| caption: |
Section 2. Relations with Tributary States and Frontier Affairs |
| text: |
60. During the year this tribe was very well behaved, with the exception of a raid committed by the Natami village. Natami raided and took the hears of three people of the village of Phuigatumi, in revenge for their having had three children cut up, as they supposed, by Phuigatumi men. On enquiry, the Deputy Commissioner found that one Yemthi, a man of Lechomi, a Sema village situated outside the control boundary, had killed the three children of Natami in revenge for his father and mother having been killed by Natami men some time previously. Yemthi was tried and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude: the sentence seems a light one, but taking into consideration that the man belonged to a village outside British territory, where head-taking is freely indulged in, and that he was according to custom bound to revenge the death of his parents, the Deputy Commissioner considered it was sufficient to meet the justice of the case. The headman of Natami gave the Deputy Commissioner the names of eight men who were concerned in the murdering of the Phuigatumi people. He ordered them to give up these eight men, failing which their village would be broken up, and they would not be allowed to remain in British territory. As the Natami headman failed to give up the men, their village was destroyed. In February, the Deputy Commissioner made a tour among the Sema tribes in the Tizu and Tita Valleys. He was well received everywhere amongst the Semas. At the head of the Tita Valley he got into unknown country, and met with opposition from a village called Yachumi. He had to punish Yachumi, but the punishment had an excellent effect. Subsequently, the Yachumi chiefs went into Mokokchung to see the Subdivisional Officer. hey said they were very sorry for having opposed the Deputy Commissioner, and they promised a cordial reception when their village was next visited. The tour, with the exception of the Yachumi affair, was a very interesting one; the country at the head of the Tita Valley is quite unknown and unsurveyed. The people seem to be well off; and in appearance and dress resemble some of the trans-Dikhu tribes, but their language seems to be different. The villages are large and fairly numerous; little if any rice is grown, the people living on job's tears and millets. Most of the villages are situated at a very high elevation, and are strongly fortified. |
