138 THE NON-LUSHEI. CLANS- CHAP.

scrambled for and torn to pieces by the young men anxious to
obtain it, next followed a piece of white cotton wool, which no
one would pick up, and then some red thread, which was
scrambled for eagerly.

" May 15th.—This morning a mithan was sacrificed. The
animal was tied by the head to one of the sacrificial posts, on
which his skull was to be placed later on. The chief then came
out with a spear in one hand, a gourd of rice beer in the other.
The puithiam, or sorcerer, accompanied him, also carrying a
gourd of beer. The pair took up their stand just behind the
mithan, and the puithiam began mumbling what I was told were
prayers for the prosperity of the village. The prayers were
interrupted by the chief and the sorcerer taking mouthfuls of
beer and blowing them over the mithan. When the prayers
were finished, they anointed the animal with the remains of the
liquor, and the chief then gave it a slight stab behind the
shoulder, and disappeared into his house. The mithan was
then thrown on its side and killed by driving a sharp bamboo
spear into its heart. The animal was then cut up. Later on
another was killed, without any special ceremony, and the flesh
of both cooked in the street. Later on there was a dance.
Three men arrayed in fine cloths, with smart turbans, came up
the main street, crossing from side to side. With bodies bent
forward and arms extended, they took two steps forward, then
whirled round once, beat time twice with the right foot, two
steps, whirled round again, beat time twice with the left foot, and
so on, keeping time with the royal band, consisting of a gong,
.a tom-tom, and a bamboo tube, used as a drum. The dancers?
having been well regaled with beer, proceeded to dance each a
$>as seul of a decidedly indecent nature. The chief was pro-
hibited from crossing running water for a month after this
sacrifice had been performed." After this feast there is five
days' "hrilh" for the whole community, and during this no
flesh may be brought into the village. The skull of the mithan
is kept on the post in front of the chiefs house for a month,
during which time he may not cross water or converse with
strangers. On the expiry of a month a pig and a fowl are
sacrificed and the skull is then removed to the front verandah.

The only difference in the ceremonies connected with child-