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The Co lao have
a population of about 1,500 persons, living
in Dong Van and Hoang Su Phi districts (Ha
Giang province). They are also called Ke lao.
The Co lao language belongs to the Kadai
Group.
In Dong Van, the Co
lao practice terraced fields and grow maize
in mountain rock hollows. In Hoang Su Phi
they grow rice in submerged fields or in
hilly soil. Basketry and woodwork are their
popular handicrafts producing bamboo mats,
lattices, large winnowing baskets, panniers,
tables, chairs and horse saddles.
Co lao males wear trousers like many other
ethnics in the northern borderline. Co lao
women wear trousers and a five-panel dress
running below the knees, buttoning under the
left armpit, and decorated with bands of
cloth of different colors attached to the
chest from the middle to the right armpit
along the fringe slit.
Each village has about 15-20 households.
Their houses are built level with the
ground, commonly with three bays and two
lean-tos. Each house is a small family
comprising parents and children; married
sons rarely live with parents.
Each Co lao group has
a definite number of family lineages. The
matrilineal pattern is adopted. According to
customs, a son of a paternal aunt can marry
a daughter of a maternal uncle. Co lao women
at child-bearing observe strict abstinence
to facilitate delivery and give healthy
babies.
In Dong Van, people incinerate the placentas
of new-born babies then put them into rock
holes in the forest so that they are not
trampled upon by dogs or pigs. Three days
and nights (for sons) and 2 days and 3
nights (for daughters) after birth, the
babies are baptized by their parents. The
first child receives the name given by its
maternal grandmother. The dead person is
buried with the fasting rite. At burial,
rocks are placed in circles around the tomb;
each circle corresponds to 10 years of age
of the dead; the rock circles are then
covered with earth.
Ancestors of 3-4 generations are allowed to
be worshipped at home; the genie of the
earth is venerated by each family and the
whole village; the genie of the terraced
fields is represented by a queer stone
placed in the highest rock hole. Ceremonies
and festivals are held on the 3rd of the 3rd
lunar month, the 5th of the 5th month, the
l5th of the 7th month, the 9th of the 9th
month, etc. and the New Year Festival is the
biggest. |
