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We spent yesterday afternoon in Kotsenyu - a typical Rengma village. All around it were fortifications, a outer and an inner stone wall rather like the bailey walls of a Norman castle, with the jungle cleared between. The walls are about six feet high and eight feet broad. They date from head-hunting days, for the Rengmas were often attacked by the Angamis, the most warlike and independent of the tribes, who are their neighbours to the south. But the walls had been newly repaired, gaps filled in with stone and a fresh layer of turf laid over the top. Bill, with his tongue in his cheek, asked the villagers why they had done this and they all looked at each other and grinned. Then one said,'To keep out the cows.' There was a silence and Bill asked, 'Angami cows?' There was a general nodding of heads. It is clear that the Rengmas are wondering whether the political changes will lead to disturbances and perhaps to the renewal of village feuds. Resillo, the Rengma interpreter went on, 'Under our British we have had sixty years of peace, but we do not know what will happen now.' |
