The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

Typescript copy of extracts from letters from J.P. Mills to Mrs Pamela Mills (in England), 1936

caption: Unusual weather; head-taking; photography
medium: letters
person: Williams/ Maj.Smith/ Mr.Furer-Haimendorf/ C.
ethnicgroup: Konyak
location: Chongtore
date: 16.11.1936
production:
person: Mills/ J.P.
date: 1936
acquirer:
person: Pitt Rivers Museum Archive, Oxford
refnum: Mills Ms.
text: (4) Camp Chongtore
text: November 16th,1936
text: Dreadful weather, which is all wrong for November, rain and drizzle all day, but we managed to visit the two villages I had planned to, both rather dull. Williams and Smith came with us. Williams said, "One can't imagine these people wanting to kill one another, look at that dear old man there!" So I asked the dear old man, with a smile like a benevolent Rector, and he said he had killed and taken the heads of three people in his youth!
text: This afternoon the Baron showed us his Konyak photographs. I suffered one of the few fits of jealousy I have ever had. He is just starting his Anthropology, but has the most marvellous equipment, that was not invented when I was doing the same sort of work. The results are so good that I feel I never want to take a photograph again!