Details

Latitude

28.12485

Longitude

94.35585

Start Date

2015-01-22

End Date

2015-01-22

In this text, Talup Mɨɨze describes the traditional relations between Minyong of Riga village with other neighbouring tribes. Since this involves discussion of trade relations, the discussion segues into discussions of earlier trade items and their origin, etc. He first focuses on trade with members of the Bori tribe, another Tani tribe whose traders used to come to Riga village to trade in Tibetan goods such as salt and woollen coats. In this context, he recollects his memories of witnessing the plight of Tibetan refugees who migrated down towards the Assam plains following the Chinese assault on their country. He mentions a person called Dondu Lama (possibly the Dalai Lama?) as one of their leaders. This is followed by a discussion of the traditional Minyong skills of earthenware pot-making in two villages nearby to Riga, Paale and Paaroŋ. He also discusses traditional practices of iron ore smelting: the raw materials were collected from discarded pieces of iron and other metals, and were melted down using a bamboo bellows to make jeme and duudap ornaments. Beeswax was used to mold the desirable shapes. He then mentions members of the Idu tribe, whom he calls Midi, coming to Riga to trade in woollen coats. He next mentions the Milang, whom he calls Olon, coming down occasionally to supply arrow poison to Riga village. Karko tribespeople, another Tani group who are settled very nearby to Riga village, also used to come to trade fermented soybeans.

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