ABORS AND GALONGS. 59 



whether Abor or Galong, is sold into slavery. Mishmi customs appear to be rather 

 similar. Adultery amongst the Abors and Galongs is not apparently punishable with 

 death, but I have been told that the Subansiri D atlas, on discovering a case of illicit 

 intercourse between a slave and free girl, have been known to drive a stake through 

 his body and throw him into the river. This statement has received no support and 

 cannot be relied upon. Divorce, save in the case given above where the wife is sold 

 as a slave, is apparently unknown : for if a woman is going to be barren the fact will 

 be ascertained during the lengthy engagement, which the suitor can break off. The 

 eldest son inherits two- thirds of the property, and the youngest son one-third ; the 

 other sons are left nothing, and may have to depend for their livelihood on the heirs, 

 who are considered under an obligation to allot them a portion of the fields, etc. Personal 

 property is not, however, given away in this manner. Daughters inherit nothing. If 

 there are no sons the nearest male relative is considered to be the heir. He, conse- 

 quently, performs the funeral ceremony. It has been gathered that the widow is 

 taken over by the heir together with the property inherited ; widows, therefore, 

 become as a rule drudges in their husband's family. 



Affirmation is made by pointing to the sky and stamping on the ground, thus call- 

 ing both elements to witness. To eat earth and point to the sun, and declare that 

 "the earth may swallow me and the sun may burn me if I lie" is a customary form of 

 oath. Solemn oath is taken by swearing by the sun and the earth, whilst holding 

 the horn of a mithan, adding ' ' May this animal's horn pierce me if I am false." 



Ordeals are not uncommon amongst the Abors. They are held between accuser 

 and accused and not necessarily in the face of the whole congregation. The test is to 

 get an egg out of a " chunga ' ' of water boiling on the fire. A screen may be used to 

 guard the face. If the accused is guilty his hand is scalded, if innocent his hand is 

 uninjured. There are recognized places where ordeals are held outside the villages, 

 generally on the top of a spur. 



In the Abor and Galong country if a man commits murder the tribal law apparently 

 imposes a heavy fine which is made over to the relations of the murdered man as 

 compensation. If he is too poor to pay the fine he is sold into slavery. Amongst 

 the Mishmis, certainly among the more primitive Bebijia and Chulikata (whose 

 personal property is generally of the slightest) the " life for a life " idea of justice, 

 with its consequent Pathan-like blood-feuds, is dominant. I have gathered in the 

 course of enquiry that the Abor is less inclined to adopt this form of justice ; one, 

 possibly, of the village feuds that have come to light, might be attributed to the com- 

 munity as a whole taking up the cause of one murdered man. 



If a man is caught cattle-lifting he is fined in mithan, proportionately to the num- 

 ber he stole, or attempted to steal. If he is unable to pay up this at once he is, 

 according to Galong custom, kept a prisoner until the fine is paid or, if it is not paid, 

 for about 10 years. An Along man who was a prisoner in Kombong for cattle stealing 

 had his foot thrust into a moveable stock ; the short log (which looked like a dhan 

 pounder with a hole through it) was fastened to the prisoner's wrist by a rope. The 

 hill tribes all seem to keep their prisoners in a similar way. If the thief is not caught 



