ABORS AND GALONGS. 13 



of migration began to set definitely south into the narrow valleys nearer the 

 plains. The following examples illustrate this tendency. L,edum, a village of 

 52 houses (in 1911), is known to have existed on its present site prior to 1820. The 

 best local evidence obtainable, evidence that on other matters has been proved to be 

 reliable, stated that Ledum migrated from Yemsing, and that Yemsing came from 

 Pangin. Pangin is stated to have been a colony of Karko. Mishing is a 20-year 

 old offshoot of Kebang, and the village of Dosing (Dobang name Sidaw) broke off 

 10 years ago from Yemsing. These colonists all came over the 6000 ft. range that 

 walls off the Abor country proper from Assam, but, as a general rule, Abor migrations 

 have followed the waterways. 



Kebang appears to have come down from Riu, and from the fact that, as a large 

 and flourishing community, it entered into hostilities with Riga three generations 

 back, was certainly in existence over a hundred years ago. Rotung, Babuk, and Kalek 

 are all recent, or comparatively recent, offshoots from Kebang. Rotung is partly 

 Panggi Abor. To this gravitation towards the south there exist two known excep- 

 tions. Simong, influenced no doubt by tribal conditions, has sent its colonists north- 

 ward. The other exception is furnished by Bomo-Janbo. 1 



Minyong evidence, that is to some extent corroborated, declares that the Abors 

 originally came from a place called Telilidung, in what is described as the Bori country. 

 The legend is recorded that here the Abors and all creation sprang from a rock that 

 may be seen to this day, with the foot prints of the new-born creation impressed upon 

 it. According to the Pasi mirii of Roi-ing the Pasis have an almost similar legend, 

 calling the stone of creation Kililitung. From the Bori country the Minyongs are 

 said to have migrated South founding Pangkang and then Riga, and spreading west- 

 ward to the villages of Jamoh and Pai-um. Pai-um is a village still in existence on 

 the left bank of the Siyom, and corresponds to the position indicated by my inform- 

 ant, namely two days' journey west of Riga. Since then the Minyongs have gradually 

 crept down the main valley. 



The Pasial group of villages to the west of the gorge above Pasighat is made up 

 of Pasis and of Minyongs (chiefly of Riu origin). The migration of the Pasis according 

 to one of their own miriis is as follows. The clan originally came from the banks of 

 the Siring river. From there the Pasis have wandered slowly south, from Ringong z 

 to Simong, thence to the village of Yamne, somewhere near the head- waters of the 

 Yamne river From there they went to Pasi, the place that gives its name to the 

 people of the Balek Pasial community. Five generations ago Pasi colonists came 

 down through Sipang [Sibang, or Sipong stream ?] and, crossing the Dihang, settled 

 on the southern slopes of Bapu hill. They were shortly followed by Minyong settlers. 3 



1 In 1913 Bomdo and its allied villages were visited. Bomdo and Janbo are the oldest communities, the other villages 

 up to Tuting being colonized from the parent villages further south. It is conjectured that the " Angong ' ' Abors (if 

 not other clans of this people) came down the Sirapateng (Sigon) over the pass at the head of this river, and then colo- 

 nized up the main valley until checked by pressure from the Membas who rather more than 100 years ago entered the 

 eountry very possibly by the Doshung la. 



2 Siring is too common a name for a stream to be traceable. The Angong Abors told me that their parent village, 

 now deserted, was Ringong on the river of that name. 



3 There are Pasis of four different septs settled in Riu. 



