A Burmese wonderland; a tale of travel in Lower and ... - Khamkoo

A BURMESE WONDERLAND. 35
Moulmein.i They are probably most numerous round
Paan on the Salween, where there are at least 21 Taungthu
villages. There is considerable coming and going
between these widely separated settlements. The
northern Taungthus, now found in the Shan States,
are
hardy plateau-men. They wear Shan dress and speak
Shan, and are known as Shan-Taungthus, though
they call themselves Thaton Pan Yin. They are said
to have migrated to Hsa-htung in 1781 A.D., and
there occupy the plateau land just like Shans all over
Loilem, Mong Nai, Nam Hkok, Yawnghwe and Myelat.
The Hsa-htung Myoza is a Taungthu, and the population
is almost exclusively of that race. Their women,
who are quite remarkably pretty, retain their national
costume— a black, sack-like coat, black turban, and
silver ornaments. The tribal divisions there given
are Nang Hke, Ta Tok, Kun Loang, Tan Sang and
Hkai. But in Thaton the divisions given me were
Nang Hke, Ta Tok, Hpai Mong, Li Tong and Pan Yin.
The Taungthus in Paan, and elsewhere south of
the Salween, must have been British subjects for close
on a hundred years. They are remarkable for their
manliness and independence, and are not in the least
reserved or unsociable like their Karen cousins. Yet,
as far as I could ascertain, none have ever entered the
Army, or even the local poUce. Their neglect is but
another example of good material wasted in this country.
1 Map Squares D.K. : D.L. : D.M.