Kayahs

a people in Burma, living mainly in Kayah National Autonomous State and Mong Pai District of Shan National Autonomous State. Total population, about 100, 000 (1967, estimate). The Kayah language belongs to the Kayah-Karen group of Tibetan-Burman languages. The anthropological type is Southern Mongoloid. Most of the Kayahs are Buddhists (southern branch); approximately 20 percent are Christians; however, considerable vestiges of ancient cult worship (tree leaves, etc.) are still preserved. The chief occupation is farming; some of the Kayahs (those known as the Lake Kayahs) engage in logging with the use of elephants.