Indian Christianity

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN
However, despite the apparent challenges, this scene would host a total change in the tribal beliefs, fears
and development. In the 74 years of the Western missionary era there, the ‘unreached’ tribes of the
Lushai Hills became a missionary-sending people.
At the end of the 19th century, various tribes inhabited the thick tropical forest-covered Lushai Hills. One
of these tribes were the Lushai (who referred to themselves as the Mizo). They were nomadic cultivators,
but were also known for less pleasant practices: the Lushai would raid the tribes living on the foothills
and plains, decapitating some victims and carrying their heads back to the mountains as trophies, and
capturing others alive and keeping them as slaves.
Tribes: fear in the mountains
Inter-tribal fighting was commonplace and just as the people of the plains feared the Lushai headhunters,
the Lushai feared raids from the Pawi tribes living in the mountains to the east.
In terms of religion, all hill people lived in fear of the evil spirits that were believed to inhabit the
mountains, valleys, forests and streams. Misfortune, sickness and death were all attributed to these
spirits and innumerable sacrifices of domestic animals and poultry were made to appease them.
235