Cementry at Semkhor (Image number U.013, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)
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Material Information

Title:
Cementry at Semkhor (Image number U.013, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)
Series Title:
Burial customs of Semkhor.
Creator:
Mills, J. P. (James Philip), 1890-1960.
Hobson, Geraldine ( contributor )
Publication Date:
Materials:
B&W photographic print 9.5x7 cm ( medium )

Notes

Abstract:
Structures in the cemetery: The burial customs of Semkhor also show similarities with those of the Konyaks. Mills' description is quoted at length; without it interpretation of the images would be impossible. ' The cemetery is close to two old pipal trees, just outside the village. The body, together with clothes and ornaments, is burnt at the cemetery. The ashes are then collected and a little square of mat ting placed over them and pinned down, and on the mat are placed imitation deo moni beads made of little cylinders of plantain leaf. A long, narrow roof is built high up over this, and a cloth spread over the roof. The whole is fenced round. One naturally expects to see a corpse platform under such a roof, for the whole thing is reminiscent of platform burial. There is such a platform, but only a very small one, at one end. On this is placed a most curious imitation head, with a piece of cloth suspended over it to represent the roof of the head-house. The head is like a bamboo basket-work egg cut in half. Every piece of bamboo in it is wound round with red thread. A series of coarse threads obviously represents hair, the top-knot (or bun, in the case of a woman) being a tuft of black thread. One side is left open to represent the face. On each side is a little section of pith to represent an ear ornament, and a thick loop of cotton serves for beads round the neck. Over the back of the "head" is thrown a scrap of old cloth. The graves of both men and women are decorated with bird scarers (flat slats of wood), which may be very degenerate bull roarers, and with the squares of thread one sees on the graves of Angami women. Since these squares are put on the graves of both sexes, I take it they have nothing to do with the use of thread by women, but represent cobwebs to catch evil spirits. Near each grave is a separate platform on wooden poles on which are placed offerings of taro and cooking pots'. The inhabitants of Semkhor are very different from the Zemi Nagas ( en )
General Note:
Date of photograph: 1927 March 6
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 U. This album and the preceding 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 U 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. [Note on Semkhor, 4.4.27 and Tour Diary 1927.] (Held by SOAS, University of London.)
General Note:
The Dimasa Kachari are alternately known as the Semkhor and the Dwimasa
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:
Ethnologue reference: http://www.ethnologue.com/language/dis

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS, University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
Image: © 1927, The Estate of J.P. Mills. Text: © 1996, Geraldine Hobson.
Resource Identifier:
PP MS 58/02/U/13 ( calm reference )