ABORS A^D GALONGS. 27 



whilst the tattooing is being done. Rice, fish, salt and a little relish is the proper diet, 

 and water may be drunk sparingly. These precautions are taken to prevent fever. 1 

 The method of tattooing was described to me as follows : — A bet stalk is stripped 

 of all its thorns save one and this is held to the skin and tapped with a piece of 

 stick. Charcoal powder is worked into the holes thus made, forming the design in 

 lightish blue lines. The blue colour of the tattoo marks appears to have given rise 

 to the impression that indigo is used, but so far as it has been possible to ascertain 

 only charcoal is employed by the tattooist. It is said to last a lifetime. 



There is no special tattooist, but some one skilled in the art is generally to be 

 found in every village. Men tattooists operate on the women, and for this reason 

 the breast is tattooed by the Minyongs before the girls are developed. Payment is 

 made in rice, the equivalent to a 4 annas being given for each sitting. All girls who 

 have been tattooed give a day's labour in the fields to the tattooist. 4 



The ears are pierced 3 when children are several years old. Formerly this was 

 , , done, in the case of both sexes, five or six days after birth. 



Other personal Adornment. ' ' 



Men as well as women wear ear ornaments of cane or 

 metal. 



Cicatrisation is unknown, and circumcision is not practised.* 

 The Abors do not paint their bodies, but the girls have been seen with their 

 cheeks smeared with lime. The reason almost invariably given for this practice is 

 that the lime (acting as a counter irritant) is a cure for a boil or a sore in the mouth. 

 That this cure is actually used is highly probable, but on the other hand the 

 practice has been observed only on high days or when a dance is being held, and the 

 lime is always symmetrically daubed on both cheeks. Moreover it has only been 

 noticed on growing girls. It has been stated by one Abor that the white streaks of 

 lime are to proclaim the fact that the girl is of marriageable age. 



Although not involving an operation, the Galong habit of encircling the legs of 

 their women with tight anklets must be an irksome and in some cases a painful 

 custom for the wearer. The anklets, which are generally of brass, are none too 

 loose for the children when first they put them on. They are not afterwards removed 

 except as a sign of disgrace, so the discomfort they cause is willingly borne, but the 

 legs of many of the Tadun and Dobang women are hideously misshapen in conse- 

 quence. This practice is not however universally observed amongst these two clans. 

 The Minyong women wear woven anklets of black cane, which are about four inches 

 long shaped to the leg and, being comparatively loose, do not interfere with the 

 natural curves of their lower limbs. 



1 These observations, together with details regarding the payment of the tattoer which I have embodied, were 

 recorded in some notes shown to me by Mr. Furze, A. P.O., Pasighat; they appeared to be in the handwriting of the late 

 Mr. Noel Williamson, A.P O. , Sadiya. Mr. Williamson stated that it takes three years to complete the designs. 



* From a note by the late Mr. Noel Williamson. 

 3 Pasi evidence. 



* Karko Abors have a custom of fastening up the penis to the waistband with a strand of fibrous grass tied round 

 the prepuce. This practice is followed by certain of the Panggi villages. 



