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KHANTIS OR KHAMTIS.
(27)

The Khamtis are a race of people of whom very little is known, inhabiting the hills on the Burmese frontier of Assam:  they are described as a fine, brave, and hardy race of men, who are held in high respect by the Burmese.  In 1834, the latter attempted to make them pay revenue, but the troops sent to enforce the demand were resisted with such determination, that they were compelled to retire.  The Khamtis have retained the ancient language of their race, but have lost their religion, having accepted Buddhism from the Burmese, from whom they have likewise borrowed many new words.  A specimen of their language will be found in vol. xix. of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.  It seems akin to the Lao and Siamese dialects, both of which are, like the Khamti, Ahom, and Shan, branches of the Tai.  Their alphabet is "evidently borrowed from the Burmese."

They are thus described in the "Sketch of Assam," published anonymously, in 1846, by an officer (understood to be Major Butler), long employed in the Assam country.  "In stature the Khamtis are middle-sized, in countenance resembling the Chinese more than any other tribe on the frontier, and possessing the same kind of complexion, perhaps a shade darker.  They are an active, intelligent, shrewd, warlike-looking race of men, but there is a sinister expression, mixed with a peculiar severity, pervading their countenances, which leaves anything but a favourable impression of the benevolence of their dispositions.  Vindicitive and cruel natures would infallibly be imputed to them by the physiognomist, and experience has shown that this would prove a just estimate of their general character.  The chiefs of this tribe are fond of mechanical employments, and, with rude instruments, most ingeniously work up iron and silver into a variety of forms for arms, ornaments, and pipes.  With a little European instruction they would probably become skilful workmen in this art.

"Their wearing apparel (of the Khamtis) consists of a single dhotee or sheet, folded round the waist, and falling below the knee; this, with a dyed blue cotton jacket, extending below the waist, and well fitted to the body, gives them a smart, tidy appearance.  Their long hair is bound up in a high knot on the crown of the head, and sometimes a white cotton cloth is used as a turban.