314 J. Butler — Rough Notes on the Angdmi Ndgds. [jSTo. 4, 



scotched, not killed. And the further measures which it may yet he found 

 necessary to take with regard to the management of the tribes inhabiting 

 this frontier, form an anxious problem of the future into which it is needless 

 my attempting to pry. We must simply watch the " signs of the times" 

 and move with them, being content to know that a powerful Government 

 is in the meanwhile ready to act as circumstances arise, and as the dictates 

 of a true policy direct, confident that the wisdom with which so vast and 

 heterogeneous a mass of nations has been governed elsewhere throughout 

 the length and breadth of India, will also guide us safely through the 

 shoals with which our administration is beset here, finally landing us in 

 that safe haven, a well-governed peaceful country, to which we have every 

 reason to look forward most hopefully. 



Chapter II. 

 Government, Religion, and Manners. 



From what I have stated, it will doubtless have already been gathered 

 that the Angamis have no regular settled form of government. With 

 them might is right, and this is the only form of law — or rather the absence 

 of all law — heretofore recognised among them. Every man follows the 

 dictates of his own will, a form of the purest democracy which it is very diffi- 

 cult indeed to conceive as existing even for a single day ; and yet that 

 it does exist here, is an undeniable fact. In every village we find a num- 

 ber of headmen or chiefs, termed P e u m a s, who generally manage to 

 arbitrate between litigants. The Nagas being a simple race, their quarrels 

 are generally of a description easily settled, especially as owing to the 

 fearful effects following a feud once started, they are chary of drawing 

 first blood, and yet at times the most petty quarrel developes into a most 

 serious feud. The actual authority exercised by these Peumas, who are 

 men noted for their personal prowess in war, skill in diplomacy, powers 

 of oratory, or wealth in cattle and land, is, however, all but nominal, 

 and thus their orders are obeyed so far only, as they may happen to 

 be in accord with the wishes of the community at large, and even 

 then, the minority will not hold themselves bound in any way by 

 the wishes or acts of the majority. The Naga Peuma is, in fact, simply 

 primus inter pares, and often that only pro tern. The title, if such it 

 may be called, is indeed really one of pure courtesy, and depends entire- 

 ly upon the wealth, standing, and personal qualities of the individual 

 himself. Theoretically, with the Angami, every man is his own master, 

 and avenges his own quarrel. Blood once shed can never be expiated, ex- 

 cept by the death of the murderer, or some of his near relatives, and 

 although years may pass away, vengeance will assuredly be taken some 



