03-03-181

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OLD-KUKI SUB-GROUP.

　The Old-Kuki sub-group comprises several dialects which are so closely connected that they cannot have had a long independent development of their own. They are as follows:-

Rngkhol, spoken by...	7,820
Bt, " " ...	630
Hallm, " " ...	26,848
Langrong, " " ...	6,266 (?)
Aimol, " " ...	750 (?)
Chiru, " " ...	750(?)
Kolrn, " " ...	750 (?)
Km, " " ...	750 (?)
Ch, " " ...	(?)
Mhr, " " ...	2,000
TOTAL, at least	46,564

　 To these must probably be added the remnants of the Chote, Muntuk, and Karum tribes in the Manipur State, and three dialects in Manipur which have been largely influenced by Meithei. These latter dialects are:-

Prm, spoken by...	750 (?)
Anl, " " ...	750 (?)
Hiri Lamgng, spoken by...	750 (?)
TOTAL.	2,250

　The grand total would then be at least 48,814.

　Anl and Hiri-Lamgng are most influenced by Meithei, and will probably soon be superseded by that language. These two dialects and Km in some points agree with the Ng languages.

　Ch is, as yet, almost unknown. It seems, however, to agree so closely with the other dialects of the group that it must be classed with them.

　The Old Kuki tribes seem to have been settled in Lushai land about a century ago. They were driven out by the Thdos, and the Mhr tribe was probably left behind. This dialect has come under the influence of Lushi, and is a link between that language and Old Kuki. The whole sub-group is very closely related to the Central Chin languages.

RNGKHL.

　The Rngkhls or Rengkhls are now found in Hill Tippera and North Cachar. The following figures have been returned:-