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Boundary laid between Tesenme and Sailhim; tame bear cubs; possible solution to Bapugwema thieving |
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To Tesangki. On the way I laid a boundary between Tesenme (Jossama) and Sailhim. The boundary runs down the Sulen or Tuilung or Magniki river from its source on the peak called Angola or Thingthu, which is a triangulation point, to its junction with a small feeder hitherto unnamed but now called the Saipitui which rises just below the abandoned village of Mbolo; from this source round southwards the west contour of the hill to the old Mbolo village well at the same level; thence by the old path linking that well to the bridle path which it strikes about 100 or 150 yards south of the present 66th mile post at the point where the bridle path strikes the saddle between the Mbolo and Sailhim rises and immediately south of and below the old village gate of Mbolo by which there is a ficus tree grown in the form of an arch; thence along the bridle path to that point between the sixty-sixth and sixty-seventh mile posts which marks the Tesenme - Bapugwema boundary. West of this line the cultivating rights belong to Sailhim, east of it to Tesenme, but nothing in the fixing of this boundary is to prejudice the rights of the latter village to collect honey and beeswax from certain cliffs which have always been regarded as their possession, or to entitle Sailhim to collect honey or beeswax which rightly belongs to Tesenme. Dobashis present - Lengdang and Ramjinam. |
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Passing Tesenme I met a man with two bear cubs in harness on strings. They appeared quite friendly and happy. |
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Another complaint of theft against Bapugwema. They are a nest of thieves and have taken so many false oaths that they will swear to anything as an extra oath or two makes no difference to lives already doubly forfeit. Local opinion is very strong. They say that the village is poor, and to steal paddy to satisfy hunger is only human, but to steal cattle and tools is unheard of. Personally I think that taking crops from the fields is the worst of all. However, I have given them 3 days to bring in their cattle and tool thieves, failing which I have warned them that I shall post a section of punitive police in their village billeted on private houses till their thieves are produced. The measure is severe, but if they were in the plains they would all - the whole male population - be run in for bad livelihood and convicted. Also by posting Kuki Riflemen in the village, all of whom know the language, I shall probably get the thieves. Anyhow I shall teach them a lesson which ought to last for three or four years. |
