Chin burial grounds, 1889 - 1891
Scope and Contents
152 x 107 mm. Showing groups of the characteristic carved wooden headstones, with a Chin man standing in the foreground: 'The memorial erected in the North to departed Chiefs consists of a thick plank of hard wood with ordinarily the head of a man carved on the top, with a spike protruding from the skull. The head represents the deceased, and on the plank are carved men, women, children, animals of all sorts, gongs, beads, guns and so on ... The carving is rough and none are likely now to be erected, for the Chins say they are no longer allowed to take heads of captured slaves, and therefore the life of Chiefs is no longer worth perpetuating in memorials.' (Scott 1900, volume 1, part 1, page 472).
The memorials seen here roughly correspond to this description although the carving appears far more abstract and the planks have two spikes protruding from the top.
Dates
- Creation: 1889 - 1891
Conditions Governing Access
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Language of Materials
English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Good condition, apart from slight fading along top edge.
Existence and Location of Copies
CN 2213.
General
SG.
Date information
DateText: The date is approximate..
Finding aid date
2003-03-20 14:23:42+00:00
Geographic
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom
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