Munniporees, Nagas, and Cookies; the Cacharies
themselves being a poor and peaceful jungle tribe,
confined to the mountains north of the Soormah. The
Munniporees are emigrants from the kingdom of that
name, which lies beyond the British possessions, and
borders on Assam and Birmah. Low ranges of forest-
clad mountains separate it from Silchar, to the southeast
of which are interminable jungles, peopled by the
Cookies, a wild Indo-Chinese tribe, who live in a state
of constant warfare, and possess the whole hill country
from this, southward to beyond Chittagong. A few years
ago they invaded and ravaged Cachar, carrying many of
the inhabitants into slavery, and so frightening the
people, that land previously worth six rupees a biggah,
is now reduced to one and a half. A strong party was
sent to rescue the captives, and marched for many days
through their country without disturbing man or beast;
penetrating deep forests of gigantic trees and tall
bamboos, never seeing the sun above, or aught to the
right and left, save an occasional clearance and a deserted
village. The incursion, however, had its effects,
and the better inclined near the frontier have since
come forward, and been enrolled as the Cookie levy.
The Munnipore emigrants are industrious settlers
for a time, but never remain long in one place : their
religion is Hindoo, and they keep up a considerable
trade with their own country, whence they import a
large breed of buffalos, ponies, silks, and cotton cloths
dyed with amotto (Bixa), and universally used for
turbans. They use bamboo blowing-tubes and arrows
for shooting birds, make excellent shields of rhinoceros
hide (imported from Assam), and play at hockey on
horseback like the Western Tibetans.
One fine moonlight night we went to see a Munnipore
dance. A large circular area was thatched with
plantain leaves, growing on their trunks, which were
stuck in the ground; and round the enclosure was a
border neatly cut from the white leaf-sheaths of the
same tree. A double enclosure of bamboo, similarly
ornamented, left an inner circle for the performers,
and an outer for the spectators: the whole was lighted
with oil lamps and Chinese paper lanterns. The
musicians sat on one side, with cymbals, tomtoms, and
flutes, and sang choruses.
The performances began by a copper-coloured Cupid
entering and calling the virgins with a flute; these
appeared from a green-room, to the number of thirty
or forty, of all ages and sizes. Each had her hair
dressed in a topknot, and her head covered with a
veil; a scarlet petticoat loaded with tinsel concealed
her naked feet, and over this was a short red kirtle,
and an enormous white shawl was swathed round the
body from the armpits to the waist. A broad belt
passed over the right shoulder and under the left arm,
to which hung gold and silver chains, corals, &c., with
tinsel and small mirrors sewed on everywhere : the
arms and hands were bare, and decorated with bangles
and rings.
Many of the women were extremely tall, great
stature being common amongst the Munniporees.
They commenced with a prostration to Cupid, around
whom they danced very slowly, with the arms
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