188 THE NON-LUSHE1 CLANS CH. m

is probable that in the course of their wanderings the Biate at
one time lived near the Bhuban, and in that case their adopting
the figures as local deities is quite in keeping with what has
happened in other clans. Thus the Chiru worship the god of
Kobru, though their settlement near that hill is of recent date.
The Zote, a clan very closely allied to the Biate, after sacrificing
a mithan, place bung leaves in a basket at the foot of the
memorial post and throw them away with the " sherh" after
three days. This clan pays special honour to Chhura, and after
a mithan sacrifice a knotched pole called Chhura's ladder is
placed against the gable of the house, and the skull, tail, and
entrails are placed over it for three days. The jawbones are
hung on a branch specially left for this purpose when the
memorial post is being trimmedf; a rough fence is made round
the posts, on which matting representations of pythons and a
bow with an arrow adjusted are hung. The latter is said to
drive off the Huai, and reminds one of the similar custom of
the Manipuris on the occasion of erecting the first post of a
house.