Profile portrait of the wife of the Ungma Gaonbura (Image number L.012, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)

The wife of the Gaonbura (government post or 'headman') wears full dance dress. She wears her hair bound with black thred (Chongli group) and ear ornaments of crystal or glass (tongbang). On her head she has spiral brass rings fixed with a string (yongmen), which among the Chongli only wom...

Full description

Full title: Profile portrait of the wife of the Ungma Gaonbura (Image number L.012, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection) [electronic resource].
Format: Photo           
Language: English
Published: 1923, ©1926.
Series: SOAS Digital Library.
ASC.
REGIONS.
RSA.
JPMILLS.
ILOAA.
Subjects:
Online access: Click here to view record


Summary: The wife of the Gaonbura (government post or 'headman') wears full dance dress. She wears her hair bound with black thred (Chongli group) and ear ornaments of crystal or glass (tongbang). On her head she has spiral brass rings fixed with a string (yongmen), which among the Chongli only women of the Pongen, somentimes of the Lungkam clan are allowed to wear. The three hornbill feathers in her hair show that her husband or father have performed mithun sacrifices, one for each feather. Her necklace is decorated at the back with several pieces of conch shell, and the chain slung across her body cloth bears many brass bells, showing that she is the wife of a rich man of high status. (Ungma is a village of the Chongli language group)
Language: English
Published: 1923, ©1926.
Subjects:
Series: SOAS Digital Library.
ASC.
REGIONS.
RSA.
JPMILLS.
ILOAA.
Access: Image: © 1926, The Estate of J.P. Mills. Text: © 1996, Geraldine Hobson.
Place of Publication: India -- Nagaland -- Mokokchung District -- Ungma.