is the main way to transport things, while using a gui or back carrier is also popular. Baskets may be carried with the aid of tump lines tied around the carrier's forehead; at times, pack horses are used. Along large rivers, the Thai are famous for transporting goods and people using swallow-tailed boats. Social organization The original social structure is called ban muong, also known as the phia tao regime. The Thai lineage is called Dam. Each person has three key lineal relationships: Ai Nong (everybody born from a common fourth-generation ancestor); Lung Ta (every male member of the wife's family throughout generations); and Ying Sao (every male member of the sons-in-law). Marriage In the past, the Tai respected the selling and buying of marriage and the son-in-law's staying with the girl's family. To marry a husband, the girl's family needs to take two basic steps: Up marriage (dong khun) - means the introduction and bringing of the son-in-law to live with the girl's family, which is done to test his personality and hard work. Tai women generally adopt the custom of wearing their hair in a bun or chignon immediately after this first wedding ceremony. The son-in-law will stay at his wife's home for 8 to 12 years. Down marriage (dong long) - the bringing of the couple and their family to the paternal family. Birth Women give birth in the seated position. The placenta is put into a bamboo cylinder and hung on a branch in the forest. The mother is warmed by fire, fed rice using a bamboo tube, and must abstain from certain foods for a month. The bamboo tubes are hung on a tree branch. There are rituals to educate the child in gender-specific work and a Lung Ta(Title meaning "Great Uncle" who is a respected elder of the community, ie Great Uncle Bob, Lung Ta Bob) is invited to the house to name the baby. Funerals There are two steps in a funeral: Pong: The bringing of offerings to the deceased and bringing the deceased to the forest for a burial (White Thai) or cremation (Black Thai). Xong: Calling the spirit to come back and live in the section of the house reserved for the worshipping of ancestors... New house Showing the host his new house, the Lung Ta kindles a new fire. In celebrating a new house, people carry out spiritual rites on