The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf notebook fourteen

caption: history of Shankok's family
medium: notes
person: Shankok
ethnicgroup: Konyak
location: Wakching
date: 24.5.1937
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 1.5.1937-3.6.1937
acquirer:
person: School of Oriental and African Studies Library, London
text: (120) Wakching 24/5/1937
text: Inf. Shankok
text: Weidzing (Khoknokhu), Shankok's father's younger brother's son, was engaged to Wanshum (Leunok, Bala), younger sister of Metlou. Weidzing's father gave to Wanshum's father first one spear and one ring of a brass gauntlet. To the man who brought the spear, Wanshum's people gave one chicken, (which they killed), one pot of rice and two chungas with madhu. Some months later, on the 5th day of the month, a clansman of Weidzing, whose (121) first wife was alive (a widower may not do it), brought ten layas, one big dao (of obsolete type), one big spear head (of obsolete type), and one big shield (used only for payments), to the house of Wanshum. He is entertained there but no gifts are given in exchange. That night all the Bala girls and all the clansmen of Wanshum assembled at her house and then all went to Weidzing's house. One girl, whose parents are both alive, is chosen and must first enter Weidzing's house. (122) The first stepping over the threshold is called "dang ghai mu" (threshold step female). One chicken is killed by Weidzing's people and the guests are entertained with rice and banana, vegetable and madhu. Wanshum eats first a little, then all the others eat. A clansman of Weidzing whose wife has not died, swings a chicken towards Wanshum and says: []. The whole ceremony is called "nauya-boi-bu".