Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s6.27.3

c48.s6.27.3

The Sema, or Sima, village, on the contrary, under the adjacent tribe, has a hereditary headman, or Chief, endowed with considerable authority and privileges. This tribe came from the south east, near Kōhima, and has occupied a considerable tract round its present settlement. The Sima are more akin to the Tengima than to any other of the local tribes, but are distinguished even among the Nāgā, for their barbarism and ferocity. They used to prey upon the lands of the Āo, but having been headed off under British control, they are spreading eastwards, over a wilder country. The Lhōta, in contradistinction to the Sima, are a quiet and industrious people, though they adhere to the old method of cultivating on burnt patches of jungle. They manage, nevertheless, to grow a good deal of cotton, which they convey themselves to the river for sale. In habits they resemble the Rengma, their neighbours. A section of the latter, being evilly entreated by other tribes, sought the lower hills, east of the Mikir, where they alone of all the Nāgā have taken to something approaching the life of the population of the plains. As to the large number of tribes in this group which live in the interior and south of the hills, little information beyond their titles is at present available.