1881.] Nongyang Lake, on the Burmese Frontier. 7 



some 35 feet by 50 feet, and with six of the central posts continued up to 

 carry a second central raised roof; the caps of these six columns were carved, 

 and under this raised portion was the shrine with some different sized images 

 of Buddha. At one end hung a large cotton pardha, with horizontal rows of 

 very well painted figures, about 8 inches high, illustrating their idea of the 

 earth and its inhabitants; near the lower edge there was one group inverted 

 and said to represent the people who lived below us, with their feet up- 

 wards ! The whole picture was in fair preservation, but from all I could 

 learn, not very old, and executed by a Shan from Burmah, who travelled on 

 to Bor Khampti. 



The houses of the people in the village were ranged more or less in 

 lines, and, though long, were parallel, leaving room enough for a road in 

 between each. They were invariably raised platforms with the Jengo roof 

 coming well down over the sides, an arched and rounded end in front, be- 

 yond which the platform always projected, so as to enable the people to 

 put things out in the sun and yet be safe from the inevitable pig ; it also 

 serves as a sort of semi-public reception place. It seems also a feature of 

 all Naga houses, though not seen among Singphiis. 



These houses run from 20 feet wide to 100 feet long, contain one 

 family, and, unless large, are often built or re-built in a remarkably short 

 time. While at Bor Phakial the Gdonburd's house was being re-built, and 

 he told me that it would be done in two days by the able-bodied men and 

 lads of the entire community, who during the erection are fed at the 

 owner's expense, — a custom which prevails more or less all over Eastern 

 Bengal, Assam, and the hills adjacent. 



Passing up the Dihing now again after an absence of several years, 

 I was struck with several changes. The Bapu, or Khampti yellow-robed 

 priest of Bor Phakial used to teach all the lads to read and write. He had 

 now gone to Burmah, might not return, and the boys could not all read. 

 Again, Nagas are now seen in numbers, and have boats, villages, and lands 

 on the Dihing, where there were formerly none. These people and the 

 Duanias, indeed, seem to be getting more mixed up as time goes on. 

 Kaiyas, or Marwari merchants, or their agents, are now seen at every place 

 of importance, they exchange opium, brass- ware, and cloths for ivory, 

 rubber, and such like. Indirectly, they have been the cause of the exter- 

 mination of the rubber-trees over large tracts ; the ready sale for ivory has 

 also added to the natural tendency among the Nagas to hunt and kill 

 elephants for the sake of their flesh. Not long ago eight elephants that 

 crossed tbe Patkai were so carefully watched and hunted that only one 

 escaped. 



There is now a great want of blacksmiths up the Dihing and, daos cost 

 double what they did in 1870, which is generally attributed to Govern- 



