The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf, Naga diary three

caption: simulated head taking by Shiong
medium: diaries
person: Yongem
ethnicgroup: Konyak
location: Shiong
date: 20.12.1936
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 28.11.1936-11.2.1937
note: translated from german by Dr Ruth Barnes
acquirer:
person: School of Oriental and African Studies Library, London
text: Finally Yongem came back. Ahon now split a reed and stuck the piece of head into the slit, then we went on. Coming around a corner we see the young Shiong warriors as they crouch along the path as though waylaying an enemy. Now Ahon pushed the reed with the head into the ground and I found a place from where I had a good view of the action. Protected by their shields the Shiong people now sneak up to the head which at the moment appears as the actual enemy to them. Close enough they suddenly jumped up and with screams rushed upon the innocent reed