The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXI, Part 1-2, 1983 - Khamkoo
The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXI, Part 1-2, 1983 - Khamkoo
The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXI, Part 1-2, 1983 - Khamkoo
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LAHU NYl (RED LAHU) RITES FOR ESTABLISHING A NEW VILLAGE 187<br />
2. I place here seven grains <strong>of</strong> rice, I put one grain <strong>of</strong> rice for each person [in my<br />
household].<br />
3. If, when I make my house [at this place] we will be healthy, when we live here<br />
we will not sicken, let not a single grain <strong>of</strong> rice be lost. ·<br />
4. · I make this rice grain oracle~ oh I bring <strong>the</strong>se beautiful beeswax candles and this<br />
beautiful rice made by my own hand; I will bui~d a house.<br />
5. Great Prince <strong>of</strong> this place, come and look!<br />
6. I place this oracle, I have prepared <strong>the</strong>se rice grains; if, when we live here, <strong>the</strong> .<br />
people will not be healthy, if you do not want me to make [my house] here, let<br />
<strong>the</strong>se grains <strong>of</strong> rice be lost.<br />
7. I make this oracle; if <strong>the</strong> rice grains are not lost, I will build my house.<br />
8. I bring this beautiful rice and <strong>the</strong>se beautiful beeswax candles made by my own<br />
hand, oh great Prince, P?werful Prince, Pure Prince, Lord Spirit <strong>of</strong> this place; all<br />
you spirits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> streams and spirits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hills here at this place, come carefully<br />
and look!<br />
9. Here I will make. my house.<br />
After praying thus, <strong>the</strong> household head uncovers <strong>the</strong> rice grains and observes<br />
whe<strong>the</strong>r any have been lost. If <strong>the</strong>y are all <strong>the</strong>re (no insect having managed to remove<br />
one in <strong>the</strong> short time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prayer), it is regarded as a good omen and work on <strong>the</strong><br />
house can begin; but if one· has disappeared this is taken to indicate supernatural<br />
.displeasure and <strong>the</strong> site will be abandoned.<br />
Once <strong>the</strong> household head has received favourable omens (or ra<strong>the</strong>r, has not<br />
received unfavourable ones), work on <strong>the</strong> new house m~y begin. But some people<br />
will no~ start work on days <strong>the</strong>y consider inauspicious; o<strong>the</strong>rs seem not to care.s9 As<br />
when clearing <strong>the</strong> village site, <strong>the</strong>y may avoid tiger day and dog day (seen. 51 above).<br />
One informant said <strong>the</strong> wood would hurt you, ·as if a. tiger were biting or a horse<br />
kicking. ·In addition; va,.. nyi, or pig day, may be avoided. This is <strong>the</strong> day on which<br />
Ai ma (see .n. 55 above) created <strong>the</strong> earth, and one informant declared it inappropriate<br />
to begin work on such an important day. <strong>The</strong> best days on which to begin <strong>the</strong> work,<br />
59. Thus one man told me, "Awv nyi ca" pa_ mav he" leh mav shi_" ("I am not a person who<br />
reckons <strong>the</strong> days, so I don't know"- or his words could be rendered "We're no.t people who<br />
reckon <strong>the</strong> days; so we don't know".)
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