(48)
are merely hill-folk.[1] The real Taungthus, who call themselves Pa-o, are never found west of the Sittang or the Samon. They are scattered down all the eastern hills as far as Thaton near the mouth of the Salween, where is a large colony of them, but, like the Palaungs, they predominate in and have a representative in the Chief of one of the Shan States, Hsatung. There is clearly a connection between Hsatung and Thaton, though whether the Shan State took its name from the town of Thaton, or whether Thaton was called after the State has not yet been determined. There were 168,301 Taungthus enumerated as such in 1901, of whom over 122,000 were counted in the Southern Shan States and the bulk of the balance in Thaton. They are the most numerous and about the most widely distributed hill tribe in the Southern Shan States. The Taungthu men dress like Shans. The women wear a dark smock and skirt. In the Shan States the arms are frequently covered with sleeves decorated with coloured patch work, and leggings are worn. In the warmer climate of Thaton leggings are dispensed with. The head-dress consists of a turban of dark cloth ornamented with tassels and kept in position by silver hair spikes. For bibliographical note, see page 104.
- ↑ Cf. for instance the reference to Taungthus in the Palaung tea legend quoted at page 492 of Upper Burma Gazetteer (Volume I, Part I).
