| caption: |
Proposed system of administration for the Tang area; treatment of captured heads at Chi; Ang's house and throne |
| text: |
To Chi (ie. Chui or Chimi), the path going down into a deep valley and up a steep hill again. The distance about 7 miles, and the camping ground on the far side of Chi from Mon at 3525, the village itself probably being about 50 ft. higher. |
| text: |
On the way we met an enormous deputation from Tang, the Ang himself coming in with about 100 or so retainers, all very well got up in their best clothes. The Ang of Tang is a very important chief and appears a decent fellow. The chiefs of all this area have great personal power and sanctity. Their authority is unquestioned and their persons are tabu very much like those of a Samoan or a Maori chief. In my opinion there is no question but that this area should never be made into British territory as the administered district is, but should be left in the form of small states like the Shasi Siemships, which are technically independant. It would be not only a cheap method of administration, but would be entirely in accordance with the sentiments of the people, who have not the least desire for our control, who are perfectly happy as they are, and whose existing system of village administration depends on our non-interference with internal affairs, an attitude which we could not keep up if we did not recognize the Angs from the first. Moreover each of the big villages has a number of "children" paying tribute to it, and accepting implicitly the orders of the Ang of the present village. This is, I think, the proper time to secure the position of such Angs as will come into the control area by treaty. Making, of course, due provision for the deportation of chiefs who persistently misgoverned. The treaties so made would form a basis for the gradual extension of our influence in the same way, when the time comes, if it ever does, to go forward again, and the fact that these small states were not legal British Territory would be a protection to them against ill-advised methods of administration in the future, or attempts to bring the Naga Hills into line with regulation districts. |
| text: |
Chi proved as friendly a village as I have ever been in. The Ang has a fine house 117 paces long |
| text: |
The women of this village were particularly taken with the pipes. |
