| caption: |
continuing erection of menhirs; clothing in Tengima villages |
| text: |
To Razama via Thungjoi (Megwima). There was ice and hoarfrost along the path climbing up to the ridge which divides the Naga Hills from the Manipur State. From Thungjoi (4 miles) the road is along the State bridle path for about 7 miles and then goes back up to the top of the ridge and drops down to Razama, another 3 miles or so. Razama is magnificently placed on a high plateau surrounded by a huge amphitheatre of ridge beautifully broken at one end to give a distance view of the lower hills to the north east. On the two spurs forming the opposite ends of the horseshoe are Thecholumi and Gazifema in the Naga Hills and Manipur respectively. The stone-erecting cult is not decaying here as it is further west. One of the two biggest menhirs I have seen in the Hills was erected within the present generation. It measured 13ft or rather more in height and 4 1/2 in breadth above ground and there must have been at least 3 ft. below. When passing through Thungjoi we found a tamasha in progress and half the village in full dress. I noticed in particular that boys who would have been kilted for some time in the Tengima villages went naked; and that in spite of their upper parts being covered with ornaments and even with cloths tied cross-wise. |
