340 ' •■• ':. -^" -.:■ r " ■•- • GEOGRAPHY AND 



and animals, for subsistence and in self-defence, soon adopted the idolatries 

 and superstitions of the nations around them, since which period twenty-one 

 generations have passed away. 



In their migration from east to west (following the account of the Bisa 

 Gaum,) they reached [after a certain number of stages ("App. III.)] the stream 

 called Tuning Fani, near old Bisa Gaum, or the Byanun-yua of our maps, which 

 takes its rise on the south side of the range, called Patkoi, between Asam and 

 the Sham country, runing to Hiikhung (old Bisa") Munkhung, or Mogaum, and 

 eventually to the Irawadi, where it takes the names of Samokhtura. The north 

 side of the Patkoi hill is also said to give birth to the Noxva and Bori Biking. 



The leading chiefs in this expedition are said to have been those of Bisa, 

 Kultung, SataOf and Nanla, whose descendants are now widely spread over the 

 country. 



They appear to have been independant of the powerful nations around 

 them, and their form of Government to have consisted in a number of sepa- 

 rate chiefsbips, or Gaums, of equal rank and authority, yet occasionally pos- 

 sessing comparative weight and influence, from superior ability or resources. 

 The principal division amongst them appears to be into two classes. The 

 Sinh-phos proper, and the Kdkus, the latter being an inferior, though not ser- 

 vile race, and distinguishable only by name. The Sinh-pJios, as far as I could 

 understand, seem to be divided into four nominal castes., or tribes, called 

 Thengai, Mayang, Luhrang and Minp. 



"When in their own country, and before the plunder of Asam furnished 

 them with slaves, they appear to have cultivated their lands, and carried on 

 all other purposes of domestic life, by means of a species of voluntary servitude, 

 entered into by the poorer and more destitute individuals of their own people^ 



