ABORS AND GALONGS. 23 



be said in favour of this method of crossing is that the traveller cannot possibly look 

 down. The Mishmis also build ordinary bamboo suspension bridges. The type of 

 bridge found up the Subansiri across the smaller tributaries was a flimsy bamboo struc- 

 ture resting on a trestle support. I was told that away in the north the people used 

 boats. The Daflas of course use rafts, and the statement undoubtedly referred to Tibet. 



The clans between the Dibang and the Subansiri fall into two main linguistic 



groups, 1 the larger and more easterly being the Abor, the second comprising the 



Linguistic Groups. Galong group. Galong is the name given by the Minyong 



Abors to all the tribes to the west of them. I have not been 

 able to find this word in Lorraine who, however, gives Dompo-la for Daflas. The 

 Galongs speak of the Minyongs asNinyongs. In each group there are slight differences 

 between the various dialects, Padam and Minyong for instance, but the members of 

 the various clans understand each other quite well. As regards the second group, 

 careful observation failed to discover (in the course of a short tour through the country) 

 more than two words that are different in Dobang and Memong. Cooked rice is apin 

 in Abor, achin in Dobang and ame in Memong. Fish is engo in Abor, gnoi in Dobang 

 and mene in Memong. 



Memongs and Dobangs appear to intermarry with comparative freedom, but 

 Tribal Relations avoid marriage with the Minyongs ; Pasis and Panggis 



and Minyongs appear to intermarry, and although Panggis 

 and Minyongs (on the Riga side at all events) appear to occupy themselves 

 in fitful hostilities, Rotung is half Panggi and half Minyong. All notes taken in the 

 Dihang valley require, however, further corroboration before safe conclusions on 

 manners and customs can be drawn. The Minyongs who have been carefully observed 

 have been either for the last 15 to 20 years isolated at Mishing, or belong to the 

 border colony of Ledum. Most of my other notes were collected on trek. 



The Chulikata and Bebijia Mishmis' 2 are hostile to the Padam Abors, who have 

 driven the Mishmis from their more western settlements in order to plant their own 

 colonies in the Sisseri valley. Abors and Galongs are not particularly friendly, nor 

 are the Galongs on good terms with the Daflas, on the right bank of the Subansiri. 

 A light is thrown on tribal conditions beyond the Subansiri by an invitation I was 

 given by a Subansiri Dafla Gam to lead an invading force against a turbulent commu- 

 nity of Daflas in the Ranga valley to the south-west, of which he wished to be rid. The 

 Subansiri Daflas appeared to be on excellent terms with the Apatanang people, to the 

 west of them. 



Mr. Coggin Brown, who accompanied Mr. Bentinck, I.C.S., to the furthest point 



1 The Abor clans are Tangain, Angong (or Bomo Janbo), Simong, Karko, Minyong, Panggi, Padam, Pasi. Occu- 

 pying what may be regarded as an indefinite position between Abor and Galong are the Boris. 



The Galong clans are Memong, Hangu-Bagra [?], Rolero, Karka, Dobang and Tadun. To these might be added the 

 Gachi, who live between the Tadun people and the Subansiri and are generally termed Ghasi Miris. The unvisited 

 Boka people might perhaps also be included in the Galong group. 



1 I am indebted to Captain G. A. Nevill, P.O. Western Section N.E.F., for the information that Bebejia and 

 Chulikatta (both Assamese names for the hillmen) are incorrectly used to designate two separate clans : they are sub- 

 divisions of the Midu clan. 



