Adi and Galo (Abors and Galongs)

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The following account of hillmen of the N-E. Frontier of India is the result of about four years' study of the peoples concerned It does not pretend to be scien tise or exhaustive, but it describes what was either seen, or learnt on reliable autho rity. It is based on observation and evidence of the Galongs, and the more westerly of the Minyong settlements. Observations made amongst the Upper Abors, com munities in the Kamla valley and in the Western Dafla Hills, and notes made about the Mishmis have been drawn on for purposes of comparison. Only the most reliable evidence available in the vanous communities visited has been considered, and the favourable circumstances under which the notes were collected made systematic corroboration possible Steps were taken to preclude collusion amongst the witnesses Whenever possible three evidences were taken in order to test the truth of the statements on which this account is based. The fragments of mythology in particular are the result of careful investigation and are, in English, what was told, originally in Galong, Abor and Dafla. The one tale which has not been tested in any way is the Dalla story of the coming of fire. I wish to record the very great debt of gratitude I owe to Captain R. S. Kennedy 1.31S., who devoted his perfect command of Tibetan (a language of which I know nothing) and a considerable amount of time in interpreting the statements of Tibetan witnesses whose evidence has greatly enlarged the interest of such notes on trade that I had collected among the different hill communities: The passage dealing with the Abor from the Tibetan standpoint and the interesting comparison between certain features of the Abor and Tibetan languages are entirely due to Captain Kennedy's assistance, for without his help they could never have been written. Much of the evidence elicited from the Tibetans who were examined had to be rejected, being either too vague or showing signs of untrustworthiness, either unintentional or deliberate. The evidence that is here recorded bore the impress of truth and, except where noted as it at first hand, may be taken as probable.

I am gratefully indebted to Mr. S. W Kemp of the Indian Museum not only for his beautiful photographs and for the rubbings of metal work that illustrate the memoir but for the sympathetic help that he and Mr. Coggin Brown of the Geological Survey of India extended to me during the writing of these pages, and for the infinity of trouble they have so generously taken to help me with the proofs.

The authoritative anthropometrical monograph by Mr. Coggin Brown and Mr. Kemp that is incorporated with this account of the hillmen, gives great scientific value to the Memoir.

**Contents and Sample Pages**