A Shan Settlement in the Hkamti Long
Area
Nobody would have imagined that
there would be a Tai ethnic settlement in the remote northernmost part of
Myanmar in the region of Hkami Long
around the township of Putāo. But
there is one. There is township called Putāo which has also been the Capital of
the region. Putāo is in fact known to the Hkamti Shans as Pu Taung. Pu Taung is a village, a couple of miles from Putāo named
after an old-aged pious Hkamti Shan who organized his ethnic group to settle
there which later to be known as the Tai Hkamti. His name could not be properly
pronounced by the non-Hkamti Shan. As a result, it came to be known as Putāo
for the British Pu-Tar-O for the
Myanmar people.
Putāo has become the centre of
interest because of its Fort which was called "Fort- Hertz." It was
constructed by the British after the annexation of Myanmar to defend the
British interests in that area. During the British administration Mr. W.A. Hertz
(CIS) was assigned as the first Resident of Putāo. The Fort was named
"Fort-Hertz" in his honour. The construction of the fort started from
the base of a mountain range in the north side of Putāo and it stretch up along
the upward slope to the highest point of the range. If someone from the summit
looks down at the base of the fort, a vast area of cultivated land and paddy
fields could be clearly seen. The perpetual flowing of the Nampalak creek in the snake-like curves and bands is also very
picturesque and scenic. An old military barrack and some rusty armouries are
still lying inside the fort and a bungalow built by the British can also be
seen at the site. It is now taken over by the Myanmar Naing Ngan Police Force
Department, with a Police Stateion and outposts established in an around the
Fort.
The location of Putāo is between
26.47 and 28.55 of the North Latitude and 96.93 and 97.45 of the East
Longitude. It is situated at about 1,200 feet above sea level. The plain of Putāo
is about 35 miles from north to south and about 25 miles from East to West. The
whole area is estimated to be about 2105 square miles and the plain is quite
fertile and suitable for cultivation of various vegetable crops. According to
the 1967 census there were 80,000 people of multi-national races living
together in the Hkamti Long region. Hkamti Long is also a Shan name which
means, "Geat Place of Gold." Hkamti Long is geographically close to
the neighbouring frontiers of China, Tibet and India. Therefore, the Hkamti Shans
in the past could have travelled to these countries through passes in caravans
or on foot.
The Tai Ethnic immigrants were the
first people to settle in this area. As to when these people migrated to this
area is very difficult to ascertain. It could have been earlier than those
Shans who invaded Assam and established the Kingdom of Ahom. Hkamti Shans even
joined the Sao Sam Tar army to annex Assam. Sao Sam Long Hpa was the Shan chief
who founded the city of Mong Kawng (Mogaung in Myanmar) in North Myanmar which
now is in the Kachin State.
The Eight Principalities established
by the Hkamti Saohpas are:
1.
Lokhun
2.
Mansi
3.
Lonkyein
4.
Mansehkun
5.
Mannu
6.
Langdao
7.
Mongyak
8.
Langnu
The
Hkamti Shans believe that the following people were the famous founders and
rulers of the Principalities:
1.
Aik-Sa Lon-Mon (founder)
2.
Salon Samparla (founder)
3.
Salon Hka-Kyam (founder)
4.
Sao Win Laik (Saohpa/Chief)
5.
Sao Han Hkan (Saohpa/Chief)
6.
Sao Han Win (Saohpa/Chief)
7.
Sao Win Hay (Saohpa/Chief)
8.
Sao Lwan Long (Saohpa/Chief)
9.
Sao Lwan Nwe (Saohpa/Chief)
10.
Sao Salon-Sa-Kyam (Saohpa/Chief)
From
the Hkamti Long area the Tai Hkamti spread out their new settlements to Assam,
Bhramaputra plain in India, to Sinkalin Hkamti, Homalin, Kale Wa, Hsaung-Sup
along the Chindwin river and to Mong Kwang (mogaung), Mong Yang (Monyin), Waing
Hso (Wuntho), Hom Mark Lang (Homalin), Indawgyi, Myitkyina in Kachin State.
They are mostly cultivators and all Hkamti Shans are very pious Buddhists. They
are very quiet and peaceful people. Being geographically isolated, the Hkamti
Shans are very conservative and stick to traditions and old customs, resisting
modern lifestyle.
By profession the Hkamti Shans are well
known for their skills in capturing wild elephants for war purpose in the past
and for commercial reason in the present. There are four methods in capturing
wild elephants:
1.
Kheddhah or Kyone Method
2.
Mela-Shikar or Kyaw Hpan Method
3.
Decoy Method
4.
Immobilization Method
Due
to their peculiar environment condition the Hkamti Shans favour the second
method, Mela-Shikar or Kyaw-Hpan.
Communication to Hkamti Long or Putāo
is very difficult. Due to heavy rains motor road cannot withstand the impact of
rains, erosion and landslides. Putāo is accessible only through air route. All
rounds modern development projects are now underway to help the people in the
Hkamti area get a glimpse of modern civilization of technology and media
networks.
Sai
Aung Tun
Refer: Golden Jubilee Shan Magazine
Link to similar Author:
http://shanyomaelibrary.blogspot.com/2013/08/history-of-shan-state-from-its-origins.html
http://shanyomaelibrary.blogspot.com/2013/08/bibliography-of-tais.html
http://shanyomaelibrary.blogspot.com/2013/08/bibliography-of-tais.html
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