The Maring tribe: Economy
It is the highest mark of distinction for heroes, and indicates their standing in the ranks of patriots.
It has black and white stripes.
Motifs of the khuingal (king-black bee) collectively spell the name of a famous priest (Thîmkhui Ùpā). He was called Khuingal as well as Thîmkhui Rngal, and was highly respected and feared by all.
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Contents |
Authorship
Text: Maring Uparup Assembly (MUA)
Project coordinators: Parhai Kothil, Pastor Ezekiel Keisha, Khullak Mokhulshim, Larung Koin Dangshawa, Kansam Moran Kleya and Dangsawa Moran Maring.
Photographs: Rashingam Ngoruh and Ramesh Angom.
Design concept: Muidou Makunga
Indpaedia conversion: Parvez Dewan
ECONOMY
Economically Marings were self-sufficient people. Agriculture plays an important role and continues to be their mainstay. The Maring economy is being assisted by handicrafts, trades, domestications, fishing, hunting, etc. Both jhum/shifting and terrace cultivations have been practiced since the days of their forefathers as their main occupation. Paddy/ rice are planted mainly in the terrace and shifting fields, whereas vegetables and other cash crops were planted in the jhum fields and gardens. Rearing domestic animals such as cows, bulls, buffalo, mithun/shirim, goats, pig/hogs, dogs, fowls, etc. serve both the purpose for agriculture and commercial and even for consumption.
Productions of rice/paddy is mainly for consumption, whereas cash crops such as coriander, pumpkin, cucumber, potato, ginger, varieties of beans, brinjals, mustard leaf, yams, sesam-seeds, maize, mumcha(a kind of barley), etc. serve both for food and commercial purposes. Rice is a staple food. The meal is composed of rice with varieties of vegetables. Meat and fish are not neglected. The Maring people are fond of spicy, hot chilly food and fermented soya beans - called/known as ‘bẽthao-bẽbung’ in local term. They are also fond of sipping rice beer (waitũl), chãkthȧm wā (rice nír-solid) and smoking with Hukah pipe(hilhaksu-hoktáng túngka) in the past which is not common nowadays. Horticulture was not practiced by the Marings, except in few northern Maring villages.
Villagers draw water from the streams or ponds (yúyso/yúyphum). Tape (water supply pipe lines) system was not common in the ancient times amongst the Marings.
WEAPONS AND INSTRUMENTS OF THE MARINGS
The Marings can be known by the ways of their living standards with the weapons and the instruments they used and associated in their everyday life. Their life without weapons and instruments is felt ashamed of living in the society or the village. The man who does not know how to make his own weapons and instruments or does not have any knowledge of the weapons & instruments is looked down and mocked at by the society. Therefore, every Maring man is compelled to prepare/make any necessary weapons and instruments for war, farming or cultivations activities and for the family usages, etc, as he lives in the community. Some of the main weapons of Marings are:
Shon/cham =Dao
shoncham =Simple dao
shontáng =Big dao
tangshí =Small/pocket knife
Raalshon/Bakthang =Sword(Lhoúwa-shon/shon-mansham);
shonlusúi =knife
khangláng/Rashei =Barb-spear
Nālchèipāk/Chèipāk(khochei)=Two-edged spear;
Loúhin /Shemphang =Spade(loúhin-tàng, loúhin mandi, chempãng);
Chamche/Tangkhat =Sickle(chamche-deek & chamche-éng);
Rei =Axe;
Malaa-chèi/Rthal =Arrow;
Malaa-tāk =Bow;
Thõwa =Quiver;
Thiyài/chiyài =Catapult (one of the indigenous wea¬pons of Maring tribe but seldom used at the time of war. It is a traditional catapult made of a small piece of bamboo and a brass-string or thread with a cap in the middle of the string for filling pallets. This chairung/ chiyai/thiyai is mainly used for shooting/hunting birds rather than war purposes).
Chairung =catapult made of rubber piece;
Shúngkrok/Chèishu =Wooden/bamboo/cane stict/staff.
Chãng =Trap
Thírchãng =Iron/steel/metal trap;
Chúng =Shield (The rectangular shape of the traditional shield is also made of dried animal skins (Mithun skins & Rhino skins) used for self-defence from thrusting or casting of spears, arrows, stones), etc.
TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL DRESSES AND ORNAMENTS
The Maring Traditional dresses are very simple and made of cotton yarns spun by the Maring women from the times of their forefathers, and at present even the woolen threads are being used to make their dresses in different forms and styles. The dresses of menfolk are dhoti (língkham punkyil), linglik (shirt), murshum pun(lingkháng pun) or turban, rulshum (head-gear/beads), nakhap (brass string on ear), nāthang (nayẽl) or ear-ring, rulshum¬khrûl (reddy-brown beads), heavy bracelets of belt metals (hutrum shîn), hutshí (finger ring), and anglets (horum shîn), (holcham) sea shells with brass/metal ornaments for womenfolk wears, (muihar-liklharúy)white-big sea shells/conch shells decorated in strings for womenfolk wears, (yaaha¬thrumthrelbung ruy) wildbore teeth decorated with bluish bittle-insect wings for menfolk wears, etc. used by them during customary functions and festivals. The long hairs of Menfolk are combed from behind and divided into two sides of the head-line, bringing it together as a horn¬shape to form a turban (murshum) above the center of the forehead, and round the based of this horn-shape is usually put strings of beads of different kinds and transfixing it cross-wise from behind (rulshum).
For the Womenfolk, long hairs are combed and divided into two sides from the front part of the middle headline and stretching down to the back. Their dresses are phikham (karkhup), meghala/longkry, linglik (shirt), lingkhang (head cover), raho/riho/reho (round-shape of shells or ivory putting at the pierce of ears with the help of brass-string, thrumthrel¬bung/lumlel-bung (a kind of ear ring from the purple colour insect’s wings), sámkîn (head¬gear), muidou khrûl (beads nacklace), kummoirei/kungoi-rei (loin or waist cloth), tonshi (anklace), hutrum shin (bracelets), etc. used during the important occasions and festivals. These ornaments are made out of silver, copper, bronze, ivory, precious stones, bones, shells or conch shells, etc. They also wear ‘shãngkai rúy’ (dyied cane strings) on their breast/chest, to fasten their meghala on the chest/breast.
MARING TRADITONAL CLOTHES
The Marings, being one of the peculiar tribes amongst the tribals of Manipur in particular and the other tribes of the world in general has a special peculiarity which is seen in their dresses and different types or designs in their Clothes (phirul-phishamb). They have several kinds of clothes for different stages and occassions with different ways of usages according to the situations and occasions in their community’s life.
Some of the important kinds and designs of the Maring clothes (attires) are given below:
1. Phimui-rālpûn: It is a dignitorious and highly designated shawl for the menfolks especially for the top official ranking men Lhouyang Uparup (heroes), Theemkhui (Priests), Chiefs (Khulpu-Khullak), Laarung (Choir Directors) etc. It is black in colour with designs of different pictures of flowers and creatures of animals.
2. Khuingallu pûn/Khukrngal pûn): It is a dignitarious and highly designated shawl for the heroes (patriotic shawl). Black and white stripes in colour, as Khuingal (King-black bee) in designs which describes the name of the famous Priest (Thîmkhui Ùpā) Khuingal or Thîmkhui Rngal, who was highly honoured and feared by all.
3. Langphai pûn (Phi-up): A white shawl meant for the youths of both boys & girls, and even the elderly people can also use it. Totally white in colour, with tiphu (kanloi) designs of black threads. This is used by all sections of people as shawl, but not as meghala.
4. Mongchal pûn /Leirum pûn: A shawl specially meant for the elderly people both men & women. Woven with browny-red & white cotton yarns.
5. Ngoupong/ngoupûn: A white cotton shawl without any design, specially meant for the elderly people (men & women).
6. Púngpun: (Khumdou phi) Blankets.
7. Karkhup pûn (phikhȧm pûn): It has a black and red border cloth specially meant for meghala and língkhȧm (dhoti). Menfolk can wear it as dhoti but not as shawl, and the womenfolk wear it both. The black border is called/known as ‘Yãrui-khmöng or ánthur yãrui karkhup phi’ and the red border one is called/known as ‘Yãrui mraó or kantropār yãrui phi’.
8. Laithāng pûn: A highly dignitorious shawl used by the highly ranking people who have achieved a dignitorious works or activities like heroes, chiefs, etc. It has black¬border with white in the middle as langphai.
9. Muidou karkhup pûn: A modern designed meghala with muidou khrûl (beads lines), specially meant for unmarried women.
10. Shāngmui karkhup pûn: A modern designed meghala black in colour with taphu stripes in the middle, mainly wear by womenfolk.
11. Shámkin karkhup pûn: A modern designed meghala with Shámkîn designs, wear by the womenfolk.
12. Thîmro karkhup pûn: A modern designed meghala designed with the pictures of the indigenous cane and bamboo works of the Maring.
13. Lukhumrei pûn /shāngthing pûn: It is a Scarf used by womenfolk during the cultural festivals with design similar with langphai pûn.
14. Phisuirei pûn /shāngthing pûn: It is a scarf used by menfolk during the festivals by the designated people with designs similar with Langphai pun.
15. Kúnguirei/Kúmmoirei: Black colour loin-clothe wear during dancing by both men and women.
16. Markhup pûn: A black clothe used during funerals and condolences services. And after the funeral and condolences, the clothe is torn into small pieces and fixed on the top of a cane and bamboo works which is known as markhup khrâi bungka and left on the grave(lhānkûl).
17. Onthong pûn: Tuykao thruina pûn used by the womenfolk.
18. Pheisirei pûn: A meghala for womenfolk with yārui mraó borders and taphu designs with black and white stripes.
19. Pûntel & Aihā pûn: A meghala used by elderly Maring womenfolk.
20. Koyeng-pûn: The design of this cloth is black in color with white stripe of a koyeng (a singing) insect.
21. Kîmchí-linglik: A shirt worn by womenfold during cultural dance and festivals. It is bluish¬black in colour.
22. Khnik/khnikcha: A clothe used as ínner-wears/under-wears by the womenfolk (petticoat).
23. Malkhám Pûn:
ARCHITECTURE
The patterns or the designs of a house for its construction are is of the most important aspects of Marings since their forefathers’ days. The ancient patterns or the designs of a house were unlike the modern pattern or the western design/style of this age. The houses during those days were mostly constructed or built with wood, bamboo and thatches, etc. After the dawn Christianity or the influence of western civilizations within the community, the ancient patterns of the house have been gradually replaced by woods, bricks, sand and cements, G.C.I. sheets, etc., from the earlier mentioned materials. So, the ancient patterns of old houses have been disappeared in this civilized age.
The ancient forefathers’ houses of the Marings built with wood/bamboo/thatches are mainly known as ‘Tûrng-chím/tûrng-ínn.” Houses were built after suitable lands or the sites were surveyed by the villagers taking into account the following conditions - fertility, safety from their enemies, ecology and environment, good climatic condition and water, etc.
First of all, the priest (thîm) of the village will perform rituals for finding out the site(s) by sacrificing animals like hens or pigs, or sometimes cast lots (meirui thi) by breaking eggs, etc. After the ritual is being done, the villagers will first survey the site for the village altar (kholamun phun). They will find out the places where the village gates must be constructed. The village gate is built at both ends of the village (palthung bun). After that the villagers will find out the plots of the house for every household. After the plots are being selected then each and every household will arrange required food, meat and rice bear (chãk-án or tũl-chãk) to feed the villagers (labourers) in the course of constructing the house from digging and leveling of the plots, foundation and collecting of woods/bamboo/thatches, etc., till the works is over. The whole villagers will participate in the work irrespective of relatives or clans. After the whole work is over, the owner of the house will arrange for the inauguration including fixing of an auspicious days and date after consulting with eldest member of the family and village chiefs inviting all the villagers to participate the said ceremony. An inauguration feasts is offered by the owner. They will celebrate the inauguration with feast, singing and dancing for the whole night (chím chàngnei yarekna sèi-shak or Khonloi/khunnoi knúy) by beating wooden drums (Phungtáng) and dār (gongs) etc. The Marings used to inform the public through the ‘Khul-kai’ or beating the log drums and sounding the gongs caroling in the village (from one end to the other end) as a sign to invite the villagers and to begin the work in case there is an important ceremony, festivals or celebrations. The same way will be done to signify the end/conclusion of any function. After the celebration is over, the villagers will get ready for the cultivating work (for seed sowing) during the months of Neilāng truntla.
Chímmun/ínnmun (plot or site of the house); Chímphu (the whole building); Maishuk/ínnmai(front side of the house); Ínncho (back side of the house); ínnkûngthak (upper side of the house); thullo/thulkhum/ínnkhumdāk (lower/below side of the house); Dāngkhup/tulmuk (varendah); waarai (side/place where fowls are kept); bóngring & chapcholi (the ínner wall of both sides of the house); tlāngshàng (the place where the goats are kept); raóböm (common room in the middle of the house); lamchet (a place where the household food is cooked); bomtho (bed room of the house-holders); kungku (a place where the elderly people/old man and old woman can sit in the household fire place); maishuk-shúmtrum (a front door/main door); khamput shumtrum (side door/ window); ínncho-shúmtrum (back door); chāthȧr chāngdou (a place where the paddy is exposed on the fire/hert); chāngkhâng (a place where weapons/tools/utensils & other things are kept on), etc.
MATERIALS OF THE HOUSE
The Maring house has five main pillars which are given below: 1. Lil-shutlai (ritualistic pular/chatra); 2. Tërshutlai (next to the ritualistic pillar-front side), 3. Ínncho shutlai (back side pillar); 4. Dāngkhup shutlai (pillar in the varendah); 5. Mãngkhal shutlai (frontmost pillar). The other pillars of the house are as: Nakhāng yungchei (next to the main-pillars); Nakhāng lhoong; khãngyāl yungchei (rear pillars for supporting the cross-beams); Hyem yungchei (the smallest/short pillars for the lowest parts of the house); lingdou yungchei (smallest outer pillars); Lhoong (main roof guard log of the house); Khwã (bamboo): Ínnshun khwã(side rib bar bamboo); bungkhumrul khwa (main roofing support railing bamboo); lungwi kaina khwã (middle railing bamboo); yāpyul khwã (balgony bamboo); rāp (bamboo wall); thîmroh(bamboo strings to tie); lhepeek (pegs of the bamboo walls); halchee (suporters of the balgony bamboo along the main pillars in the house); chingkin (hooks on the walls), etc, etc. Rãpthȧng (walls of the house): Mangkhal taphu-rãp (front wall); bongring rāp (ínnermost walls in both sides); dangkhup/tulmuk rãp (varendah wall); tlāngshàng rāp (outtermost walls of the surroundings); ínncho saipung rāp (backside wall); changkhang¬khumlu rāp (walls of the main household rooms); warai-rãp (walls of chickens); ínncho-tho rāp (rear walls), etc. ómna: (Chair/stool/bench); Pongshang: Thakrei pongshang; Dākrei pongshang (Long log bench); Thrailhou omna (ritualistic log bench); chȧpcho-ómna (elderly folks’stool) ómnachui (short stool/chair), etc. Chímkhār (door): Wooden plank door/bamboo door; khamput-tlāngsháng tho chímkhar, etc.
UTENSILS AND KITCHEN MATERIALS & TOOLS
MARING ENGLISH
1. Chãkphu =Rice pot
2. Ànphu =Curry-pot
3. Chukhrúng =Rice-spoon
4. Àntléi/chôn =Curry-spoon/small spoon
5. Khêkök =Curry bamboo spoon
6. Tlèipāng =Plate
7. Kaikȧm (Ièilhám) =Dish
8. Nāmtou =Jug
9. Lhîng =Tub/bowl
10. Yúykhȧng =Water-jar
11. Khȧngcha =Water-pot
12. Khȧnglhóng =Jar
13. Saikhȧng =Rice-jar
14. Tũlkhȧng =Wine/Rice bear jar
15. Harûl =Mug
16. Kep =Cup (bamboo drinking tube)
17. Wanshang kep =Bamboo-crafted with wax plaited cup for beer.
18. Liklee-khȧng =Jar for sipping rice beer.
19. Bön =Dried bitter gourd for keeping rice beer(tũlbon)
20. Túngthei =Large bamboo tube for carrying/keeping water.
21. Hutchikna-bur =Hand-wash basin (pot/tub)
22. Húishum =Wooden-mortar (for pounding chilly/spices)
23. Húishuk =Wooden-pestle
24. Shúm =Wooden-mortar (for pounding rice (big)
25. Shuk =Wooden-pestle (long/big)
26. Chaiche =Tong (big for pots)
27. Mèichep =Tong (small for fire)
28. Shúmshit (bur) =Broom
29. Shittán/shattán =Log for cutting meat
30. Wāngkho =Wínnower (biglflate for exposing paddy)
31. Leikho =Wínnower (small for husking chaffs)
32. Khrâi (ngārã) =Flat basket
33. Phún (Lukturng) =Cane dínning table
34. Waishā =Bamboo fishing net
35. Tik =Angler’s basket or creel for keeping fish.
36. Shilluk. =Bamboo craft basket for keeping dried meat/fish.
37. Thulshilluk =Bamboo craft basket for keeping dresses
38. Phengwailuk (Luk-khum) =Bamboo basket with lead/cover
39. Phunphai =Bamboo tall basket for ritual functions
40. Òmna phún (mora) =Bamboo work stool
41. Òmnachui =Small/short wooden bench/stool
42. Höktáng =Hukah pipe
43. Ngānthȧk =Earthen dish-type for smoking on the top of hukah pipe
See also
The Maring tribe: Culture and lifestyle <> The Maring tribe: Customs and beliefs <> The Maring tribe: Economy <> The Maring tribe: History <> The Maring tribe: Laws and administration <> The Maring tribe: Society and polity <>The Maring tribe: Sports and pastimes …all in English;
and
Maring: Lei Chuinei Lammit/Ayil (Nu-Kungnei Ayil) and Maring: Nu-Ngainei Làmmit/Ayil in the Maring language (Roman script).
