Hangrum, 1932
In March 1932, British forces accompanied by James P. Mills, Deputy Commissioner of the Naga Hills district, attacked an army of Gaidinliu followers near Hangrum village. Following the battle, a number of artefacts belonging to Gaidinliu were seized from her hiding place near the village, even though Gaidinliu herself was able to escape. These objects included some ritual objects and a basket containing the Gaidinliu Notebooks. The notebooks—twelve in number—contain writings, characters, and designs, said to be untranslatable. These objects were donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford by James P. Mills in September 1932.
The following artefacts in the Gaidinliu Collection were taken from Hangrum:
Stick
Stick with bark removed from 2/3 of its length, and roughly flattened on one side, which had faint markings in charcoal. One end is shaped to a bulbous point. There is the upper section of a monkey skull (including upper jaw) attached by plant fibre. Said to be used as protection against enemies and evil spirits. According to J.P. Mills, Deputy Commissioner of the Naga Hills district, this object was fixed over Gaidinliu’s bed in her hiding place outside the village of Hangrum. Dimensions: 91.2 x 15.8 x 8.5 cm
War Clubs
Three pieces of wood, said to be used to take omens. This is a set that would have been hung together with an egg placed underneath and used to identify an enemy in warfare. According to J.P. Mills, this set had been “used by the Nagas of Hangrum before they attacked a post of the 3rd Assam Rifles” in March 1932.
No. 1: Diameter 5 cm; Length 21 cm
No. 2: Diameter 4.4 cm; Length 20 cm
No. 3: Diameter 4.5 cm; Length 22.5 cm
Basket
Rectangular basket and lid of woven plant fibre. This basket contained the twelve notebooks that belonged to Gaidinliu and in which she wrote her prophetic inscriptions. It was captured with her other property in Hangrum on March 17, 1932.
Dimensions: Lid: 36.5 x 28 cm; Base: 33 x 22 cm
Notebooks
Twelve notebooks were found inside the rectangular basket belonging to Gaidinliu. These notebooks contain writings, characters, and designs, said to be untranslatable. These inscriptions have been done in pencil and pen. The British officer, J.P. Mills, said that these notebooks gave Gaidinliu ‘literary powers’ and allowed her to communicate with her followers.
