The Khasis
By
Major P.R.T. Gurdon, I.A. Deputy Commissioner Eastern Bengal and Assam Commission, and Superintendent of Ethnography in Assam.
With an Introduction by Sir Charles Lyall, K.C.S.I.
(Published under the orders of the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam)
Illustrated
Preface
This book is an attempt to give a systematic account of the Khasi people, their manners and customs, their ethnological affinities, their laws and institutions, their religious beliefs, their folk-lore, their theories as to their origin, and their language.
This account would perhaps have assumed a more elaborate and ambitious form were it not that the author has been able to give to it only the scanty leisure of a busy district officer. He has been somewhat hampered by the fact that his work forms part of a series of official publications issued at the expense of the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam, and that it had to be completed within a prescribed period of time.
The author gladly takes this opportunity to record his grateful thanks to many kind friends who have helped him either with actual contributions to his material, or with not less valued suggestions and criticisms. The arrangement of the subjects discussed is due to Sir Bampfylde Fuller, lately Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, whose kindly interest in the Khasis will long be remembered by them with affectionate gratitude. The Introduction is from the accomplished pen of Sir Charles Lyall, to whom the author is also indebted for much other help and encouragement. It is now many years since Sir Charles Lyall served in Assam, but his continued regard for the Khasi people bears eloquent testimony to the attractiveness of their character, and to the charm which the homely beauty of their native hills exercises over the minds of all who have had the good fortune to know them.
To Mr. N. L. Hallward thanks are due for the revision of the proof sheets, and to the Revd. H. P. Knapton for the large share he took in the preparation of the index. The section dealing with folk-lore could hardly have been written but for the generosity of the Revd. Doctor Roberts, of the Welsh Calvinistic Mission in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, in placing at the author's disposal his collection of the legends current among the people. Many others have helped, but the following names may be specially mentioned, viz.: Mr. J. B. Shadwell, Mr. S. E. Rita, the Revd. C. H. Jenkins, Mr. C. Shadwell, Mr. Dohory Ropmay, U Hormu Roy Diengdoh, U Rai Mohan Diengdoh, U Job Solomon, U Suttra Singh Bordoloi, U San Mawthoh, U Hajam Kishore Singh, U Nissor Singh, and U Sabor Roy.
A bibliography of the Khasis, which the author has attempted to make as complete as possible, has been added. The coloured plates, with one exception, viz., that taken from a sketch by the late Colonel Woodthorpe, have been reproduced from the pictures of Miss Eirene Scott-O'Connor (Mrs. Philip Rogers). The reproductions are the work of Messrs W. Griggs and Sons, as are also the monochromes from photographs by Mrs. Muriel, Messrs. Ghosal Brothers, and the author. Lastly, the author wishes to express his thanks to Srijut Jagat Chandra Goswami, his painstaking assistant, for his care in arranging the author's somewhat voluminous records, and for his work generally in connection with this monograph.
P. R. G.
Bibliography
Agricultural Bulletin No. 5 of 1898. Allen, B. C.—Assam Census Report, 1901. Allen, W. J.—Report on the Khasi and Jaintia Hill Territory, 1868. Aymonier, Monsieur—"Le Cambodge." Bivar, Colonel H. S.—Administration Report on the Khasi and Jaintia Hills District of 1876. Buchanan Hamilton—"Eastern India." Edited by Montgomery Martin Dalton, Colonel E. T.—Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal. Gait, E. A.—Human Sacrifices in Assam, vol. i., J.A.S.B. of 1898. Grierson, Doctor G. A.—"Linguistic Survey of India," vol. ii. Henniker, F. C.—Monograph on gold and silver wares in Assam. Hooker, Sir Joseph—Himalayan Journals. Hunter, Sir William—Statistical Account of Assam. Jeebon Roy, U.—Ka Niam Khasi Jenkins, The Rev. Mr.—"Life and Work in Khasia." Khasi Mynta—A monthly journal published at Shillong in the Khasi language. Kuhn, Professor E.—Über Herkunft und Sprache der transgangetischen Völker. 1883 Kuhn, Professor E.—Beiträge zur Sprachenkunde Hinterindiens. 1889. Lindsay, Lord—"Lives of the Lindsays." Logan, J. R A—series of papers on the Ethnology of the Indo-Pacific Islands which appeared in the "Journal of the Indian Archipelago." Mackenzie, Sir Alexander.—Account of the North-Eastern Frontier Mills, A. J. M.—Report on the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, 1853 Nissor Singh, U—Hints on the study of the Khasi language. Nissor Singh, U—Khasi-English dictionary. Oldham, Thomas—On the geological structure of a portion of the Khasi Hills, Bengal. Oldham, Thomas—Geology of the Khasi Hills. Peal, S. E.—On some traces of the Kol-Mon-Anam in the Eastern Naga Hills. Pryse, Rev. W.—Introduction to the Khasis language, comprising a grammar, selections for reading, and a vocabulary. Records of the Eastern Bengal and Assam Secretariat. Roberts, The Rev. H.—Khasi grammar. Robinson—Assam. Scott, Sir George—Upper Burma Gazetteer. Shadwell, J. B.—Notes on the Khasis. Stack E.—Notes on silk in Assam. Waddell, Colonel—Account of the Assam tribes.J.A S.B. Ward, Sir William—Introduction to the Assam Land Revenue Manual. Weinberg, E.—Report on Excise in Assam. Yule, Sir Henry—Notes on the Khasi Hills and people.
Contents
Introduction xv-xxvii Section I.—General.
Habitat 1-2 Appearance 2-3 Physical and General Characteristics 3-6 Geographical Distribution 6-10 Origin 10-11 Affinities 11-18 Dress 18-21 Tattooing 21 Jewellery 22-23 Weapons 23-26
Section II.—Domestic Life.
Occupation 26-28 Apiculture 28-30 Houses 30-33 Villages 33-35 Furniture and Household Utensils 36-38 Musical Instruments 38-39 Agriculture 39-43 Crops 43-48 Hunting 48-49 Fishing 49-51 Food 51-52 Drink 52-54 Games 54-57 Manufactures 57-61
Section III.—Laws and Customs.
Tribal Organization 62-66 State Organization 66-75 Marriage 76-79 Divorce 79-81 Inheritance 82-85 Adoption 85-86 Tenure of Land and Laws regarding Land 86-91
Laws regarding other Property 91 Decision of Disputes 91-97 War 97-98 Human Sacrifices 98-104
Section IV.—Religion.
General Character of Popular Beliefs 105-109 Ancestor Worship 109-113 Worship of Natural Forces and of Deities 114-116 Religious Rites and Sacrifices, Divination 116-120 Priesthood 120-124 Ceremonies and Customs attending Birth and Naming of Children 124-127 Marriage 127-132 Ceremonies attending Death 132-139 Disposal of the Dead 140-144 Khasi Memorial Stones 144-154 Festivities, Domestic and Tribal 154-157 Genna 158-159
Section V.—Folk-Lore.
Folk-tales 160-187
Section VI.—Miscellaneous.
Teknonomy 188 Khasi Method of Calculating Time 188-190 The Lynngams 190-197