Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-02
IN THE HlMALAYAN JUNGLES.
The Little Known Abros, Whom the
British Are Fighting.


tribe may be said to occupy the slopes of
the Hlmalayan range in the vicinity of
the Dibong and Dihang rivers, tributaries
OF the great Brahmaputra as it debouches
from the watershed which divides our.
territory in Assam from the regions OF
Tibet. Although Abors may at times be
seen In the bazars of Sadiya, our adj
vanced frontier post, no white man has
as yet penetrated into the Abor cauntry,
the policy of the government of India
being the rigid exclusion of one and all
from this mo mans land except the
lawful owners. There are kindred tribes,
namely, the Mishmi Abors to the east
and the Daphla Abors to the west, which
are more or less of a peaceful character;
but the Bor Abors are of a different ma
ture.
In 1874 an expedition against the Daphla
Abors was made to recover some Indian
native children who had been taken
away from one of the frontier tea gar
dens, and some years ago the Mishmi
Abors became aggressive and it became
necessary to organize a military expedi-
ton to quell the lawlessness of its MEM
bers. Speaking generally this vast ex-
tent of mountainous country is not only
particularly steep and rugged, but Is
completely covered with gigantic tree
forest containing tangled masses of un-
dergrowth consisting of giant ferns,
malacca cane, bamboo and various other
tropical plants There are no pretentions
to roads. and such pathways as do exist
are scarcely distinguishable even as
such.
'The Daphla Abors are of somewhat
small stature, but very 1.-the and active,
with very symmetriealy- shaped limbs.
They are very seantily clad-in fact their
chief clothing consists of neat wicker
or bamboo worked cap, something the
shape of jockey cap. which is worn on
the back of the head with the peak slant
ing down behind. The cap is generally
adorned with a .'bheem- or king
crows feather. Their loins are covered
with coils Of thin bamboo strips and
their hair is usually worn either plated
in knots or is festooned with cocks
feathers of yak's tail. hanging over the
forehead, with an arrow passed through
the same at right angles. Their mode Of
crossing the swift mountain streams is
crude in the extreme: the bridge for so
doing is made by fastening the end of
malaeea cane round the trunk of a tree
on one side of the river and stretching it
acrossto tree on the ether side at some
considerable height above the stream \
small bamboo basket is suspened by
handles on to this cane. and the Abor
pulls himself across hand over hand like
a monkey. Rivers of so or so yards are
crossed in this way. The length to which
malaeea cane grows is quite beyond
hundreds of yards
= The Aber villages are built entirely of
bamboo. and this most useful plant is
also brought into use as aNmeans of pro-
lection Pieces OF solid tmaleD bamboo
are hardened to almost the density of
steel by being placed In hot ashes they
are then sharpened al one end and stuck
into the ground at an angle so as 20
wound the foot Of an enemy daring to
approach. These are called panjees, and
are placed by >thousands all round the
village and are generally concealed under
leaves. These panjees are so strong and
sharp that they will easily penetrate n
soft boot or gaiter. The paths leading to
the villages are also guarded by similar
pieces of bamboo placed horizontally
some two or three feet from the ground.
The narrow defiles or gorges leading to
the villages are also guarded by huge
powders of stone. which are so placed
that they can be dropped on the enemy
at any moment as he advances The VIII
lagos are very strongly posted in mac
cessible places, and are surrounded by
stockades-these are further protected
also by panjees projecting through the
interstices. Large hollow bamboos are
utilized within the posts for storing
drinking water.
The Abors are chiefly armed with bows
and poisoned arrows tbut NOWADAYS if is
said that MANY even have rifles or guns)
Each man is also armed with a dhao. or
long sharp knife. and carries on his back
a fiat basket for provisions.
Their mode Of living ;s nri,,;tivo IN thu
axtrama r,a,ra,oas ora moaa g., ~
dense forasts hv o,t,ng aou,, .ba +ro,,
the ground batwee, tho fal,an ,ogs 10
scratched mn ona n1on.aa x,,;,h Ina;on
corn ana melons Tbev ara cre.t nrntars
and 1.-Two on the arin,a,s s,a;n togo,,,a,.
with Indian cor,
49, . siiei "ef'i'ii eo"9iStS III TUG