250 S. B. Peal — Communal Barracks of Primitive Races. [No. 3, 



seen in every village, and Mr. J. F. Needham describes them in the 

 Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Soc, May 1886, as at times 240 

 feet long by 30 wide, with 24 fire places. These are not only the 

 guesfc and council houses, but among head-hunters are the guard-houses 

 in which " the single men warriors reside," and where " certain warriors 

 are told off daily, who keep a look out day and night." 



" The side walls are crammed with the heads of every description 

 of animal, and all down the centre of it, are to be seen the bows, 

 arrows, fishing gear, hats, spears, &c, of the warriors, on bamboo 

 trays. The " Mosup " is close to the entrance to the village and would 

 hold about 500 men." 



" The unmarried girls have apparently any amount of latitude 

 given to them," and are very fond of singing and dancing. In the 

 early dawn he was roused by yells throughout the village, and on 

 enquiry was told it was an order from the " Mosup " going round for a 

 general holiday next day, and that every man, woman and child was 

 to remain in, and not go to work in the " jhums." 



Among the Miri these communal buildings are called " De-ri," 

 aud there are (as among the Abors) several in each village. They are 

 not only the guest and council houses but the recognized sleeping 

 places for the unmarried young men and young women, boys and 

 girls, between whoni until marriage, as in all these cases, there are 

 no restrictions. 



As might naturally be expected, they are strictly tabu to the 

 married women. 



Among the Miris settled long in the plains, there is a very distinct 

 advance in individualism, and in small communities the " De-ri" is 

 declining into a boy's play house, though the freedom between the sexes, 

 in the unmarried state, is not curtailed, and may be called notorious. 



The great Naga communities whether savage head-hunters, or 

 peacefully inclined, present us with various forms of these communal 

 barracks. In some of the large eastern villages, as many as 10 or 12 

 for young men, and 4 or 5 for unmarried girls are found. As a rule 

 those for the young men, are guard houses, placed so as to cover the 

 entrances to the village. Each being manned by the lads and young 

 warriors of the adjacent section of the village, or "rnorong." 



Between the Diklm and Disang rivers among the tribes descended 

 from Sangloi, these barracks or guard houses are called " Pah," and 

 as there are probably an average of 6 to each of the 60 villages ; there 

 would be about 360 Pah on an area of some 600 square miles. 



In some tribes on this tract, there are no distinct houses or " Pah," 

 for unmarried girls, who sleep at home, and in Zu, the head village 



