03-03-382
382
BURMA GROUP.
are all more closely connected with Burmese they are again mentioned here. It is possible that they are not hybrids, but independent forms of speech.
The Asi or Szi are a half-breed branch of the Lepai Kachins, and their head- quarters are in the hills in the neighbourhood of Mogaung. Their language does not seem to be connected with Kachin, but agrees best with those of the other members of the above group. See Gazetteer of Upper Burma, Vol. I, Pt. I, pages 377 and ff. Voca- bulary on pages 660 and ff.
The Lashis are much mixed up with the Szis and with them are spread all along the frontier of Burma, north, east, and south-east of Bhamo. See Gazetteer of Upper Burma, Vol. I, Pt. I, page 387. They are a hybrid race, see page 382. Vocabulary on page 660.
The Marus, so far as known territory is concerned, frequent the borderland of Burma and China, particularly to the north-east of Talawgyi, south of the main Lashi settle- ment, and east of Loi Nju. They are however found south and west of this, as far as Katha. They are believed to have come originally from the north. Their language is closely connected with Szi and Lashi. It is nearer Burmese than Kachin. See Gazet- teer of Upper Burma, Vol. I, Pt. I, pages 382 and ff. Vocabulary on pages 661 and ff. Possibly a hybrid race.
The Hp
ns are found so far only in the upper defile of the Irrawaddy between
Bhamo and Sinbo and just above it in the Mankin valley to the south-east of
Sinbo. They have nothing to do with Sh
ns, but are much more closely connected
with Burmese. 'It is possible that they are a mere sort of dishclout, like the
Yaws and Danus and Kadus, full of traces of all their neighbours.' See Gazetteer
of Upper Burma, Vol. I, Pt. I, pages 566 and ff. Vocabulary on pages 661 and
ff.
The Achangs call themselves and are called by their Chinese neighbours Ngachang
or Achang. They appear to be called Parans by the Kachins round about. The name
Maingtha is a simple Burmese perversion of the Shn form Tai Mng Has,
that is to say, Shns from the two Hsa states, Ho Hsa and La Hsa. The Upper
Burma Gazetteer also calls them Tarens or Tarengs. The Kachins regard them as
being indirectly con- nected with them. Their dress, religion, and customs are
those of the Chinese Shns. They are found on the west border of the Chinese
state of Santa and in Khmt
L
ng. Their language is a curious mixture.
Captain H. R. Davies estimates that about thirty per cent of their vocabulary
appears to be connected with Burmese, and twelve per cent with Shn. A reference
to the published vocabulary shows a close resemblance between the Achang and
Lashi numerals and the one pronoun available for comparison. I therefore include
Achang in this group. See Gazetteer of Upper Burma, Vol. I, Pt. I, pages 390
and ff., 618 and ff. Vocabulary on page 661 and ff.
C.-THE LIHSAW SUB-GROUP.
A group of some six languages, of which Lihsaw is the principal, seems to be connected with Burmese. They all seem to be related to each other. They are the following:-
The Lihsaws are found chiefly in the neighbourhood of Sadn and scattered
at high altitudes and always in very small villages throughout the Northern
Shn States and