BURMA’S “NO MAN’S

Evening Star, Issue 22880, 11 February 1938, Page 13

BURMA’S “NO MAN’S

CIVILISING THE AHMIHES Year after year various Governments of the world are taking in hand those areas under their jurisdiction which, for want of a better term, may be called “ untamed areas.” One such section is that known as the Wa States of Burma, whose people are described as head hunters. This area is east of the Salween River. It is bordered by the State of Kokang on the north, the Shan States on the west and south, and Yunnan China on the east, Kokang and the Shan States are both Burmese territory, but exactly where Burma ends and China begins in the Wa States area is still under dispute. The Burma-Chinese Boundary Commission of 1900 was unable to come to a complete agreement over the boundary in the Wa area. The Chinese claimed the Liuchen line, while the Government of India claimed the Scott line, some miles further east. Although no final decision was arrived at, both Governments agreed to look upon the country in between the two lines as a kind of “ no man’s land ” which neither side should enter. In 1934 the Government of Burma, with the previous approval of the Government of India, sent a _ survey party into tho Wa States. This party was to ascertain whether certain mineral deposits situated on the Burmese side of the Liuchen line were worth developing. ESCORTED BY BURMA POLICE. The party was escorted by a small body of Burma military policemen, and was accompanied by a civil officer. Presumably the Government of Burma considered it an opportune time to plant the seeds of administration in this hitherto “ untamed area.” While the survey was in progress Chinese crossed the Scott line and entered “ no man’s land.” At one point they even crossed the Liuchen line, but were driven back by military police posts which had been established in Burmese territory west of the lino. The Was. stirred up, it wms thought, by Chinese intrigue, began to show signs of hostility to the survey expedition. ' . . It soon became evident that punitive measures would have to be taken. These are nearly always inevitable when such areas are first brought under civilised administration. As a result of representations made to the Chinese Government, the Chinese forces were withdrawn across the Scott Hue, and negotiations for the demarkation of the houndary begun. In 1935 a boundary commission under an impartial chairman appointed by the

League of Nations began tbe task of finishing the work which was started in 1900., It is understood that tbe report of this commission is now under consideration by the two Governments concerned. - It is not surprising that little is known of the Wild Wa, or of his country, as he is still reputed to be a headhunter. The country is divided into a number of small States, and a kind of feudal system exists. Interstate quarrels seem fairly common. In Wa warfare the village is the objective. Eor this reason all villages are stockaded and protected by pickets erected so as to command all tbe approaching paths. Sometimes thick thorn hedges are cultivated around the villages to augment the stockade. All able-bodied men are split up into groups according to their weapons. There are the gunmen, who open a fight shouting and jumping about as they fire their muzzle-loaders. Then come the spearmen, who dash into the pickets, and the axemen, who must hack a passage through the village stockade. The following incident gives an idea as to how the Wa regards his statue: —A certain number of Was had been used to help build temporary huts. While paying them one day the term “ coolie ” was used. One of the Was pricked up his ears and said to the interpreter, “ Tell the officer I’m not a coolie; I’m a ‘ live by the gun ’ man.” He meant, of course, that this was his status in the village. YEARLY WATER FESTIVAL. The Wild Wa wears coarse blue cloth. One branch of the Wa tribe, known as La Was, have become Bhudclists. Part of their religious celebrations consist of a yearly water festival. At this time the young folk at least get a bath, for a feature of the festival is the soaking of each other with water. As a matter of fact, the La Wa is a cleaner and more amenable typo than the Wild Wain the valley of the" Salween and along the smaller streams that join this great river are Shan villages. The Shan is a great rice cultivator. Sbans on tho whole are peaceful,‘and for this reason do not stray far from the Salween, where they are near British protection. _ Another race to he met in the Wa States is the Maru and Lashi branches of the Kachin. There is a theory that they are the remnants of hired fighters who were engaged to guard tho lead and silver mines some 200 years ago. The mines, of which there are several traces, were workedby Chinese, but it is possible that they dealt with surface deposits only. Whichever country is to include this area in her boundaries, and whether valuable mines exist there or not, it is felt that the administration begun should not he allowed to fall through. The opening up of communications will greatly assist in taming this ‘‘ untamed area,” and it is hoped that it will be accomplished without any more headhunting.—4 Christian Science Monitor.