| caption: |
customs of widow at head taking |
| text: |
Ahon, who had come from Shiong, confirmed the custom that when an enemy head is brought home in retaliation for a captured head, the widow of the now avenged man gouges out the eyes of the head with the blunt end of her husband's spear and accompanies that with a hate song. (notebook 3 p. 34). This is a general custom which also prevails in Wakching. (176) The widow wears her husband's hat and brandishes his dao. She also dances in some villages such as Kamahu, Yungya and Tangsa. |
