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Chapter Twelve. Towards Unknown Country |
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Wakching villagers hope that Haimendorf will bring back head to inaugurate rebuilt Thepong morung |
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My friends in Wakching were full of excitement when I told them that I was to go on the tour and full of appreciation of the circumstances. They remembered previous expeditions into the tribal area and they were sure there would be a fight with the Kalyo Kengyus. If only they could all come too; but as I was going, I would bring back a head and that would be nearly as good. Yes, I should bring them back a head. Again and again they implored me to shoot an enemy and cut off the head. The men of Thepong, who were just building their morung, explained that is was imperative that they should have just such a trophy for the inauguration of their morung, and during the remaining days in Wakching the young men harassed me continually. But where should I take a head from? I could not exactly see myself stalking over the battlefield and decapitating the fallen foes and yet I felt that my prestige in Wakching would be lost if I returned without a trophy ! |
