702 Account of Arakan, QNo. 1 1 7. 



next to impossible to controul them on these points, as they are 

 separated from the plains by too difficult and dangerous a country 

 to be approached, except by an armed party. The hill tribes pay 

 their quotas in cotton, ivory, and other raw produce. Tribute is 

 paid by all tribes residing within the limits, in which the Arakan and 

 Burman governments formerly exercised authority. Some of these 

 know us by name as some dreadful beings, but have never beheld an 

 European. 



The hill tribes live a life of danger, struggle, and hardship. The 

 chiefs indeed have an easy time of it, but the women are especially 

 hard worked. The latter are scantily clothed, as much so, however, as 

 precipitous hills and a warm climate render necessary ; they are stout- 

 ly made, but diminutive in size ; the generality not exceeding in height 

 four feet six inches. The Ku-mis (men) are not smaller in stature than 

 the Burmese, the Khyengs I think are. 



The hill cultivation is called in Burmese toung-ya. It consists in 

 clearing away the thick forest, and luxuriant shrubs and creepers, 

 which clothe the mountain sides. After the large trees are cut down, 

 what remains of the underwood is set on fire ; the stumps of the large 

 trees are left standing. This work is finished in April. The seed, 

 whether rice or cotton, is then put into the ground, small holes being 

 dug or scraped a few inches apart, with a sort of hand hoe. The crop 

 is reaped in October.* What a hard and bitter life must these people 

 live ! Each year the same labour must be encountered, the same dense 

 unyielding forest be cleared, and yet they know not whether they 

 shall be there to reap the fruits of their toil, or be carried off* in an 

 attack as slaves to some more powerful tribe. Notwithstanding the 

 noble trees which find sustenance upon the mountains, yet the soil is so 

 unfavourable to grain, that it cannot be raised again, the people say, 

 upon the same spot in less than from fifteen to twenty years. I am 

 inclined to think, that this is chiefly in consequence of the rich surface 

 soil, when deprived of its protecting trees and shrubs being washed 

 down the steep hill sides by the heavy rains ; it is not until brushwood 

 has again appeared, and the soil been bound again by bamboo roots, 



* Besides grain and cotton, the hill tribes grow tobacco and a few esculent vegeta- 

 bles, such as pumpkins, gourds, &c. These are planted in little valleys, or by the side 

 of streams, on soil left dry after the rainy season. 



