1. General

The Xùmǐ 旭米 language (also known as Shǐxīng 史興) is spoken by Xùmǐ Tibetans, an ethnic group of c. 1,800 people who reside along the banks of the Shuǐluò 水洛 river in Mùlǐ 木里 (Written Tibetan [WT] rmi li) Tibetan Autonomous County in Sìchuān Province (see Map 1).

Shuǐluò Township is a historically multi-ethnic and multi-lingual area, and Xùmǐ villages are interspersed with those of other ethnic groups. Their most numerous neighbors include Pǔmǐ 普米 people in the lower reaches…