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Extract from letter, P.A. to D.C., Naga Hills, 2/3/1931 |
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...Jadonang had two temples on high platforms, which I have pulled down. One, an old one, near his house, contained side benched, like canon's stalls in a cathedral, four chairs, each containing a dirty white felt hat, where the elders sat, and a pulpit, whence he used to preach. There was also a perambulator for his son and a tin bath ("not much used"). |
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The other temple was more elaborate. The centre room had the same side benched, and, in the middle, a sacrificial block, covered with blood. Behind that was a shrine, with an ornamental stair leading up to it. Behind a door was a red curtain, and in the shrine were two clay figures of nagas, painted white, with black hair, eyes, mouth, etc., fully dressed in miniature Kabui cloths: also a clay mithun: five black stones (lucky): Rs. 1/9/6 in small change. Another stair led to a platform above the shrine, on which was a chair with its back to the body of the church. Just above the chair, coiled along the ridge of the roof, was a large python. No one seemed to like the job, so I shot the python myself. We took out the gods, photographed them and destroyed them, and I have made the village demolish the two temples today. I have got the clothes, the lucky stones, and have made a plan of both buildings and a sketch of the steps leading to the shrine. There is said to be another temple at Nungkao and one at Binnakandi. I could not take away the gods, as they were very heavy an rather brittle... |
