The Khasis | Page 8

young are comely, of a buxom type, and,
like the men, with highly-developed calves, the latter always being
considered a beauty. The children are frequently remarkably pretty.
Khasis carry very heavy burdens, it being the custom for the coolie of
the country to carry a maund, or 82 lbs. weight, or even more
occasionally, on his back, the load being fixed by means of a cane band
which is worn across the forehead; women carry almost as heavy loads
as the men. The coolies, both male and female, commonly do the
journey between Cherrapunji and Shillong, or between Shillong and
Jowai, in one day, carrying the heavy loads above mentioned. Each of
the above journeys is some thirty miles. They carry their great loads of

rice and salt from Therria to Cherrapunji, an ascent of about 4,000 feet
in some three to four miles, in the day. The Khasis are probably the
best porters in the north of India, and have frequently been
requisitioned for transport purposes on military expeditions.
The people are cheerful in disposition, and are light-hearted by nature,
and, unlike the plains people, seem to thoroughly appreciate a joke. It is
pleasant to hear on the road down to Theriaghat from Cherrapunji, in
the early morning the whole hillside resounding with the scraps of song
and peals of laughter of the coolies, as they run nimbly down the short
cuts on their way to market. The women are specially cheerful, and
pass the time of day and bandy jokes with passers-by with quite an
absence of reserve. The Khasis are certainly more industrious than the
Assamese, are generally good-tempered, but are occasionally prone to
sudden outbursts of anger, accompanied by violence. They are fond of
music, and rapidly learn the hymn tunes which are taught them by the
Welsh missionaries. Khasis are devoted to their offspring, and the
women make excellent nurses for European children, frequently
becoming much attached to their little charges. The people, like the
Japanese, are fond of nature. A Khasi loves a day out in the woods,
where he thoroughly enjoys himself. If he does not go out shooting or
fishing, he is content to sit still and contemplate nature. He has a
separate name for each of the commoner birds and flowers. He also has
names for many butterflies and moths. These are traits which are not
found usually in the people of India. He is not above manual labour,
and even the Khasi clerk in the Government offices is quite ready to
take his turn at the hoe in his potato garden. The men make excellent
stonemasons and carpenters, and are ready to learn fancy carpentry and
mechanical work. They are inveterate chewers of supari and the pan
leaf (when they can get the latter), both men, women, and children;
distances in the interior being often measured by the number of
betel-nuts that are usually chewed on a journey. They are not addicted
usually to the use of opium or other intoxicating drugs. They are,
however, hard drinkers, and consume large quantities of spirit distilled
from rice or millet. Rice beer is also manufactured; this is used not only
as a beverage, but also for ceremonial purposes. Spirit drinking is
confined more to the inhabitants of the high plateaux and to the people

of the Wár country, the Bhois and Lynngams being content to partake
of rice beer. The Mikirs who inhabit what is known as the "Bhoi"
country, lying to the north of the district, consume a good deal of
opium, but it must be remembered that they reside in a malarious terai
country, and that the use of opium, or same other prophylactic, is
probably beneficial as a preventive of fever. The Khasis, like other
people of Indo-Chinese origin, are much addicted to gambling. The
people, and especially those who inhabit the Wár country, are fond of
litigation. Col. Bivar remarks, "As regards truthfulness the people do
not excel, for they rarely speak the truth unless to suit their own
interests." Col. Bivar might have confined this observation to the
people who live in the larger centres of population, or who have been
much in contact with the denizens of the plains. The inhabitants of the
far interior are, as a rule, simple and straightforward people, and are
quite as truthful and honest as peasants one meets in other countries.
My impression is that the Khasis are not less truthful certainly than
other Indian communities. McCosh, writing in 1837, speaks well of the
Khasis. The following is his opinion of them:--"They are a powerful,
athletic race of men, rather below the middle size, with a manliness of
gait and demeanour. They are fond of their mountains, and look down
with contempt upon the degenerate race of the plains, jealous of their