The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - H.H. Godwin-Austen, Journal of a Tour in Assam, 26th November 1872 to 15th April 1873

caption: memos
caption: Naga ettiquette and behaviour
medium: tours
production:
person: Godwin-Austen/ H.H.
date: 26.11.1872-4.4.1873
acquirer:
person: Royal Geographical Society, London
text: [78] It is most amusing to witness the energy & state of mind a Naga having some sort of influence in a village will work himself into when urging the men & lads of the place to come forward & carry loads or go for wood &c. His attitude & the way he will rush & jump about talking at the top of his voice. Again when they have a petition or anything to say. The attitude assumed is the one as if handling his spear, the left foot first advanced then the right the body swaying & the arms working. This is Naga etiquette when speech-making.