one has to spend a considerable amount to learn the secrets of healing and this discourages most of the villagers. Rev. Gangte has suggested that in some situations, the priest is considered the head of the village. His role is more pronounced than that of the chief vis-a-vis festivity and religion. As the keeper of the health of the masses, the sickly are referred to the priest who is expected to identify the cause of the illness. The spirit of the age has it that all ailments are the handiwork of evil spirits, and the priest is expected to cast them out. Patients are treated by the priest with indigenous herbs and magical invocations. So long as the incantation or spell is not revoked from the patients, they are not allowed to socialise with the rest of society. The priest does not charge any consultation fee from the villagers. But the villagers pay for his service by doling out a tribute in the form of paddy or other items. The priest also conducts divine sessions with the spirit and prays for the productivity of the land. Hunters returning from a successful safari are welcome by the priest at the Khawmuol with drums and chants for which the priest is entitled with a bulk of the meat of the hunted. One captivating aspect of priesthood concerns the priest unquestionable power to restrict entry to the village. The priest, when circumstances demanded- that often are tribal wars and plague, would hang a branch of tree (Theubawk) at the Khawmuol to signal that sojourners and strangers are not permitted to enter the village. This ban applies even to the next of kin of the priest if they reside in another village. Anyone who trespasses this ban is liable to the harshest penalty. Thiksek Thiksek is the blacksmith of the village. In fact, every village has its blacksmith who takes care of knives, spades, saws and other instruments implemented for daily work in the fields. Even warfare contraptions like swords, sabres, guns, arrows and gunpowder are the produce of the blacksmith. As such no village can afford to persist without a blacksmith. In appreciation of his deeds, the villagers return the favour in the form of a tin of paddy per household annually. Should any villager be successful in their hunts, they are bonded by custom to gift a chunk of the catch to