The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf Naga diary on his return to Nagaland, 1970

caption: tea with a missionary
medium: diaries
person: Bower/ Etna
ethnicgroup: Zemi
location: Laisong
date: 16.8.1970
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 12.8.1970-9.9.1970
acquirer:
person: private collection
text: Then I noticed an Indian woman in a white sari, and I remember that I had been told of a Miss Etna Bower, who worked at Laisong as a missionary of the Presbyterian mission. She asked us to have a cup of tea and told us about the Zemi whom she likes very much. She said a few Christians remained in the old village, but they had little social contact with their pagan kinsmen. For they could not attend any rites and feasts and not eat of sacrificial meat. We were offered a cup of tea, and then moved on down a very steep path through fields. Came finally to a bridge consisting of a single pole, mercifully with two flimsy railings. Fortunately the drop is not very deep.