1863. | Notes on the Tribes of the Eastern Frontier. 401 
The Koladyne circle includes within its limits an area of 2,652 
square miles. The population consists of Kheongthas, Mroos, 
Khoomees and Shendoos, all distinguished from the people of the 
plains by peculiar usages. The Kheongthas live in 9 villages, intermixed 
with the Khoomees far apart from each other: they number 713 souls. 
Of these, 189 are cultivators who pay 5 Rs. each annually, 1 Rupee 
land rent and 4 Rupees capitation tax. The Mroos occupy 12 villages 
on the Mee Kheong all within 8 miles of Koladyne Thannah; they 
number 839 souls ; of these 1386 are cultivators who pay 3 Rupees 
each annually. Both Kheougthas and Mroos are in general quiet, 
inoffensive people, similar to the Joomeea Mughs. Tulukmee is a 
Kheongtha village with thirty houses ; during the day the people live 
on land, but at night they occupy large substantial floating huts 
moved into the middle of the stream, being afraid of the secret and 
sudden attacks made by their wild neighbours. 
The Khoomees, the largest and most important of the hill tribes in 
Ayracan, occupy the country on both banks of the Koladyne river, 
from the thannah to the mouth of the Sulla Kheong. Their chief 
occupation apparently is agricultural industry and they manufacture 
cloths, spears and gunpowder. All or nearly all practise dacoity. 
They do not acknowledge the authority of any Rajah or paramount 
chief, and although they respect and obey their own village chiets 
and heads of elans, each chieftain is in some measure under the control 
of the confederate chiefs. They are divided into 27 clans, who occupy 
104 villages, and the estimated number of inhabitants is about 12,000 
souls, over whom our authority has never been practically established. 
The spear and shield are sometimes used, but all adult males are armed 
with muskets kept clean and ready for use. 'The most powerful clans, 
Khoongchoo, Khoong, Anoo, and Yeasing are called Shendoos, they 
reside on the higher ranges distant from the river, and pay no revenue ; 
those living towards Tulukmee speak a different language from the 
southern Khoomees. The Keok collects annually about 608 Rs. as 
land rent, &., from the Khoomees. The total amount annually col- 
lected from Kheongthas, Mroos, and Khoomees is 2,165 Rupees. 
The independent Shendoos, cailed Poehs by the Muneepoorees, occupy 
the lofty and distant ranges on the eastern bank of the Koladyne, 
northwards from the mouth of the Sulla Kheong. They are held in 
great diead both by the Khoomees and other hil! people living lower 
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