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Land settlement and rents at Longphong; the method of drying paddy at Mon |
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To Mon - about 10 miles, camping below the village at 3350 ft. On the way we passed through Longphong ("Huru Changnoi" on map), where the Sangnyu people produced a parwana from Sibsagor (No. 1093-97 of 28.2.22) addressed to the Khatdars of Bhitar Namsang khat in the Mauza of Abhaipur and calling the chiefs to come down for the settlement of the matter of their khat, which was to be taken over by Govt. They told us that they went down and met the S.D.O. Sibsagor and were told by him that when any Assamese settled on the khat, the khatdars would receive Rs. 80/- per annum rent, but that the khat was so far empty and so they had got nothing. I think this question will have to be gone into again, as if the boundary I propose is accepted the site of Bhitar Namsang and the village of "Changnoi" will fall into the Naga Hills control area and will have to be dealt with by us instead of by D.C. Sibsagor. Incidentally I fancy there is some misunderstanding about the khat of Bhitar Namsang, as the place referred to by Sangnyu as "Bhitar Namsang" is inside the hills, where there was once a settlement of Assamese who paid revenue to the Nagas, and I do not think that this area, which is outside the Sibsagor boundary, can possibly be identical with the khat of that name which is described as in the Abhaipur Mauza. |
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After passing Longphong eight of our local coolies ran away, but Ahon managed to get them back again and we got on after only half an hour's delay. |
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The Ang of Mon has a fine house 120 paces long - long paces too, |
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We noticed again here the dodge of drying paddy before use by putting it in a long wooden trough and pouring in hot stones. It gives it a slightly burnt taste which is perceptible in the modhu brewed from it, and which is said to improve the taste of rice made from it over that of rice which has been dried in the sun, merely, before busking. The custom seems to be adopted by all the villages here. |
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From Chakkihua the boundary will have to come down the nearest tributary of the Tapi (Yangnyu) to the Tapi. This tributary is probably the one called Humian, but it was impossible to be certain without spending a lot of time in going to the stream itself, and as there can be no mistake about which is meant, it seemed unnecessary to do so. |
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Phuktong and Sengha (Yingsha-Huong) came in. Both will fall inside the area, and are dependances of Mon. |
