Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-05-21
Picturesque SaVages.

THE special correspondent of the Pho
neer of India, who accompanied the
British expedition against the Nagas,
gives the following description of the ma
tives and their abodes:
The Nagas about here are most pictur-
esque savages, far surprising the Dutfas
| 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 ahelmet of fine, colOred cane
work; 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, each about two
feet long, and carrying at the ends a
couple of touchan feathers, stretch them
selves 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 mans 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 innumerable 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 broad belt ct variegated cane
, work, and his loins a covered with a
: deep blue cloth with broidered ends
and red fringe. Below the knee he wears
: broad bands of cOwries, and wisps OF
yellow grass are bound round the ankle
. the long ends sticking out in front. Ii
! his left hand he carries a shield OF
: buffalo hide ornamented with red hail
= and four tassels of yellow grass, and il
! his right hand is a formidable dao, with
broad, triangular blade and handle two
7 feet long, adorned with thick tufts o.
: hair The dao rather than the speal
. seems to be the principal offensive
:, weapon here. The Nagas of this trib
4 tattoo good deal on the face, four line
a being taken over the forehead, under tn
= eyes and round the corners ofthe mouth
. meeting on the chm, two fine lines mark
. ing out lozenge-shaped space on tn
nose. The effect is the reverse 0
y pleasing. There are some men fror
~ two neighboring tribes-the Bordu
arias and Nanusavgias-in the vi
?; iage. These men do not tattoo on tn
70 face, DuJ 90 gOOu uea4 ON Jne DOuy an
70 legs They resemble the Mutans closel
- in dress and decorations, are muc
~ cleaner than most hillmen, and as rul
~ are fine, well-made fellows. They a
% wear their hair tied up in big knot b'
- hind, ON which their helmets rest, ava
a from the forehead, exactly in the fashio
90 adopted by ladies at home now. III
~ s women wear nothing but strip of clot
Sc ,H about six inches deep tied loosely rouI
the loins; some supplement this with
7 little tattoo ing on the body and leg
~ The houses here are large and cOmmOo
=, ~ Gus; one end rests on the ground, al
!, the other is supported on long bambC
,mas ~ piles the principal uprights project Sc
80 eral feet through the ridge of the roc
,ogy suggesting the idea of chimneys at d
zee tance. These are thatched carefully
iis prevent wet penetrating through I
,to holes they make in the roof. III
,e thatch is sometimes ingeniously work
nd into figures of men. We are told th
we this arrangement of posts is adopted
y, order that If they are damaged by dan
Id etc. below the, ground line, that part C
nd be cut off and the post lowered withc
ro. affecting the stability of the house
he ingenious idea se III
Il