1846.] A Note on some Hill Tribes, #c. 61 



KHYOUNGTHAS. 



The Khyoungthas are only found on the banks of the Kuladyne river, 

 and their livelihood is principally gained from plantations on its banks. 

 They may be viewed as the type of the Arracan race ; they speak the 

 Burmese language, but with all the harsh provincialisms of the Arra- 

 canese. There are many terms in the Arracanese dialect totally distinct 

 from Burmese : as shay, " little, small ;" ara, " more ;" shdn, " thing," and 

 many others, just in the same way as words are found peculiar to certain 

 counties in England. The Khyoungthas appear to have been a portion 

 of the original inhabitants of Arracan, driven up the river at the time of 

 the invasion and occupation of the province by the Burmese. Their 

 religion is a simple type of Boodhism, but mixed up strangely with the 

 Ndt or " spirit" worship of the hills ; which appears in some instances 

 almost to have absorbed their original faith. Their parent stream is 

 looked upon with a holy love, not only as affording them sustenance, but 

 likewise a ready passage by which to flee from the attacks of their foes. 

 At the northern outskirts of each village from which quarter alone they 

 dread the advent of any danger (all to the south being in possession of 

 the English), in the direction of the forest, and under the shade of the 

 comeliest tree may be seen the shrine of their two Nats, the one male, 

 the other female. They are represented by two pebbles picked from the 

 banks of the river. The female is considered the most powerful, and is 

 meant to represent the Mayoo Ndt, or spirit which presides over the 

 mouth of the Mayoo river : she is believed to be a most powerful spirit, 

 the guardian of Arracan from all the dangers from the sea. The road 

 from Akyab to Chittagong crosses the mouth of the Mayoo river ; here 

 all natives, whatever may be their faith, invariably make their offering 

 to this powerful spirit by letting loose fowls, &c. The other or male 

 spirit is styled Rwdtsaung Ndt or " the village guardian," to whom, 

 as his name implies, is intrusted the care of the village. They believe, 

 to use their identical words, that " should he withdraw his favour 

 the evil eye would glare upon their children ; sickness would de- 

 vastate their hearths ; the floods would sweep away the foundations 

 of their homes ; and their most favourite haunts would become the 

 prowl of the tiger, and wild cat o'mount." Whenever a new shrine 

 is to be erected, fresh stones are chosen, the village is tabooed for 



