614 Notes on Northern Cachar. [No. 7. 



and some may have half a necklace of the precious stone. In 

 dancing, both men and women wear heaps of ornaments chiefly 

 composed of shells. With the exception of a little cloth, tied round 

 the waist, the end of which hangs over in front and covers the 

 private parts, the Nagas go quite naked,, nor do they feel any shame 

 at the exposure of members which civilization requires to be con- 

 cealed. The women, wear a wrapper over their thighs which extends 

 from below the navel to the knee. Married women leave their 

 bosoms uncovered, but virgins have another cloth tightly tied round 

 their breasts. Both sexes protect themselves from the cold by a 

 loose cloth thrown over their bodies like a blanket. Neither the 

 men nor women wear any sort of head dress. The women who are 

 married wear long hair plaited, and knotted at the back, or some- 

 times flowing naturally over the shoulders. The unmarried women 

 have their hair cut off their face in a square fashion, and brushed 

 down upon the forehead, nearly to the eyebrows. The men cut 

 their hair short (shaving a little at the forehead and sides) and train 

 it to stand erect. As a general rule there is not the slightest 

 appearance of hair, either on cheek, chin or upper lip, and a good 

 long beard is always an object of curiosity to the Nagas, when met 

 with in others. The Nagas, both men and women, bore their ears 

 but not their noses, their earrings chiefly consist of brass- wire rings. 

 But they are very fond of flowers and often place them in their ears, 

 so also will they place any coloured piece of paper or cloth, and the 

 blue beetle wing or even a blade or two of green grass or leaves. 



Marriage among them is a simple contract entered into between 

 the man and woman or their families ; the family of the bride being 

 presented with cows, pigs, fowls or drink according to the means of 

 the other party. There is no ceremony performed except the giving 

 of a grand feast to the whole village, who in return build a house 

 for the newly married couple. In some cases a long betrothal 

 precedes the marriage, but no positive necessity exists for this 

 custom, and it can always be dispensed with. The Nagas are not 

 permitted to marry, until they have attained a certain age, and are 

 able to set up house on their own account. 



In his choice of a helpmate neither the beauty of form nor face 

 is much taken into consideration by the bridegroom, physical strength 



