The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf notebook eight

caption: mens dance and ritual
medium: notes
ethnicgroup: Konyak
location: Longkhai
date: 23.2.1937
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 4.10.1936-23.2.1937
note: [konyak] means text omitted
acquirer:
person: School of Oriental and African Studies Library, London
text: (191) About 5.30 the men dance in front of the Ang's house. They first dance in several groups, then in one big circle at the platform. At that time they sing: [konyak]. (192) The idea is that the Longkhai men shall set their foot on the neck of all these Angs, after each sentence the boys roar "ha-he!". Then they sing: [konyak]. (193) Then the old men of Ang clan and the Yemba stand in a circle round the bamboo pole and say: [konyak] "Hayang, taro well give, millet well give, fields well give, game, enemies heads bring!" In the meanwhile the young men run around the small circle of old men and shout: [konyak] "Fields taro well make, millet well give". Then the Yemba shouts: [konyak] "Enemies heads give, game give, enemies head give, food together come, give." The boys shout: He!