The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-24 00:00:00

THE NAGAS.

The Special Correspondent of the Pioneer, who accom-
panied the expedition against the Nagas, gives the following
description of the natives and their abodes. He writes from
Camp Bar Mutan, under date of March 12 :

The Naps about here are most picturesque savages,
far surpassing the Duffias both as to the number and
nature of their decorations. A description of the head
man of this village in full dress will give you some idea
of them. On his head is a helmet of fine-coloured
cane-work; a red and .black plume rises from the
front and falls over the back. From the front on
either side two curious strips of buffalo horn, eachgabout
two feet long, and carrying at the ends a couple of
touchan feathers, stretch themselves out, and two
smaller strips, adorned with long tufts of hair and
feathers, spring from the back of the helmet; through
the knot of hair at the back of the man's head, two or
three curved pieces of horn, carrying long tufts of red
and white hair, are passed. From the ears depend
strings of yellow beads, terminating in long waves of
hair. On each arm above the elbow he wears innu-
merable rings (about eight or nine inches in diameter)
of red and black cane, the lowest being furnished with
long tufts of black and red and white hair, which fall
gracefully on the forearm; the wrists being adorned
with deep bracelets of cloth and cowries; round his
waist,and pinching it in very much, is a broad belt of va-
riegated cane work, andhisloins are covered with a light
blue cloth with embroidered ends and red fringe. Below
the knee he wears broad bands of cowries, and wisps
of yellow grass are bound round the ankles, the long
ends sticking out in front. In his left hand he carries
a shield of buffalo hide ornamented with red hair and
four tassels of yellow grass, and in his right hand is a
formidable dao with a broad triangular blade, and
handle two feet long, adorned with thick tufts of hair.
The dao rather than the spear seems to 'be the
principal offensive weapon, here. The • Nagps of this
tribe tattoo* a .good deal .on the face, . four lines
being taken over the forehead, 7iindev ,the,eyes and
Eound. the corners of the mouth, Meeting ,pn,tl); Otin, .
*two. fineelities Alar king .;onta lozengershaped:space ;su,
the,aolie. .The effect lathe reverse of The*:
are ,s9ine men frnm,' two, :neightinuring•
WdOrdliaritia and islan4avglakt the ;village....The
men' do .not tattoo on;thelage, but don good4leal On
thg. Bodi, and legs. rogefablp:thevutans4l:ogelk in
drew( gaicrdecoratictian; are tiuph, cleaner than nipst•
hillmet; • and'as i'rule are jlue, melt-inade-lellowii.: •
They allwear.thelellair:tiidluP ;in ix- tug Una hehind,,
on whichiheir,iielmeta rest away from'the ',forehead
exactly in the lashion, atiopted" by ladies at home
now.. The women wear nothing but drip •of
cloth.,eahPut Joi4.4schesAsep, tied ,loOselY round the
loins ; spine supplement this with a little- tatf-
ing on the, body . and .- legs. The houses here
are large nnd coramedious; one end rests on the
ground; and the other is Supported on long bamboo
piles; the principal uprights project several feet
through ,the ridge of the roof, suggesting the idea of
chimneys at a distance. These are thatched careful"-
VIJKOyim4 get ametratinglbsougla 01,4*
_ _

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