The Wa of Burma believe themselves to be the original and unchanged pcople of their race. This claim might be supported partially by considering that they have retained strong bonds of solidarity
and a humogeniety in their large numbers. Rathcr than having lost their tribal traditions, the W a have proudly held to them, and have probably changed little from what they might haw been many
hundreds of years ago. Without any doubt in his mind, the Wa will relate how his people had come through Thailand, naming places that he could never have been ta or seen. A rea at Wa Chieftain once
tuld the author of a place, "in the far away Land uf the Thai people," which was known as "Tak" (Kahaeng) to the Wa, and that he wished someday to make a journey therc to worship at some symbolic
stones, placed there by his ancestors " eighty generations " ago. He stated that, although hc had never seen the place, he wouId recognize it at once, and know just where to find the stones. IIe could go by the vivid descriptions handed down for generatirlns by his forefathcrs. In addition, he claimed that his I,cople, and this is supported by all older Wa men, had journeyed, thousands of years ago, northwards along the river valley " which flows through Tak:' (Mae Ping Kiuer ), settling for n long time in what is now Chiengnlai valley. Ruins that mav be seen to this day on some remote mountain tops; of Chiengmai Province, were undoubtedly ancient Wa settlements, for, they claim. they had heen very strong at one time, and had siza-ble cities. Surely the ancient " L'wa" mentioned in early Thai