On the "Morong," as Possibly a Relic of Pre-Marriage Communism

HAVING been for over twenty-six years a resident in Eastern Assam, and to some extent acquainted with the savage and semisavage races in, and bordering, the valley, I have noticed among them many singular customs more or less peculiar to all.The various clans or tribes, though varying a good deal in physique and language, as between the darker Nogas and paler Boro (Kachari), Garos, &c., are yet all of the one widely spread Indo-Mongoloid stock, which extends down the Malay peninsula, and to the east as far as the Anong, Kunung, or Lutze, bordering China.The similarity ot even identity of customs seen over this area, with many prevailing all over the Indo-Pacific region, and even New Guinea, are at times so remarkable as to arrest attention, one of the most noticeable being the institution of communal barracks for the younig and unmarried (occasionally of both sexes).Amongst the "Miris" of Assam these houses are called "Morongs," and as this term is pretty generally understood as applied to them here, I propose to retain it throughout this paper, when dealing with this subject.On reading some books of travel lately, I find these houses are referred to; Dr. Warbung reporting "club houses for young men," as occurring in Formosa, where the hill savages are head hunters, and in so many other respects very closely resemble our Nogas.Mr. Joseph Thomson again also reports these communal kraals for the young and unmarried of both sexes, as seen among the Masai in Africa.C. M. Woodford reports them from the Solomon Islands; W. Powell also from New Britain; D'Albertis from New Guinea; St. John from Borneo.Many years ago they were reported amongst the Gonds and Konds of Central India by the Rev. S. Hislop.They are also common amongst the Sonthalis, Kols, and Oraons, by whom they are called "Dainkuria."In all the races exhibiting this peculiar social custom juvenile chastity is not valued, and we mav say with truth that " morals begin with marriage."But this custom being so often found associated with othersThis content downloaded from 195.78

Communism · Political science · Politics · European history and politics · History · Law · Geology

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  Open Access•Kailadbou Daimai•International Journal of…•2023

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