| caption: |
Dancing at Merangkong; cessation of opium eating there; to Tamlu |
| text: |
Via Merangkong to Tamlu. At Merangkong we were treated to one of the prettiest Naga dances I have ever seen - only Merangkong know it and I adjured them not to give it up even if they turned Christian which many are inclined to do. |
| text: |
When I was S.D.O. of Mokokchung, Merangkong had started to eat opium and I segregated all the opium-eaters into a separate khel apart from the main village, which led to many protests. However, on this occasion the Gaonburas came up and said that the last opium ticket had been recently surrendered and thanks to the segregation, the village was now free of opium and the opium-eating colony could now be closed down, which was done. It had consisted of only two or three houses for some time. |
| text: |
At Tamlu a number of Trans-Dikhu chiefs were in, and with them two gentlemen of Yungya who had finished their turn of gaol for headtaking and been let out of Kohima gaol while I was on leave. They came in to pass the time of day and a drink and ask after my health. |
