The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XXIX, Part 1-2, 1936 - Khamkoo

PT. n] SIR J. GEORGE SCOT'!' 147
thirsty, headcutting savages-what they no doubt were in former
times-seem, after better relations have been established with them,
thanks to the British Raj, not to be without good points. Their
men are brave at least, and made a good record for themselves during
the last World War when they served in Mesopotamia.
The Kachins are no doubt Mongols, having trickled in froni the
north. The author mentions that types which suggest Negro blood
(excepting the hair) are sometimes met with among the Kachins.
rrhis may be due to a remote mixture with a former Melanesian
stock. Negroid traits are also found among the dwarfish Lutze to
the north of the Triangle (in northernmost Burma) and in certain
tribes in Northern Tongking. The "maiden's bowers" are not restricted
to the Kachins, but are also met with, at harvest time, on
the paddy fields of the Puthai and the Saek of North-Eastern Siam.
On page 183 the author is speaking of the knotted string language
of the Mexicans. This is of course a slip of the pen for the Incas
of Peru. Ideographic messages, like those used by the Kachins are
also found among the Khamu around Luang Phrabang.
'l'he Chins (whose real name is Chang), living on the hither side of
Burma proper, are quite interesting, though as dirty as the Karens
and the Kachins, and seem formerly to have possessed a kind of
civilization.
When the British started to pacify their country, they were head
hunters, slave dealers and raiders of the worst kind, living in cunningly
fortified villages situated on the top of inacceAsible hills .
.All this haA been altered for the better, and the Chins now make
good soldiers of the King-Emperor. They are tall, nearly 6 feet high,
and very enduring. They are expert in bowmanship, their bows being
quite five feet across. Another remarkable thing is their erecting of
stone monuments, which shows influence from the ancient Near East.
Sir George mentions the mythun, which he thinks is a cross
between a cow and a buffalo! This animal is, however, a tame bison
or gaur, the Kating of Siam, which is exclusively kept for sacrifices
to the spirits.(l) The Chins have a vague belief in a Supreme Being,
and they seem altogether to be well worth a thorough study.
The author knew the Shans better than most, but the reviewer
(l) .Vide Colonel J, Shakespear, The Lushei I(uki Clans, p:p. 31 and :32,