iv	RELIGION	87
householder who can afford it and zu is drunk. On the second
day, about 4 p.m., the whole population gathers in the open
space in the village, dressed in its best. Everyone brings
platters of rice, eggs, and flesh, and tries to force the food down
the throats of their friends. After dark the young men and
girls collect in houses of well-to-do people with several daughters
and dance " Chai " till daylight.
The Chai consists in all the young men sitting with their backs
to the walls, each with a girl sitting between his knees with her
back to him. Individual performers dance in the middle, the
remainder singing and clapping hands. On the third day the
young men and girls collect in the centre of the village and form
a circle, every girl being between two youths, whose arms cross
over her neck, holding in their hands cloths which hang down
behind like a curtain. Inside the circle is a drummer or gong-
beater, who chants continuously, the young people taking up the
refrain, and treading a slow measure in time with the song,
while cups of zu are brought to them in rotation. Fourth day,
" Zuting-ni." The performance is repeated again if the liquor
holds out,
In villages where there are many Kalte,1 they kill their pigs
the next day after the Lusheis and the other ceremonies are
postponed one day.
MwndcMt.—Named after the maize, as it takes place when the
crop ripens. It is of but little importance and seems likely to
die out. Cakes of Job's tears are eaten and the next day
is « hrilh."
Pawl-Jcut.—Held at harvest time. Fowls are killed and
children, dressed in their finest clothes, are fed with the flesh
mixed with rice and eggs. The next day is <c hrilh."
The correct performance of the Chap-char-kut is thought
to go far towards insuring a good crop for the year.
Thang-dihuah Feasts.—The feasts which an aspirant for the
honours of Thang-chhuah must give are five in number and
have to be given in the order named, as they involve
considerable expenditure, but not within any specified time.
1, Chong.—The feast lasts four days, the first of which is called
"In-chhia-shem-ni," (day for repairing the house). The floor in
1 The Ralte clan is described in Part II, Chap. II.