The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

LAIIU NY! (RED LAHU) NEW YEAR TEXTS-Ill 37
6. Once again order and bestow upon every household this boon alone
that all of them may enjoy great wealth such that people will talk of
their fine style.
7. Today the villagers pull out this eternal tree of the yearc•> and throw
it away down there at the bottom of the village; they request that
you please do not punish them.
8. Now the rites and restrictions are over; today ob keeper of the year,
keeper of the month, the new year festivities are finished so we once
again pull out the tree of the year and throw it away down there at
the bottom of the village.
9. All-true Father who ordains the customs of the year, we do not mean
to offend you; next year you may rule again; do not curse us, do not
speak evil of any of the people.
TEXT NINE
[A household head's prayer before removing the rice cake altar ( aw _
hpfuh,. hti_) from his house (cf. Walker 1970b: 33).]
1. A-, ya,. shaw- ~w- bpfub,. hti_ yu., leb no" lo na_ pu_ bk'aw,.
sheh_ hpa", na_ beh ba sheh_ hpa" no" ve.
2. A-, chi bk•aw,. te" hk'aw,. mui., leb chi hk'aw,.. ca" ma" peu" ve, te"
nyi mui., ve chi nyi ca" ma" peu., ve, chi bon ji" leh ta_la", chi shiji"
leh ta_ la".
3. K'o_ hta, k'o chaw baweh., na" baweb.,, k'o_ haw- k'o ce" haweb.,.
ca., haweb.,, ma" daw" hki- kui., ma" daw" ha_ kuiv ve, chi bon
k'aw,., hpaw leh ta_ la", chi shi- k'aw,. ji" leh ta_la".
4. Neb- hk'aw ... te" hk'aw" k'aw ... zuh ve k'aw ... lo_ k'aw,.. tan" leh k'aw ...
sha" da ... a le".
(e) The "tree of the year" is a bamboo altar erected during the new year period
in the middle of the village.