iv RELIGION 77

Nu-hrih.—A black fowl is killed and eaten as in the
"Chhim" sacrifice. The sherh are wrapped in a wild
plantain before being placed under the bed in a basket.
They are thrown away in the morning. The feathers are
bound with the thread used for tying the woman's hair and
hung on the wall opposite the fireplace. Whether the couple
cohabit on this night or nofc is immaterial.

The following sacrifices are performed some time during 6.
life, whenever a person is unwell. If a person keeps well they Nao"lm"
will not be made. Rich people often go through the whole
course for their children as a precautionary measure. The
sacrifices are done in the following order :—

1. Hmar-phir.—Cock and hen killed on entrance ladder.

2. Hmarchung.—Cock killed on entrance ladder.

3. SmarJchat.—Hen killed on entrance ladder.

4. YawJc-te-luilam.—Small pig killed outside house.

5. Ui-te-luilam.—Puppy killed outside house.

6. Zinhnawn.—Puppy killed outside house.

7. Zin-tMang.—Puppy killed outside house.

8. Ui-ha-awr.—Dog killed in front of platform, tooth worn

round neck.

Kongpui SMam (Making a Big Road).—This ceremony is 7«.
supposed to make successful hunting probable; it also foretells ficeseon-
the result. It is performed before a large hunting party starts neeted
and also annually about April. hunting

_, _ . and

TKANSLATION OF LUSHAI ACCOUNT. killing

animals.

"As soon as it gets dusk two men and the puithiam go a
short way down the road which leads out of the village
southwards taking a small pig with them, and there they make
a fire, and kill the pig and cook its flesh. They drink some zu
which they have brought with them in a gourd and also eat
the flesh of the pig. Presently they say no one is to come this
way, and the puithiam sweeps a place in the middle of the road
and places some of the ashes from the fire there, and sings this
magic chant:—

"' Animals come, animals of the Ri lake come, animals of the
Ohamphai come, animals from the village come, animals of Ai-