The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

miscellaneous papers, notebooks and letters on Nagas by Ursula Graham Bower, 1937-1947

caption: 'How Men learned to Fight' - myth
medium: notes
keywords: head-taking
person: Namkia
ethnicgroup: Zemi
production:
person: Graham Bower/ Ursula
date: 1937-1946
acquirer:
person: private collection
text: Once upon a time a girl went to fetch water, and in the pathway she saw two kinds of ants fighting. Each side was biting off the heads of their fallen enemies and carrying them away. She watched them for so long that when she returned with the water her parents scolded her for being late.
text: "I was watching the ants make war," she said. "They were fighting and carrying off the heads."
text: "Well," said the people. "If the ants do it, why shouldn't we?" And they did.
text: (N.I.)