Group of dancers (Image number T.091, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)
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Material Information

Title:
Group of dancers (Image number T.091, 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:
The Nonkrem ceremony takes place in late spring at the palace of the Syiem (ruler) of Khyrim, when he invokes blessings for successful crops. It is the most important ceremony of the Khasi year. The photograph shows one of the dances. The girls must all be virgins, and as they dance, taking tiny steps, the long silver tassels (U sai khyllong) which hang down their backs must not swing. Over the embroidered blouse (jrongkti) they wear the long "jainkyrshah" knotted on the left shoulder. The necklaces are of gold and coral, with ear-rings and finger-rings of gold, and their silver crowns (ka pansngiat) are decorated with flowers. ( en )
General Note:
Date of photograph: 1928
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 image is part of album T. This album and the following one both refer to the time between 1927 and 1928 when Mills was posted as Acting Deputy Commissioner to Cachar, in the southern part of Assam. The adminsitrative headquarters was at Silchar in the plains, but the area which particularly concerned Mills was the hill country of North Cachar. This was regarded as the Cinderella of Subdivisions, to which officers were often sent temporarily while waiting for a better posting. They usually had no experience of working with hill tribes and were not interested in learning about their customs and history. Mills, with his vast experience of the hill tribes was asked to sort out the resultant mess, and took it as golden opportunity to study and photograph the people and their way of life. The album also contains a few photographs from other areas.
General Note:
Originally collected in Album T 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. [Tour Diaries North Cachar 1927-1928.] Published in: University of Cambridge, Department of Social Anthropology. Naga Videodisc. [Cambridge, UK : [the Department], [1980s].
General Note:
Hobson, Geraldine. J.P. Mills and the Hill People of Assam. Published in: Journal of the British Historical Society. [specific reference, unavailable]
General Note:
VIAF ID: 2475026 (name authority) : Mills, J.P. (James Philip), 1890-1960
General Note:
VIAF ID: 24095368 (name authority) : Hobson, Geraldine
General Note:
Ethonologue reference: http://www.ethnologue.com/language/kha

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS, University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
Image: © 1928, The Estate of J.P. Mills. Text: © 1996, Geraldine Hobson.
Resource Identifier:
PP MS 58/02/T/91 ( CALM Reference )