ABORS AND GALONGS. 29 



yellow and black cloth seen in Balek the band of needle-work was an inch broad in 

 a diamond design of red, black and white, making a good imitation of the markings 

 on a snake's skin, although of course differing entirely in colour from any known 

 reptile, save possibly a chameleon on a tartan rug. 



The plain white cloths are still made of local cotton even in Balek. They are 

 ornamented with a band of really artistic needle-work in various colours, generally red 

 and blue, along the short edges. These cloths are used as shawls, or for carrying 

 children, or sometimes grain, but the ordinary upper garment is a second coloured 

 cloth wound round the body so as to cover the breasts. Loin-cloths for the 

 men are made either of material similar to the plain white cloth, or of vegetable 

 fibre. 



The cotton rugs are an inferior but by no means worthless imitation of the plains 

 Miri puri, and consist of two strips sewn together. They are used by the men as 

 blankets, or else they are cut into coats made on the model of those imported from 

 Tibet. 



In the northern portions of the Dihang valley the women wear white or black 

 cloths of local manufacture. These are made of cotton. 1 



It may be of interest to describe here by way of comparison the clothes worn by 

 the Chulikata and Bebijia Mishmis. The men of these septs in addition to Tibetan 

 woollen coats wear what can best be described as tabard-like garments of takin skin. 

 These are noteworthy as they seem to be the only garments that have been seen 

 with any semblance of shape. They are put together in accordance with the lie of 

 the takin hair and are shaped with some idea of cut. The Mishmi women weave 

 loin cloths for the men and skirts for themselves ; the cloth is generally dark blue 

 with a red or yellow line running through it. 2 



Amongst Abors and Galongs the headdress is only worn by the men, since the 

 women go bare-headed. It takes the form of a cane helmet which, primarily an 

 important feature of the warrior's equipment, is in common every-day use. Hats 

 made of mithan hide have been seen in the Galong country, but are not generally 

 worn. The he -met varies slightly in shape and considerably in ornamentation but 

 has the same general appearance, when divested of its trappings, throughout the 

 Abor and Galong hills. It can best be described as an almost brimless and distinctly 

 oval "' bowler." Made of successive rings of thin cane it is built up and bound 

 together with strips of fine cane woven vertically and so closely as to entirely cover 

 the ring foundation. The basketry is so fine that some of the helmets will hold 

 w r ater, and they are all so strongly made as to be sword-proof. The brim is invariably 

 encircled with a ring of stout cane and, in some clans, the upper part of the helmet 

 is further strengthened with broad rings and slips of the same material. In the 

 bravery of his headdress the Abor breaks away to some extent from the uniformity 

 that characterizes most of his clothing, equipment and personal possessions. Tufts 



i The cotton plant is found right up the Dihang valley. 



i Captain Bethell, to whom I am indebted for the description of the Mishmi cloth, tells me that it is similar to the 

 Tibetan military pattern. 



