1865.] Religion &c. among the Karens. » 199 
“ Though they did not see her, they still had some indications of 
her presence. While her daughter was beating out paddy, all the 
paddy suddenly leaped out of the mortar, and a fowl suddenly dropped 
down dead. 
“ The man and his wife eat and drank together, and in the morning 
separated, to pursue their several journeys. 
“ When the husband got back to his house, he found his wife dead, 
and his children and neighbours preparing for the funeral. Then the 
truth rushed on his mind, and he said: ‘ Children, I met your mother 
last evening in the road, and we spent the night together. She was 
going on a visit, but alas it was her La. Had I but knownit, I would 
have called her back.” 
Although the body and the La are represented as matter and 
spirit, yet in the following story, materiality seems to be possessed by 
the La. 
“ A certain woman sickened and died, while her husband was absent 
ona journey. While he was returning home, he met her La on the 
way and asked: Where art thou going? She replied: ‘Iam going 
to visit my parents.’ He then slapped her on the face with his hand, and 
she came to herself again and returned with her husband home. 
“ When they arrived at their house, they found the people mourning 
over her body ; but she immediately entered the body, and it came to 
life again as before.” 
: The La may be separated from the person to which it belongs during 
life. In sleep it wanders away to the ends of the earth, and our 
~ dreams are what the La sees and experiences in his perambulations. 
~ When absent in our waking hours, we become weak, fearful, sick, and 
_ if absence be protracted, death ensues. Hence it is a matter of the 
deepest interest with a Karen to keep his La with him ; and he is ever 
~ and anon making offerings of food to it, beating a bamboo to gain its 
. attention, calling it back, and tying his wrist with a bit of thread, 
f which is supposed to have the power to retain it. 
: _ The forms differ in different tribes, though the thing is substantially 
the same. A Bghai writes : 
“Should a person be often sick; if he cannot walk without being 
weary, or work without feeling exhausted ; if he has no appetite for 
his food; if he pines away, and has a sallow countenance ; it is said 
that his La has left him,” 

