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Konyak head-hunting status |
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Konyak and headhunter's status. |
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Mon-tha of Oting qualified for his face tattoo by going to Totok and engaging Sowa in a symbolic act of defiance to Sowa - the Ang morung of Oting went in a body - danced in Totok - were entertained by the Ang morung of Totok - the next day led back to the Dikku river - dancing - on the way crossed a stream descending from Sowa but did not trespass on Sowa territory - this expedition into 'enemy' country even though it did not involve a head qualified for tattoo - Sowa is enemy to Totok and Oting. 'We went to Sowa. We defeated them. We have come back'. |
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'Until we have the tattoo, no girl will look at us'. The administered villages take S.D.O's permission - and then go on expedition into uncontrolled villages - this qualifies for a tattoo. |
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Wangla got a share in the head brought back from Yongna - this enabled its young men to be tattooed. |
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You get the status a) by belonging to a morung which gets a head or a bit of one. b) by going on a formal expedition into enemy country. |
