G S. E. Peal — Report on a visit to the [No. 1, 



They dress in white or dark blue cotton jackets, have, like the Singphiis, 

 a sort of kilt of plaid pattern, dark blue, green, and yellow, the prevailing 

 mixture, and round the shoulders wear a large thin chudar, or wrap, 10 feet 

 by 3 feet, of some bright red and white check pattern, and a white pugri, 

 generally worn in a conical form, covers the characteristic knob of hair on 

 the tops of their heads; their cloths are home-made, like their rude pottery, 

 the manufacture of each can be seen going on daily here and there. Amber 

 ear ornaments are common to both sexes, and the men generally have the 

 so called Khampti ddo worn in or on a sheath, slung under the left arm by 

 a cane-loop passing over the right shoulder. 



The women now wear clothes more or less like the Assamese, though 

 now and then a Shan costume of dark blue can be seen, skirt and jacket, 

 the latter having a close row of silver buttons, the head covered by a dark 

 blue^n^W, laid on in close coils, — a remarkable and pretty tout ensemble. 



In colour these Khamptis are paler than the Assamese, though at 

 times with a yellowish tinge, the hair and eyes black, and faces clean ; the 

 moustache, if worn at all, is generally a failure ; high cheek-bones, small 

 eyes, and wide flat noses are the rule, giving the well-known Mongolian 

 cast of features. Both sexes are rather short and stout in build. 



After dinner, the elders paid me a visit, and, having been there some 

 ten years before, recognized and welcomed me, and made many enquiries 

 after " Jenkins Saheb," whom they all remembered. As usual, they were 

 greatly taken with the guns and revolver, the fitting and finish being well 

 appreciated by men who are more or less naturally workers in metal. 



The ability to raise and lower rapidly the light from the strong kero- 

 sine wall-lamp struck them all as something quite new, and they were 

 equally astonished to learn that the water-like oil was simply their dark 

 petroleum purified. 



One and all showed considerable interest in my trip, though, as it was 

 through the Shingphii country, no one would join me. I found that 

 Khamptis do not often travel east or south in small parties. At the same 

 time, though none of them had, as far as I could learn, been to Nongyang, 

 some of the old men gave me information regarding those parts that was 

 more correct than that which I obtained from those who should have 

 known far better. This I partly attribute to most Shans being able to read 

 and write, and their being possessed of manuscripts handed down for many 

 generations. As a finale to a pleasant evening, I amused the big and little 

 boys by burning a piece of magnesium tape. 



Next morning, while the men were cooking, I was shown all over the 

 village, and the Chang, or sacred house, containing their books, pictures, 

 images, offerings, gongs, &c, and into which I believe no females are 

 allowed. It is a building raised some 7 feet on wooden posts, measures 



