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Boundary disputes between Tehephema and Nahatomi, and Satoi and Hokiya; Hokiya takes oath regarding ownership |
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I went into the land dispute between Tehephema and Nahatomi and Satoi and Hokiya. The case was first dealt with by me in November, 1917 (see Tour Diary) when from Satoi village I fixed upon the ridge called Lohatomozu as the boundary between Satoi and Nahatomi as far as that called Athumzo (Political case No. 12 of 1918) under the orders recorded in the case Satoi was to pay Rs.40/- for some land that had already been cut by Nahatomi and Tehephema on the Satoi side of the ridge. Mr. Barnes realized Rs.30/- of which Rs.25/- was to be paid to Nahatomi and 5/- to Tehephema. Not realizing that Rs. 5/- was only part of the amount they were to get Tehephema refused to accept it and the amount is still in deposit. At the time of dealing with the case at Satoi I specifically said that no boundary was at present required further down the ridge than Athumzo and when it became necessary I would lay one. In 1919 (December) Mr. Cantlie went to Satoi and slightly modified my orders and ordered the Chipoketama Muharrir to lay a fresh boundary. It is quite clear that this was never done and, as the Muharrir said to me, "if I had done it no one would have obeyed it, as I am not a Dobashi, and probably I should have got into trouble afterwards for interfering in politics." The Angamis were apparently never informed by Mr. Cantlie that he was laying any boundary at all. |
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Meanwhile the case has been complicated by a decision of two dobashis (both since sacked for corruption) by which Hokiya was allowed to take oath that the whole of the east side of the range belonged to him, and to get the land, on the grounds that Tehephema and Nahatomi had never gone and jhumed there. This was of course absurd as Hokiya himself has never gone and jhumed there either and the decision is most inexpedient as well as unjust, but the matter is greatly complicated by the fact that an oath has been taken and that the Angami villages agreed to hear it, though they say that they did so only because the dobashis frightened them into doing so. I have put all this on record here so as to have a convenient history of the case and will pass final orders after seeing the record of the case decided by the dobashis in Kohima. Meanwhile I have ordered Hokiya not to cultivate or cut wood across the Tsurru stream which runs down the foot of the eastern slope of the range in question. |
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This range is very steep and in places precipitous. I shot a deer on my way this morning and followed it along the side of the range after wounding it. Eventually it arrived at the edge of a precipice and fell over down into the stream and killed itself. I got back with difficulty to where I started from and went on through Tehephema to Chipoketama. Not more than 12 to 14 miles but a very tiring march. |
