1872.] 
19 
S. E. Peal — Visit to the Nag a Hills. 
The palaver continuing we retired to where a part of the hall had been 
partitioned off for us by mat walls, under cover of a remark we heard that 
if there was much talk, a Sahib’s head ached. We now enjoyed a little peace, 
a biscuit, and a cigar, in more privacy. A deputation soon after came in to 
urge the gun case, but we ordered them out, in a mixed dialect, saying that 
Sahibs were not in the habit of paying taxes this way, and if they only want- 
ed our presents, we should return at once. This had the desired effect. A 
procession now came up the house, headed by a Khunsai and the Rajah’s 
brother, the former beating a little gong, which was laid before us as the 
present from his Royal Highness, together with a couple of young goats ; but 
we had been so worried, that we told our people privately, if possible, to 
forget them when coming away. 
A visit to the houses of the chief brothers was next suggested, and we 
started off on a tour. They were all much alike, though smaller than the first : 
an audience end, open and with trophies of the chase and poison, then a 
series of the cattle pens as before mentioned, on each side of a dark passage, 
and a room at the other end for dhan-husking with its ural. The floor 
in all rose as we went on, the first portion being a cliang raised on 
posts, and matted. We saw here some Abor women or girls, wives of the 
owners, one of whom, we were told, had cost five buffaloes, and was the daughter 
of an Abor Rajah. They seemed far more sprightly and intelligent and 
good looking than Naganls, and could, we thought, understand us far 
better too ; whether they were exceptional cases, I cannot say. They wore 
the hair in a long queue, tied up with beads and wire, and in many 
cases it was long, not cropped at all, as is common among RTfigSnis. 
Costume as usual was at a discount, and as is often said “ a pocket handkerchief 
would make four suits yet with all this, I doubt if we could beat 
them in either real modesty or morals, and this applies to Naganls 
too. 
The Morrang (dead house) , or place where the skulls taken in their wars 
are put, was next visited. It also contained the great drum cut out of a tree 
stem and hollowed like a boat. I had reason to think that they might have 
scruples to take us in, and as I had often tried to get a skull, I did not shew 
my interest in it outwardly. Roughly estimated, there were about 350 skulls. 
About half of them hung up by a string through a hole in the crown and in 
the open gable end, the other half lying hi a heap on the ground. No lower 
jaws to be seen, nor hands and feet, as I had expected. The latter are always 
cut off with the head when a man is killed, and confer another kind of ‘ ak’ 
or decoration. None seemed fractured by a dh&o, and a large number were 
of young people, or children, being small and smooth. 
We were conscious of being face to face with the great cause of this 
tribal isolation, constant warfare, evidently a custom of great antiquity. 
