477 
The style of hair is sometimes, but not always, distinctive of different 
villages; a good deal of individuality is displayed in the matter. 
Angami villages occupy the crests of ridges usually at an elevation of 
about 5000 feet. They are strongly fortified by stone walls, and ditches are 
cut if need be to check attacks along the ridge. Stone outworks and mono¬ 
liths to screen defenders guard all the approaches, which consist of paths 
led directly up the spurs and present great natural difficulties. The easiest 
ascent to the fortress of Konoma, for instance, is that from the valley to 
the west, and it consists of an unbroken staircase with 912 steps. Close 
to the villages the paths are converted into covered ways by hedges of 
prickly spurge^) ; the walls themselves are screened by a tangled jungle, 
the basis of which is a violent stinging nettle^) and a prickly palm^). The 
passages through the walls are along ditches 2' metres in depth, guarded 
by great doors, each a single plank, ornamented with rude reliefs of the 
heads of buffaloes and men, the latter rendered more realistic from having 
two rows of teeth taken from slain enemies. Sentries are always on guard 
here by night ; if the village be at feud, or if epidemics are raging in the 
hills, by day also. In time of war the paths for miles are studded with 
pitfalls and bristle with “ pangies,”—small bamboo stakes, with ends 
sharpened and hardened by fire, stuck in the grass beside the narrow path 
and sloped to receive on the point the foot of an advancing enemy, on 
whom they inflict disabling and often dangerous wounds. These village 
sites are always strong against direct attacks, but often capable of being 
turned, and usually commanded by some neighbouring height. Most 
communities contain several clans, inhabiting distinct parts of the village 
separated by deep ditches, along which sentries are placed during civil 
fends, or when epidemics prevail in the village. The houses are not, as 
with many Tibeto-Burman tribes, raised on platforms. The walls are huge 
wooden planks, the ridge-pole and rafters, small trees ; the thatch, grass 
and bamboo. For security against the April gales the eaves almost reach 
the ground. All the parts are bound together with canes. Sometimes the 
houses are placed in two irregular rows, the street between being the 
common receptacle of the village filth ; usually they are placed anyhow,- 
one end abutting on the hill while the entrance is by the other. Houses 
1 ) Euphorbia antiquorum. 
2 ) Girardinia heterophylla. 
3 ) Plectocomia assamica. 
7 
