58 GEORGE D-S-DUNBAR ON 



agree with the varying practices of neighbouring clans in the Naga Hills. The time 

 during which the mother has to perform purification ceremonies appears to vary from 

 5 to 6 days amongst the Abors ; the Mishmi period is ten days. On its termination 

 the woman may make an offering of a fowl. On the day the child is born a feast is 

 given to the children of the village if the parents can afford it. The mother may 

 not touch the fire-place, or cook, for three days after the birth of her child. The father 

 names the children as a rule, but it is permissible for the mother to do so. The 

 name is called when the umbilical cord is cut. I have seen no dwarfs, giants or defor- 

 mities in the country, other than two well-developed women dwarfs at Meybo. 



The Karka tribe habitually sell their children as slaves, but amongst the more 



easterly Galongs and amongst the Abors, family affection is 

 very strong. The father, whether out on the hill or within 

 the precints of the village, takes his turn at minding the baby, a duty he performs with 

 remarkable tenderness and care. As in other parts of the world very small girls look 

 after and carry about still more diminutive brothers and sisters, occasionally 

 straddling them on the hip but usually carrying them pickaback, in the cloth they 

 wind round the upper part of their bodies. Boys are not specially given any religious 

 teaching ; amongst the foot-hill Minyongs at all events, they pick up as much as it 

 is necessary for them to know from watching the various ceremonies. When a boy is 

 about 9 or io years old his father tells him about the past history of his people, teaching 

 him a little at a time and not telling him more until the previous lesson is word perfect. 

 In this way a knowledge of their ancestry that would otherwise be lost is kept alive 

 in the tribes. It is regretted that cat's cradle, familiar to the Balek Abors as alak 

 budi, was not tried amongst the more remote villages. Knot tricks are known and the 

 children play knuckle bones with pebbles. In addition to bamboo spears and swords 

 and toy bows and arrows the children make pop-guns with a pithed stick as the tube 

 atid half a berry as the pellet. In times of sickness they make little bamboo merangs 

 and idols in imitation of those made by their parents, but, apart from these, 

 no toys have been noticed. The children play at soldiers, not at all after the " Red 

 Indian" tactics that one would expect, but in the swashbuckling manner of the 

 mummer cast for the part of St. George of Merrie England. 



Although morality, according to European standards, is distinctly easy, and 

 ,, ... , _ .. , T becomes startlingly lax towards the north, married people 



Morality and Tribal I v aw. & J ' " * > 



especially so far as the wives are concerned, remain very 

 faithful to each other. Adultery is rare, though not, of course, unknown. Both 

 amongst the Galongs and the Abors discrimination is shewn in awarding punishment 

 for this offence. If the man who is guilty pestered and tempted the woman he is held 

 to blame and is heavily fined in live stock and dankis or perhaps other valuables, the 

 injured husband receiving the " damages." If the offender is too poor to pay a 

 suitable fine he is sold into slavery. If, on the other hand, the weight of guilt lies on the 

 woman she is barbarously punished in a quite unmentionable manner in front of the 

 whole village or, as I was informed by a Galong informant, severely beaten and placed 

 in a position of permanent servitude. In cases of habitual adultery the guilty party, 



