| caption: |
Dysentery, and trickery in council government at Susu; Christians-Ancients conflict at Chantongia |
| text: |
To Changtongia. Passing through Susu we learnt that there was an epidemic of dysentery, and there had been five recent deaths. The village was put out of bounds. I observed that one of the gaonburas who has recently retired of necessity from the council of elders - Repanongba - has secured his interest there, and right to a share of public meats, and other prerequisites, by getting his son appointed - as his son is a child of 9 or 10 possibly 11 at most, this reduces council government to an absurdity. The Calcutta corporation might find it worth their while to follow suit. At Chantongia there is a separate khel for Christians. Also inside the Ancient village there is a Christian group of some 7 or 8 houses and a conventicle which is not recognized by the Missionaries. Being as it is inside the ancient village I fancy the orders are, that it must observe amungs and contributions as anciently, but they tell me that it does not. This is probably contrary to orders. None of these "Middle Christians" as they call them have been baptized as the Mission are said to refuse to dip them. If this is so they will probably need a pretty powerful chemical when they are dipped, to make them safe to loose among the other sheep. Anyway I think the S.D.O. should look up the orders as to this. I fancy Mr. Mills gave some orders about October 28th 1923. |
