The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXI, Part 1-2, 1983 - Khamkoo

LAHU NYI (RED LAHU) RITES FOR ESTABLISHING A NEW VILLAGE 191
4. · Here today I once again pray, so nine times order that we be separated from
sharp points of wood, from wooden blades .
.5. Today I climb up into this new house, this house with four comers here; let us
enjoy good health, let everybody sleep well and sit well; let there be no misfortune;
oh may our food taste good to our lips; this boon alone. order upon \ts,
6. May the people who live in this house not be killed by men of evil intent nor by
malicious spirits;66 this boon order upon us.
7. Let there be health and happiness within this house; may the hairs of the animals
· not fall down, may the animals not die;66 this boon alone order upon us; ·may the
people of this house sleep well and sit well.
TEXT FIVE (B) : HOUSEHOLD HEAD'S PRAYER
WHEN· ENTERING HIS NEW HOUSE
1. o-, o-, ya,. pui- YOv law lev k'o,. k'o, ngav tev.yehv tev k'a ve, yehv suh- ta,.
ve yov law lev k'o "k'o; a, yehv suh-: chi ta" ve yov law lev k'o "k'o.
2. Shawv nev ma nev chi yov law lev k'o ". k'o, ya,. pui- pehv tuv tu ve YOv law lev
k'o" k'o; shawv nev ma nev k'o" k'o, a, tawv leh sub- leh a paSha- ca" ka,..
k'aw,.. tawv, k'aw,. sub- leh a e Na bona ca- ka,..; yav duv, a, tev g'av lav cev.
3. Sub " sub haw " sub tav ve yov law lev k'o " k'o, shawv nev ma nev k'o " k'o, ya,.
pui- pehv tuv ve yov law lev k'o" k'o, yehv chi yov law lev k'o." k'o, ngav yehv
suh- ta "ve.
4. Ya,. nyi tan_ ov k'ai ve yov law lev k'o "k'o, yehv dui" k'a dui ", eh- ho,. ehdui"
htawv.
6. Yehv ta ,. k'a ta ,. ve YOv law lev k'o,. k'o, hk'av g'av chi g•av htawy tay ya,. muiv
·lav, yehv nev chi ka,..
7. A, ya,. nyi tan_ ov k'ai ve yov law lev k'o ~ k'o, yeh., suh- chi ta" ve; mav g'a
dawv ha_ gav hki- leh chehv sha cawv sha hk'o" hta,. ti- cawv lav.
66. This is the general meaning, according to my informants, of the coupled phrases chaw cav
· : 'chaw lawv mav t·'a and nev cav nev /awv ma g'a (chaw· "people"; nev "spirits"). I was
uuabl¢ to obt!'iu a $atisfl'ctQr)' word-br-worl;l analrsi3. ·