Intha
The Intha "sons of the lake" are members of a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group living around Inle Lake. They speak an archaic dialect of Burmese and are traditionally Buddhists. There is mystery over their origins in this area. Like the Pa-Os and Taungyos, it is thought that they arrived from lower Burma (Dawei area) many centuries ago. By one account, they are descendants of southern Burmese who migrated north during the reign of King Naraptisithu (1174-1210), although some scholars believe they stem from slaves taken captive during on-and-off wars with Mons and Tavoyans.
The Intha are famous for their highly individual rowing technique. Fishermen wrap a paddle around one hand and leg and use this to propel the boat, while balancing precariously on the other. This position leaves them with one hand free, allowing them to drop a large conical net over passing fish in the shallows waters of the lake.
There are about 20 villages of the Intha tribe who live on the water in lake islands and along the lakeshore. The people of this lake, by childhood, are already veterans at swimming and boating. Tomatoes, melons, cucumbers and all kinds of vegetables are grown in "floating farms" of aquatic plants. The Intha people are hard-working. Cigar-rolling and weaving are the women's work. The weaving of the Lotus robe to office to the Padaung Oo Pagoda is well-known in the country.
Flickr Images
