The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript notes made by W.G. Archer between 1946 & 1948, and miscellaneous papers and letters

caption: Sangtam morungs (kuying)
medium: notes
ethnicgroup: Sangtam
production:
person: Archer/ W.G.
date: 1946-1948
refnum: 5:26
text: Morung. At times of war when menace from enemies - Kuying (morungs) are built - they are guard houses - all the youth sleep there - sentries posted day and night - guard relieved - a roster. Enemy heads not taken there - on marriage leave the guard house. As soon as war stopped, the Kuying is abandoned - its sole aim is military - not the base for village organisation or age groups.
text: Unmarried girls sleep in their parents' houses - bachelors go about in groups of 4-5 - sleep in granaries, spare houses - but not at home. Sangtams say 'We and the Yimchungr are the same - All our customs are the same'.