| caption: |
cleared fields rented from another village |
| text: |
Coming from Tanhai we saw newly cleared fields not far from the border between Tanhai and Shiong. In answer to my question I was told that they are on Tanhai territory but are at present being worked on by Shiong. It is not at all uncommon that one village rents land from another to plant on. The cost of a field is supposed to be the same as between people of the same village. Shiong does not have much land and therefore they often rent fields from Tanhai or Wakching. Wakching clears its trails twice a year, that is during the Ponglongpongli and during the Shoubanli after the rice harvest. (49) The clearing is not done by all morungs on the same day and it is not connected with any genna. All male members of a morung participate, boys as well as old men, but the women can go to the fields on this day. Whoever avoids the work has to pay the fine of 1 rupee. With some exceptions, each morung clears its own path but the other morungs help the Oukheang which has four, three of which are much used. |
