Portrait of Inaho of Melahomi (Image number M.015, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)
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Material Information

Title:
Portrait of Inaho of Melahomi (Image number M.015, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)
Series Title:
J.P. Mills Photographic Collection
Creator:
Mills, J. P. (James Philip), 1890-1960.
Hobson, Geraldine ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Materials:
B&W photographic print 9.5x7 cm ( medium )

Notes

Abstract:
Inaho of Melahomi wears many-stranded shell necklaces. The crosses above his cowrie apron show he has taken part in a raid. The doccumentation suggest 'probably Ao', however, name and village rather suggest that he is the very Sema Naga man of which Hutton writes: "Both Inato of Lumitsami and Inaho of Melahomi related to the writer independently how, when they were going up together from Phusumi to Lotesami, Inato managed to persuade Inaho to show himself in his tiger body. The latter lingered for a moment behind, and suddenly a huge tiger jumped out on the path in front of Inato with a roar and an angry waving of his tail. In a flash Inato had raised his gun, but the tiger-Inaho jumped in time to avoid the shot and disappeared. Since this Inaho has had an excellent excuse for refusing to show himself in tiger form to anyone at all" (The Sema Nagas, 1921, p. 206). The passage in Hutton refers to the phenomenon of the Naga 'tiger men', people who have a parallel soul in an animal body, mostly a wild cat. The photograph was taken in the garden of Mill's bungalow at Mokokchung, where many visitor used to come along. ( en )
General Note:
Date of photograph: [no date specified]
General Note:
Copyright held by the Estate of J.P. Mills. The Estate is currently (2015) represented by Geraldine Hobson.
General Note:
This item may be used under license: Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial (CC BY-NC)
General Note:
This photograph is part of album M.
General Note:
Originally collected in Album M of the "J.P. Mills Photographic Collection". (Held in the SOAS, University of London, Archives and Special Collections.)
General Note:
Mills, J. P. (James Philip), 1890-1960. The Lhota Nagas. London : Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 1922. (LCCN: 23005149)
General Note:
Mills, J. P. (James Philip), 1890-1960. The Ao Nagas. London : Macmillan & Co., 1926. (LCCN: 27013331)
General Note:
VIAF ID: 2475026 (name authority) : Mills, J.P. (James Philip), 1890-1960
General Note:
VIAF ID: 24095368 (name authority) : Hobson, Geraldine

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS, University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
Image: © 1936, The Estate of J.P. Mills. Text: © 1996, Geraldine Hobson.
Resource Identifier:
PP MS 58/02/M/15 ( calm reference )