Kuki (Indic people); Lushai (Asian people); Lushai language
A goat is killed as in Kel-Khal and the sherh are treated in the same
way, but the flesh must not be cooked till the next day, and it is
"thiang-lo" to eat "thei-hai" fruit. Though this sacrifice is so very
similar to the Kel-Khal, yet it is considered more efficacious.
[3. Daibawl.] The commonest of these is "Tui-leh-ram" (water and
land). This sacrifice has to be performed at the outskirts of the
village. It is to appease the demons inhabiting the woods and the
streams.
A cock and hen are killed. Three bamboos are brought; of these
"theibial" are made, which are pieces of bamboo about four inches long
stuck into the ground. A small basket called "maicham" is also made,
and some small square mats called "lengleh" made of a thin strip of
bamboo bent round and round itself and kept in position by lacings of
black and red threads. These are hung from small pieces of bamboo stuck
into the theibial. The fowls' throats are cut and the blood allowed to
flow on the maicham and theibial. Then three small stones are brought
from the nearest stream and a shallow hole is dug at the place of
sacrifice and lined with a wild plantain leaf. In this some water is
poured and the stones and the sherh are placed in the water. The fowls'
flesh may be cooked and eaten either on the spot or in the house.
Bawl-pui.--This is a very important sacrifice, which is seldom
performed and only after all others have been tried. Two small clay
figures are made, one to represent a man and the other a woman. These
are called "ram-chawm."
The female figure has a petticoat of "hnahtial" (a plant which has
tough leaves used for wrapping up food to be taken on a journey),
and is made to bite the pig's liver.
The male figure is provided with a pipe and a necklace of the liver
of the pig which is sacrificed. A small bamboo platform is made,
and on it is put a clay model of a gong and other household utensils,
and sometimes of mithan.
The pig's throat is cut and the blood allowed to flow over the
platform, &c.
The pig's flesh is cooked on the spot. To take it into the house is
"thianglo." Many persons come and eat it with the puithiam. If the
patient does not die during the performance of the sacrifice or during
the subsequent feast he will undoubtedly recover.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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