Mani (มานิ)

Name of an ethnic minority group of dark-skinned Negrito people found in the southern Thai provinces of Trang, Satun, Pattalung, Narathiwat, and Yala, and whilst they also refer to themselves as Maniq and Mani Pah (มานิป่า), i.e. ‘Bush Mani’ or ‘Wild Mani’, they are more widely known by the names Sakai, i.e. ‘Slave People’; Chao Pah, i.e. ‘Bush Tribe’ or ‘Forest People’; Ngo, Chao Ngo (fig.), i.e. ‘Hair’ and ‘Hairy Tribe’, referring to their curly hair; and Ngo Pah, i.e. ‘Wild Hair’; and in Malaysia as Orang Asli, i.e. ‘Native People’ or ‘Original People’. Their total population is estimated  between 4,000 and 5,000, and in Thailand there are about 300 people, divided into 4 different clans, i.e. the Kansiw (กันซิว) who live in Yala; the Ya-haai (ยะฮาย), who dwell in Narathiwat; the Tae-te (แตะเดะ) or Te-tae (เยแด), who inhabit both Yala and Narathiwat; and the Taenhen (แต็นเอ็น), a clan found in both Trang and Satun. They are a migratory people that live of hunting and gathering, and dwell in temporary huts made of bamboo and banana leaves. 回