1884.] Major Macgregor — Notes on the Alms. 203 



consists of cane hats like those worn by the Daphlas, or rough felt skull 

 caps similar to those used by the Bhutias. Occasionally a three-decked 

 cane hat, like those used in Thibet, is worn ; but the use of this hat is, 

 I believe, confined to the Chiefs. Ear-rings and beads, of which the 

 Akas (in common with all the tribes on the north-east frontier) are 

 inordinately fond, complete the costume. A hamarband in which a 

 sword is placed, is usually part of the dress. The women are decently 

 clad, generally in Eria silk clothes ; they wear necklaces of beads, and 

 some of them carry about egg-shaped silver cases obtained from Bhutan. 

 These silver ornaments are much valued, and worn only by the wives of 

 Chiefs. 



The principal weapon of the Aka is a long sword, the blade being 

 4 feet long and handle about 4 inches. Near the hilt the sword is not 

 sharpened, and often a piece of cloth is folded round, so as to enable the 

 owner to use the sword in a two-handed fashion, and in this way the 

 weapon is generally used. The bow and arrows constitute, however, 

 the most effective weapon of the Akas ; the bow is an ordinary one (I 

 did not observe any cross bows), the arrows, some of which have iron 

 barbs, are usually poisoned with aconite ; the aconite is mixed up with 

 some kind of adhesive substance, and stuck on to the arrow head. The 

 poison is obtained from the Mijis, who get it from the higher ranges 

 behind them. I was informed by an Aka that it was expensive, a pig 

 being usually the price of a very small piece. Immediately a wound is 

 received, it should be well scoured out with a knife, well washed with 

 water, and if the wound is in a limb, a bandage should be tightly tied 

 above ; stimulants should also be given to the wounded man. Some 

 Gurkhas used the bark of a tree, which they first chewed into a pulp. 

 When a man was hit, some of this pulp was given to the man to chew 

 and some forced into the wound. The bark had a smell like lemon. I 

 saw this used in two cases, one of which was fatal and in the other the 

 wounded man recovered — the recovery was, I think, due to the skilful 

 treatment of the wounded man by the surgeon and not to the supposed 

 antidote. I only mention the use of this bark as an antidote believed in 

 by the Gurkhas, as any information bearing on the subject may be 

 useful. 



The Akas possessed a few old muskets and a few guns, which they 

 had looted from Balipara (these were, however, all given up before the 

 expedition left the hills) . 



" Panjis " (sharp pointed pieces of bamboo hardened by being half 

 burnt) are placed in the ground to retard the advance or stay the pur- 

 suit of an enemy. They are very good obstacles against men who are 

 not well booted. A collection of rocks placed upon a kind of scaffolding 



