146 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengai. (March, 1913. 
The clue to the mystery was obtained by Davies, and it is 
certain that further knowledge will go to strengthen the con- 
nection between the A-ch’angs on the one hand, and the Maru, 
Lashi, Zi, and Hpon tribes on the other. Far from being the 
waifs and strays which recent literature might well lead the 
reader to imagine, these dying races have preserved for us the 
records of the immigration of the Burmese themselves into the 
regions which they now occupy. The unusual resemblances of 
tlhe Maru, A-ch’ang, Zi, Lashi and Hpon speeches with Burmese, 
is not the family likeness of the other Tibeto-Burman tongues 
with that language, but ‘‘is sufficiently close to warrant the 
belief that at some not very distant period these races spoke 
one tongue.”’ ! 
The N‘mai Hka valley is still the home of the Marus, who 
ards across the frontier a short way into the province of 
on the west about the confines of the Bhamo and Myitkyina 
districts the greater number of Lashisarefound. ‘hese tribes, 
with the Hpons, were the last stragglers of the Burmese immi- 
gration, or perhaps settlers in the hills, who preferred to remain 
where they found themselves than to travel further down the 
great river with the main body. I do not think there is any 
evidence for supposing that the Lashis and Zis are side bran- 
ches from the Maru, the probability being rather that they are 
of common stock and origin, and that their present distinctions 
are later growths, consequent on the varying external influen- 
ces to which they have been subjected. Each of the five 
groups has suffered by absorption into more powerful neigh- 
bours, and owing to intermarriage, warfare, and the practice of 
slavery there is now little left by which they can be distin- 
guished. The Marus, Lashis and Zis are surrounded by Ching- 
‘paw, and ‘‘there is now very little outward difference between 
2 Ay : + 
e 
they belong to the Lepai clan of the Chingpaw, and although 
not recognized by the latter as such, the process of absorption 
civilizing action of Buddhism,—a factor of greater importance 
1 (4), p. 363. 2 (11), p. 33. 
