Description of a Tipra village; diet; fire-making; worship

8th Jan. 1928. To Katlicharra and thence to Bipincherra Tipra punji and back to Katlicherra. This Tipra punji consists of 'Chorai' clan folk. They only know the names of 3 clans viz. 'Chorai', 'Ranglong' and 'Sakacher'. They say there are others but do not know their names. They do not eat the flesh of cows, buffaloes nor monkeys, and field-rats are neither eaten. They do not allow foreigners to enter the inner room of their houses as they have their 'Chauka' there. Their houses are built on the same principles as those of the Kukis and when comparing the languages I found a very close relationship - linguistically. The women use the single wooden mortar and wooden pestle for paddy pounding. In getting a glance of the inner room of the house I found it similar to the Kukis' houses. Fire is made by friction of the razor edge of one bamboo against the [] made about the middle of a split bamboo cross-wise. They have no other way nor have the women a different means of doing so. They claim the 'Rhangkol' of North Cachar Hills to be Tipras also. They worship three small upright stones in a line about 1 and a half feet apart under a low thatch shed. The centre stone has cloth hung to the roof above it to keep it protected. Their build rather reminds me of the Cherus in Manipur State. Left at 11 am arrived at 6 pm. Distance - 30 miles.