46 GEORGE D-S-DUNBAR ON 



this most useful plant supply the prawn-fisherman's rod, line, cast and hook, together 

 with his landing net and creel, but is also used by the Abors for wrapping up the rations 

 of rice (or dry millet seed for apong) that he carries in his ruksack. The stalk 

 and central fibre of a ko-i leaf acts as rod, line and cast, or rather casts, for the 

 sport is not altogether innocent of poaching methods and three or four baits 

 are used. To each cast a larva is tied with a slip knot. The baited line is sunk 

 into a likely pool and presently the prawns are tempted out of their lairs to feed 

 upon the fat white larvae. The idea is to land them into a ko-i leaf held, as net and 

 basket combined, in the left hand. The prawns become rather shy when they find 

 themselves lifted from the bottom of the pool to the surface and into the air. Bye 

 and hand (more especially letting one's left hand know what the right hand doeth) 

 must work together to make a good basket and create, for after days, memories of an 

 \bor hill-stream that may vie (very nearly) with remembrances of a boat — or, as it cer- 

 tainly seemed then, a trireme — and a lightly-hooked loch trout. 



Before a party goes out lots are cast with stones to see whether the expedition is likely 

 to be successful. If the omens are clearly unfavourable the trip is postponed. Thirty- 

 six small stones are shaken in the hand and breathed upon, during which the nature of 

 the omen is kept clearly in mind. The handful of stones is then run out into three 

 heaps A, B,C, and from these heaps, which should be more or less equal in size, pairs of 

 stones are taken until I, 2 or 3 stones remain in each heap. The "rubbish heap" is 

 then picked up and another line of three heaps D, E , F, made under the first. These are 

 reduced to 1, 2 and 3 stones as before. One or two, but not three, stones may be 

 left at A, C or F. Sometimes three rows are made, sometimes only two, the procedure 

 varies in different villages. A represents the object heap, and this is governed favour- 

 ably or unfavourably by combinations of the other heaps, generally in pairs BE, CF\ 

 For a favourable hunting omen one stone at A, which represents the quarry, appears to 

 be essential for success ; the appearance of two stones at A and three at D is the most 

 unfavourable omen, so unfavourable that when it appeared I was told it would be far 

 better to stay at home. Groups of similar numbers of stones at BE, CF give favour- 

 able omens. 



When the hill-men go away from home, especially upon a foray or hunting expedi- 

 tion, it is believed that ill-fortune will come if apong is brewed, or game (Lorraine men- 

 tions fish) is cooked by the women of the household during the absence of the party 

 This is an interesting parallel to the tabooed acts given by Frazer, 1 prohibiting the wife 

 from eating flesh during the absence of her husband. Ill luck is warded off, that is to 

 say the spirit of evil fortune is driven away, just as the spirit of ill health is some- 

 times exorcised, by waving about branches of a tree. This, I have been told, need not 

 necessarily be performed by a mivil. 



It is the defences, or the lack of them, set up by the Frontier tribes, whether it 



be the sangars and walled strongholds of the Pathan or 



Warfare. ° b 



the stockades of the Nagas, that proclaim the warlike or 



l Golden Bough, Part II, 191 1 Edition, Ch, IV, Section 6. 



