Laha ethnic group

Proper names: Laha, Kla Phlao.

Other names: Xa Cha, Xa Bung, Xa Khao, Xa Tau Nha, Xa Poong, Xa Uong, Bu Ha, Pua.

Local groups: Dry Laha (Khla Phlao), Water Laha (Laha ung).

Population: 1.400 people.

Language: The speaking language belongs to the Kadai language group (Tai- Kadai language family).

History: The Laha were early inhabitants of the country's northwest region. According to some ancient documents in Thai language, around the 11th-12th century, when the black Thai moved to this region, they encountered the ancestors of the present Laha. Because of this, when conducting community worshiping rites, the Thai still organize the "white water buffalo" feast to worship a spirit called Am Poi - a famous Laha leader dating to the 11th century.

Production activities: The Laha have begun to practice irrigated rice farming, but they continue to rely on the slash and burn technique, hunting, and the gathering of fruit. Their cultivation style is very simple; they use a pointed digging stick and a paring knife. The main crops are sticky rice, corn, beans, and cotton. In the past, Laha women didn't know how to weave. Later, they learned weaving from the Thai, and started making their own clothes.

Diet: The main food is steamed sticky rice, though they have started eating regular rice. Other foods are salted, grilled, roasted, or "dried to preserve them. Women chew betel nuts.

Clothing: In former times, men like to wear their long hair wrapped in a bun; today, however, only old men and the shaman still keep up with this custom. Women blacken their teeth, and dress in a Black Thai style. In some areas, they wear an apron outside their skirt, or they may put it around their shoulders when the weather is cold. Single usually women wear their hair in a bun on the back of the head, while married women follow a Black Thai style of wearing the bun on the top of the head.

However, in some areas, young and old alike wear their hair in a bun on the top of the head. In areas with heavy White Thai influence, women whether married or single - just roll up their hair or put in a bun on the back of their heads.

Housing: They live in stilt houses of two styles: The first are temporary houses, inhabited from one to three years by those who are nomadic and practice slash and burn agriculture. This type of house is distinguished by a long oval roof that resembles the jaw of a pig. Permanent houses are for those who live a sedentary lifestyle, or those who are semi-nomadic. This type of house has a curved round roof that is shaped like a tortoise shell, and is similar to those of the Black Thai.

There are two distinct areas in a Laha house: a living room area that occupies about a half to two-thirds of the whole house; and the rest that is living space for household inhabitants and guests. Dividing the guest quarters and the living quarters is a column, which generally has a rice wine jar is tied to it.

Transportation: The Laha use baskets, water buffaloes, and horses.

Social organization: The Laha live in villages. In former times, the head of a village was called Khun cai. His two assistants, who were popularly elected, were called Khun tang and Khun teng.

The Laha have small, patriarchal families. Children bear the father's name, and wives adopt the name of their husbands. Daughters are prohibited from inheriting property from their parents.