Tradition / Region: Indian Mythology, Myanmar Mythology
Alternative names: Chauga (South Andaman languages), Inene (among the Onge)
Category: Ghost
The Myth
The Lau are the spirits of the dead in the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Andaman Islands. They are regarded as invisible beings or as pale, white-skinned figures with frightening appearances. Rather than referring to a single creature, the name Lau serves as a general term for the ghosts of the deceased.
Among the peoples of South Andaman, these spirits were also known as Chauga. They were believed to be uncanny beings whose appearance differed greatly from that of ordinary humans. Their strange pale complexion and frightening nature made them objects of fear and caution.
The terms Lau and Chauga were also used to describe foreigners such as mainland Indians, Europeans, and other outsiders. Because these strangers possessed lighter skin than the islanders, they were sometimes viewed as resembling the ghostly dead. Black Africans, however, were considered entirely human in appearance and were not included in this category.
Similarly, among the Onge people, the word Inene referred to pale-skinned people and was also used for the spirits of warriors who had died natural deaths.
Thus, the Lau are remembered as the ghostly dead of the Andaman Islands—terrible pale spirits whose appearance was so distinctive that even unfamiliar foreigners were sometimes associated with them.
Sources
Bestiary.us. (n.d.). Lau. In New Bestiary: Encyclopedia of Imaginary Beings. Retrieved June 20, 2026, from https://www.bestiary.us/lau