88 THE LUSHEI CLANS CHAP.

the house is strengthened to make it safe for the large number
of guests. The labourers receive a liberal allowance of zu in
payment for their trouble. The second day is called " Zu-pui-
ni," from the large amount of zu that is drunk. The next day
—"Kawi-ni"—two boars and a sow are killed and there is a
great feast. The last day is known as " Chang-do-ni," and on
it the remains of the feast are finished up.

2. She-doi—The feast only lasts three days. The first
day is "In-chhia-shem-ni," the second is known as "She-shun-ni"
(mithan slaughter day), and a mithan is killed and eaten.
The third day, known as " Sa-ru-che-u-ni," is similar to
Chong-do-ni.

3. Mi-thi-rawp-lam.—Three months before the day fixed for
the feast all the young men and girls of the village start
cutting firewood, for cooking the flesh of the animal to
be killed. A cane is stretched along from tree to tree beside
one of the main approaches to the village for some 5,00 yards,
and against this on alternate sides are rested the billets so that
they may be thoroughly dry by the time they are needed. As
a reward the young people receive a he-goat and a sow, which
they consume with much merry-making, the skulls being
placed on posts at each end of the line of billets. This
collection of wood is called "sa-thing-zar" (flesh-wood-hangout).
The actual feast lasts four days, which are known by the same
names as in the " Chong " and are spent in much the same way,
but on the Kawi-ni, besides the slaying and eating of mithan,
effigies, supposed to represent their deceased relatives, are
made and attired in the finest cloths and adorned with the best
necklaces. These are strapped on a square bamboo framework,
in the centre of which on a tall pole is an effigy supposed to
represent the progenitor of the clan. The oldest living
member of the clan then comes slowly from his house, bringing
with him a gourd of zu, and gives each effigy in turn a little zu,
muttering a charm as he does so ; he arranges his tour so as to
reach his own father's effigy last, and when he has muttered
his charm and given it the zu he dashes the gourd down on the
ground and, bursting into tears, rushes into his house, whence
he must not emerge for a month. The effigies are then carried
about the village with much shouting.