| caption: |
Koupooee Nagas; subjugation by Munnipore; villages |
| text: |
In the Koupooee, is comprised two tribes, the Songboo and Pooeeron. Through the hills, occupied by the Songboos, runs the Munnipore road, passing through one village and close to several others. And as the traveller from the West would first come upon this people, an account of the tribes may be properly commenced with one of them. |
| text: |
The Koupooees occupy the hills between Cachar and the Valley of Munnipore in their whole breadth, a direct distance of about forty miles; and from 25 degrees North lattitude, they formerly extended over nearly and equal distance to the South. The whole of this tract was formerly thickly studded with villages, some of them of considerable size, but in consequence of the attacks of enemies, and the oppression of Munnipore since their subjugation, many villages of the present time are entirely deserted, and the majority of the remainder are much reduced in size. Songboo tradition gives, as the place of their origin, the mountain towards the South of the Valley named Thungching. They state themselves to be, at present, located on the sites of villages at one time occupied by the southern tribes who are, they say, the elder branch of the family of which they themselves are the middle, and the Munniporees, the younger branch. They and all the other races of hill people congregate in communities, composed usually of families connected with one another by blood-ties. The superior elevations being the most healthy, their villages are usually to be found in them. |
