1882.] C. H. Lepper — The Singplo and Krtm.2^ti Country. G7 



Let me next take up the people inhabiting this tract. Between these 

 two important streams the Nam Kin and the Phongmai or Nam Kin lung, 

 or may I say the Irrawaddi " proper," and from their junction to about the 

 latitude of the junction of the Sit Kha with the Nam Kin are the Laphais 

 a Singpho clan, represented to me as being quiet people and " zemindars," 

 i. e., probably cultivators : tliey also extend east of the Irrawaddi " proper" 

 to the mountains bordering quasi Chinese territory, i. e., to the country 

 inhabited by the Latongs, also a Singpho clan, which from enquiries 

 we are able to recognize as the Lissous of our best authority on the coun- 

 try on the Chinese side viz., A. D. We therefore meet China on known 

 ground here. 



North of the Laphais and between the Nam Kin and the Irrawaddi 

 "proper" are the "? Kumsangs another Singpho clan. These extend again 

 east as far as the Latongs or Lissous. We meet China here again. North 

 of the "s Kumsangs, and between the Nam Kin and Irrawaddi " proper" 

 are the Murans, another Singpho clan, but these do not, it is said, pass the 

 Irrawaddi " proper" to its east. 



These Murans are interesting as being the parent stock of the Muran 

 or Muttocks of the Lackimpur District of Assam, and are said to be a 

 section of the Loosoo or Lissou clan of A. D., but this dates from 800 years 

 ago. The word " Muttuck" signifies "capable of resistance," and was 

 given them by the Kamptis and Singphos in contradistinction to the other 

 Assamese who were termed Mooloons, and who were taken as slaves. The 

 equivalents for " Muttuck" and " Mooloon" are given as " sukut" and 

 *' nurum." They are now, these same Muttucks, probably the most effete 

 and slothful people in existence. 



North of the Murans and still between the Nam Kin and the Irra- 

 waddi " proper," at the foot of the Himalayas and about the eastern source 

 of the Khan Kha or Nam Disang, are the Maruv, a distinct tribe, who are 

 described as a quiet inoffensive people. They must be a very small body 

 judging from the space allowed them. They are said not to pass the Khan 

 Kha or Nam Disang to the west, nor the Irrawaddi " proper" to the east. 



Coming back to the country north of the "» Kumsangs, on the east 

 bank of the Irrawaddi " proper," we have the Mussu Tchi Keyt clan of 

 Singphos, and east of these again the Dainu Tribe, a distinct people. These 

 are on the western slope of the range of mountains bordering the Lutze 

 Tribe of A. D. We therefore meet China again here. But between the 

 Mussu Tchi Keyt clan and the Dainu Tribe in the Terai there is the Dgi 

 Tribe and these extend north up into the Hills. Possibly these may be 

 the Diclju Tribe of A. D., as they are about where he places that tribe, 

 though on this point I have only the similarity in name and situation to 

 go upon. 



