only it is brovvn<br />
in colour instead <strong>of</strong> black."<br />
About <strong>the</strong> famous leg-rowers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inle lake, <strong>the</strong> Inthas, <strong>the</strong><br />
author :-:tates that <strong>the</strong>y claim to have come from 'l'avoy and to be<br />
<strong>of</strong> Antkanese origin. Mr. Giles confirms this, saying "<strong>the</strong>ir ancestorr;;<br />
were Ara,kanese prisonerR <strong>of</strong> war, settled in Tavoy and eventually<br />
brought to this lake at <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> which stands <strong>the</strong> capital town<br />
called Y awnghwe after <strong>the</strong> State <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same name. <strong>The</strong>re i::; a settlement<br />
<strong>of</strong> Tavoyans in Bangkok, also prisoners <strong>of</strong> war, being <strong>the</strong> same<br />
people as <strong>the</strong> Inthas. 'rhe word ·intha means son <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lake.<br />
Sir George treats <strong>the</strong> Karens in two chapters but, though he says<br />
that <strong>the</strong>y are not Thibetans, and are as much Pre-Chinese as <strong>the</strong> Thai<br />
nre, he does not try to find out 'I,Uhcd <strong>the</strong>y really are. That <strong>the</strong> Red<br />
and <strong>the</strong> white Karens Rpeak allied languages is well known, but<br />
physically speaking <strong>the</strong>y are very different. <strong>The</strong> Red Karens, by<br />
reason <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir queer skull forms, present something <strong>of</strong> an anthropological<br />
puzzle, so much so that 1\fr. Giles believes that <strong>the</strong> Karen-ni<br />
or Red KarenR belong to <strong>the</strong> Wa people, as <strong>the</strong>re is, Jiving south <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Wa country, a people very much alike <strong>the</strong> Red Karens.<br />
It must, however, not be forgotten that <strong>the</strong> Red Karens are long