194 MAN : PAST AND PRESENT. [CHAP. 



found either separate or interspersed amongst the Mongoloid 

 populations all over the south-east Asiatic uplands, from Tibet 

 to Cochin-China, and passing thence into Oceanica. 



The kinship of the Kakhyens with the still more numerous 

 Karens is now generally accepted, and it is no longer 



The Karens. / 



found necessary to bring the latter all the way from 

 Turkestan. They form a large section, perhaps one- sixth, of 

 the whole population of Burma, and overflow into the west 

 Siamese borderlands. Their subdivisions are endless, though all 

 may be reduced to three main branches *, Sga7vs, Pwos and 

 Bwais, these last including the somewhat distinct group of Ka- 

 renni, or "Red Karens." Although Mr D. M. Smeaton calls the 

 language "monosyllabic," it is evidently agglutinating, of the 

 normal sub-Himalayan type. 



The Karens are a short, sturdy race, with straight black and 

 also brownish hair, black, and even hazel eyes, and 

 light or yellowish brown complexion, so that here 

 also a Caucasic strain may be suspected. 



Despite the favourable pictures of the missionaries, whose 

 propaganda has been singularly successful amongst these aborigi- 

 nes, the Karens are not an amiable or particularly 

 T ^ npe friendly people, but rather shy, reticent and even 



surly, but trustworthy and loyal to those chiefs and 

 guides who have once gained their confidence. In warfare they 

 are treacherous rather than brave, and strangely cruel even to 

 little children. Their belief in a divine Creator who has deserted 

 them resembles that of the Kuki people, and to the nats of the Kuki 

 correspond the la of the Karens, who are even more numerous, 

 every mountain, stream, rapid, crest, peak or other conspicuous 

 object having its proper indwelling la. There are also seven 

 specially baneful spirits, who have to be appeased 

 Christian Mis- by family offerings. "On the whole their belief in 

 a personal god, their tradition as to the former 

 possession of a 'law,' and their expectation of a prophet have 

 made them susceptible to Christianity to a degree that is almost 

 unique. Of this splendid opportunity the American mission has 



1 The Loyal Karens of Burma, 1887. 



