"The deadly poison used by the Kookis is, they say, extracted from a tree which does not grow in these parts, but the article is brought to them for sale by tribes inhabiting the borders of Manipur. The substance is of a dark blue or black colour and of about the consistency of common resin. To make it serviceable it is ground down with capsicum seeds and tobacco juice, so as to form a pulp, with which the weapons are smeared, cotton soaked in the mixture being also tied to the iron under the barb. I had once the cruelty to try the effect of this poison on two domestic fowls. To one I administered internally a dose equal to about two common-sized pills, and I punctured one of the legs of the other, so as merely to draw blood, with the pointed bamboo about the size of a toothpick which had been dipped into the mixture. The latter died in twenty minutes without much apparent pain, and in the former no effects whatever could be perceived, and it may be crowing to the present day. Another poison, called 'deo-bi,' is used by the Kookis to kill fish, and has an intoxicating effect upon them forcing them to the surface, when it is thrown into the water. The Kookis also spear fish, but have not much idea of catching them by the hook or net."--Stewart's "Notes on Northern Cachar," pp. 62, 63. When the track of a tiger is found the "thempu" lifts the earth on which the footprint is and lays it on a leaf of the "ai" plant. He pours some zu on it and then, muttering charms, he wraps it up in the leaf and drops it into a pot, which he places to his ear and professes to be able to hear whether the pursuit of the animal will be crowned with success. The customs as regards "boi" approximate to those of the Lushais, and where they differ it is always to the disadvantage of the boi; thus a criminal seeking refuge in the chief's house has to pay a mithan before he can be accepted. On a chief's death each boi has to kill a pig at his funeral. Slavery by purchase is recognised and is not restricted to the chiefs--another point of resemblance between the Thados and the Chins. The village organisation is much the same as among the Lushais, but the minor chiefs, while collecting all dues from the people of their villages, pay certain dues to the head of their family. The crier is known as "tlangsam," but he receives no remuneration. The "thirdeng," or blacksmith, is known as "thirshu," and receives a day's labour from every householder in the village as his pay. The thempu only receives zu, and this only from those he cures--a system tending to increase the skill of the practitioners.