Eastern Rengma funeral monument (Image number R.041, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection)
It consists of a rough semicircular stone platform built beside a village path so that the spirit of the dead man will watch over and bless the crops and those who cultivate the fields. On it is built a tiny house which contains samples of every kind of edible grain. From a wooden framework are susp...
| Full title: |
Eastern Rengma funeral monument (Image number R.041, J.P. Mills Photographic Collection) [electronic resource]. |
|---|---|
| Format: | Photo |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[1919-1937].
|
| Series: |
SOAS Digital Library.
ASC. REGIONS. RSA. JPMILLS. ILOAA. |
| Subjects: | |
| Online access: |
Click here to view record |
| Summary: |
It consists of a rough semicircular stone platform built beside a village path so that the spirit of the dead man will watch over and bless the crops and those who cultivate the fields. On it is built a tiny house which contains samples of every kind of edible grain. From a wooden framework are suspended gourds symbolising the head trophies the deceased has won or helped to get, as well as bundles of taro and edible gourds. In front are stuck in the ground bunches of reeds as a tally of the women with which he has had affairs. These demonstrate his virility in life and the fertility which will therefore be passed on to the village and its crops after his death. |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[1919-1937].
|
| Subjects: | |
| Series: |
SOAS Digital Library.
ASC. REGIONS. RSA. JPMILLS. ILOAA. |
| Access: |
Image: © 1937, The Estate of J.P. Mills. Text: © 1996, Geraldine Hobson. |
| Place of Publication: |
India. |