in THE OLD KUKI CLANS 169

The Chawte, before cutting their jhums, sacrifice a pig and
go down to the stream and sharpen their daos—" Trust in God,
but keep your powder dry/' The above festivals correspond to
the " Chap-char-kut" of the Lushais, and the following resemble
the " Mim-kut." The Purum in September observe " Ohulkut"
for five days, making and exchanging rice cakes and drinking
rice beer, but not sacrificing any animals. The Kolhen observe
" Chamershi" for two days in the middle of the rains—viz., in
July or August. A pig and a cock are sacrificed in the khul-
lakpa's house arid eaten there by men only. Old men dance,
and rice beer is drunk. This feast is supposed to expel evil
spirits. The Chiru in July sacrifice a pig on behalf of the
village to Pathian, while each household offers him a fowl.
This feast is called the " feast of the hot season rest"—i.e., the
few days of leisure after the second weeding of the crops.

The Aimol, after burning the jhums, celebrate a feast they
call " Lo-an-dai." Three fowls are killed and eaten in the
khulpu's house, and rice beer is drunk, but no gong-beating or
singing is allowed.

After the harvest, feasts corresponding to the Lushai " JPolkut"
are held, but among the Purum a feast called " Shanghong "
has to be celebrated in October Just when the grain is filling in
the ear. Every householder has to bring a small sheaf of the
green rice, which is presented to the village god, and feasting
and drinking goes on for three days, during which time the
village is " sherh." The Kolhen, before reaping the crop, carry
the khul-lakpa or lup-lakpa out of the village towards the
fields with beating of drums, and later drink at his expense.

The Kom call the harvest festival " Lam-kut." It lasts three
days. "No sacrifice is performed, but the young men and girls
dance and drink together.

Among the Chawte the custom is practically the same as
among the Purum, save that the feast only lasts one day.

The Lamgang and Anal harvest festival is practically the same.
In each case the best crop in the village is reaped by the whole
community going to the field with dance and song, and subse-
quently the lucky owner of the crop has to entertain the village
for three days. It would appear that all good Lamgangs and
Anals must pray to have the second best crop. On the second