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to Chongtore; Changs, a new tribe; Chang language; confiscation of a rifle brought from France; Sangtam toffee; dance |
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Nov. 8th. - To Chongtore, ("Chisang" of the Changs). About 6 miles along the ridge southwards. At the peak called Longtok, just below which the path runs, we halted for an hour and got into helio communication with Tichipami, while the surveyor added to his map ; there was a magnificent view from the peak. Thence down to Chongtore, a Sangtam village of about 120 houses, camping ground good and good water. Chongtore, although Sangtam, has a very strong admixture of Chang blood and builds its houses in the Chang manner. The physique of its inhabitants is fine and the Changs ascribe this to their blood. The Changs themselves are a new tribe. Their chief village - Tuensang - has only existed for 11 generations, and a number of their clans now regarded as pure Chang in blood and speaking no other language, are known to have had an origin from Konyaks from Angfang, or Yimtsungr from somewhere else. |
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The Chang language seems to have Kachin affinities. My friend, Churangchu of Anangba, came in here ; a stout fellow, who went as a simple labourer to France, since not knowing Assamese, he could not go in any other capacity, though the chief of his village. He smuggled back a Mauser rifle and 60 rounds or so of ammunition, and it got safely across the frontier to his village. Unfortunately, Mills heard of it and demanded its surrender. Anyhow it would have been useless from rust in a year. Mills sent it to the arsenal at Fort William, the normal procedure with impounded arms, saying how he had obtained it, on which they sent him a statement to fill in to show who had issued it! |
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Churangchu had a great weal across his face where he "ate" someone's dao some years ago, but I gather he gave rather better than he got. Besides Anangba and Chongtore the gaonburas of Lirisu, Phire, Houpu (" Longtak ") and Khumishe came in and Mongko of Tuensang to ask for the measurements of our camping ground so as to make preparations. |
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Some one, Churangchu I think, brought me in here a huge chunk of Sangtam toffee - really magnificent stuff (Mr. Pawsey is my witness, he ate it till he broke a tooth) - made by mixing in the flour of maize, or better still of "stinking dall," with boiling honey and keeping it on the boil till solid- It tastes very good but is exceedingly hard. |
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Charangsu of Mangaki, an ex-interpreter, went back from here, having been quite useful in the Sangtam villages. I took on two Sema volunteers as "tikka-coolies" - men of Khumishe wishing to see the world. After dinner Churangchu and his men danced and very well too with the most scientific footwork. Best of all was the dance imitating the hopping of crows searching for food. |
