May 1861.] Notes on (he Karens. S§ 



ever, by sheer continuance of constant soaking they become toler- 

 ably clean. 



In the handling of the "Da" (the Wood knife,) in carrying loads, 

 in smoking, in chewing betel, and I am sorry to say in drinking 

 strong drinks, no difference is to be seen in the occupations and 

 amusements of man and woman. 



The social polity of the Karens consists of a number of separate 

 village communities, governed by a head man or " Tsaukay", who 

 is again subordinate to some hereditary " Tsaukay Gyouk" or Head 

 Chief of a District. 



In former times these Head Tsaukays and elders of Tillages, 

 inflicted punishments and decided cases, their power was quite ab- 

 solute, and no one dreamed of disputing it : although at present 

 all this has been altered, yet the office of Tsaukay is still recognised 

 by our Government, and he manages the interior economy of his 

 community. A Karen village almost always consists of a long 

 bamboo house raised some 10 feet above the ground, and is inva- 

 riably situated in some sequestered ravine near a stream of water 

 and very difficult of access. This house is like a barrack with a 

 passage down the centre, and rooms on each side. Each room is 

 tenanted by a family man. In the centre is the fire place, over 

 which is laid the wood and rice in the husk to dry. In a corner is 

 a frame for spinning ; a few cooking pots and some baskets to shut 

 up their fowls in at night, complete the furniture. The young 

 unmarried men live apart in a detached building called a " Loo- 

 Byoo-Kan." The men are generally employed during the day in 

 out-door agricultural work, and the women remain at home, pound 

 rice, look after the poultry, pigs and goats, and prepare the food for 

 the family. At sowing and harvest time however the whole vil- 

 lage turns out indiscriminately ; men, women and children all set 

 to work with a good will. 



Agriculture, and in this term I include the cultivation of Betel 

 Gardens (the Areca Palm) is the chief and only pursuit of these 

 people. 



Every Karen as we have mentioned before carries a " Da," in 

 the handling of which he is remarkably expert. The clearings in 1 



