484 
They cultivate partly by irrigation, partly by “jhum.” For the first 
the hill-side is terraced for hundreds of feet; the height and breadth of 
terrace vary with the slope ; the necessary water-channels are skilfully 
engineered, often along the face of steep cliffs and across narrow ravines. 
In the valleys near the central range immense detrital deposits occur ; the 
angularity of the component blocks and their proximity to their source 
seem to mark these as denudative ; at the same time the size of the 
boulders, and especially the facies of the whole, almost leave it an open 
question whether they are not glaciaU). Where these exist the stones are 
used to revet the terraces and miles of hill side may be seen so retained 
through 1000 feet of elevation, each wall averaging a metre in height 
while few terraces are as much as two metres wide. The skill and labour 
implied it is hard to estimate justly. But revetment is no necessary 
feature ; in valleys where there is no deposit the retaining walls are only 
earth. The “jhums” are mainly grass lands formerly cultivated. Virgin 
forest is not extensively cleared for new cultivation because the whole 
zone which they care to till has already been absorbed. In no case does 
the Angami commit the wanton destruction done by so many similar tribes. 
He is restrained mainly by his fixity of abode and by the soil which he 
does till being fairly good. The part to be cropped is cleared in spring 
by the “dhao”—when the jungle is dry it is fired. Not being virgin forest 
there are no tall trees in their “jhums”, but certain kinds,—notably an 
alder 2)_are left as pollards to yield firewood. The irrigated land is tilled 
from year to year ; “jhums” on the contrary are usually only cropped for 
two seasons, then allowed to rest for several years. Cultivation is a public 
duty. At intervals of about seven years the village decides to let a whole 
section lie fallow for a season. This obviates the necessity of repairing 
the irrigation system which supplies a set of fields for the sake of a few. 
Any one however may choose to leave his fields untilled for one year 
and cannot be compelled to grow his crops during the next, but after that, 
if illness or idleness prevent him from overtaking the work, his village insists 
on the fields being let. Should the owner be contumacious the village 
council sells the fields for what they will bring and hands him the price. 
It is usual in cases of illness for the owner to ask his friends 
1) See Godwin-Austen : Jour. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. XLIV, p. 52 (1875), p. 209, 
and Oldham ; Memoirs of Geol. Survey of India, vol, XIX (1883), art. 4, for a full 
account of the opposing theories. 
3) Alnus nepalensU, 
M 
