| caption: |
Visit to Pembvo's grave with its unusual carved stone; Ralung villagers once driven out by tiger; dwindling village of Changsung |
| text: |
I sent the coolies off towards Ralung and went myself three miles out of my way to visit Pembvo's grave which has an upright stone reported to be carved, which is unusual in the Naga Hills. The carving was there all right, but distinctly crude. It must be at least 100 years old, Pembvo at the latest estimate having lived when the Rengmas were migrating from the Naga to the Mikir Hills. Thence on to Ralung, a Lhota village which was driven from its site many years ago (by a tiger that killed people when they came to get water), but has recently returned and seems flourishing enough. For over a year there has been no gaonbura, as the village and the only candidate could not agree. They have now managed to find another to whom I could agree. Thence to Changsung, which has dwindled to a dozen houses or less. There were nearly 40, I think, when I first knew it, and down to the old camp on the Dayang, where the litigants were already assembled. |
