The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf, Naga notebook six

caption: tactics and organization of head hunting
medium: notes
ethnicgroup: Konyak
location: Wakching
date: 2.9.1936
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 28.8.1936-26.10.1936
refnum: School of Oriental and African Studies Library, London
text: (61) In the old times at war there were two or three commanders, men expert in war, and if the others didn't obey them they hit them with the flat side of the dao.
text: In a head-hunting party there were normally three of these leaders, but one was the commander in chief.
text: They fought in three parties, first 1 attacked, if they were defeated 2 helped them.
text: (62) There are guards for the villages in the morungs, but sometimes the enemies could secretly come into the village.
text: If they want to attack a whole village they ring it at night and try to get in at break of dawn.