The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf, Naga diary two

caption: menhirs to commemorate feast near Kongan
medium: diaries
person: We-an
location: Kongan
date: 29.9.1936
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 2.6.1936-11.7.1937
note: translated from german by Dr Ruth Barnes
acquirer:
person: School of Oriental and African Studies Library, London
text: A few steps further on two small menhir stand to the left and right of the path. We-an says that they were put up a long time ago by a very rich man who had no children for himself and for his wife. His name is forgotten but it is still remembered that for the occasion buffalo, cattle and pigs were killed and that he was host to the entire village. In the old days a buffaloe's leg tendons were first cut by the young men. After long singing and dancing it then was finally killed by an old man who thrust a spear into the animal's chest.