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The Akas
The Akas are inhabitants of the south-eastern part of Kameng
district of the state. Their main concentration is noticed in the Thrizine area. The name
'Aka' is given
to them by the plains people and they call themselves 'Hrusso'. The word 'Aka' denotes 'painted' and
their customs
of painting the faces profusely, served as a
distinctive mark.
The Akas have fair complexions, a well-built body, usually a flat nose conspicuous cheek-bones with black hair and
brownish to pale blue eyes. Men grow scanty hair on the face as well
as over the body. Their stature varies from medium to tall.
The language of the Akas is quite different from their
neighbouring tribes. The Aka language belongs to the Tibeto Burman group of
languages. Akas are one of the main jhum cultivators among the tribes of India.
The House
The Aka house is a long structure raised on a platform,
about
six feet above the ground and divided into two compartments by a partition wall. The
space between the platform and ground serves as a shed for pigs and goats
of the house hold. The house is a work of bamboo and wood, bamboo
sheets forming the floor, the wall and
the roof and wooden logs serving as the main pillars over which the
structure of the house is raised. The roof is usually thatched and often
supported by bamboo sheets. The four walls of the house are usually high.
Weapons
Akas have various weapons which are of practical use to them
in war and peace as well as in their day-to day tasks. Generally they use weapons for defensive purposes. They
protect themselves against wild animals and also practice hunting. The most important weapon of this kind is the
bow and arrow, known by the
name of Tkeri and Moo respectively and used in the chase. The
bows are usually hung over the shoulders while the arrows are carried in a case
of bamboo called 'thauvaou'.
Another weapon is a kind of crude harpoon,
one end of which is
barbed with sharp iron nails.
It was the popular weapon in the days of tribal feuds. The most common weapon is the Dao.
It is used for cutting wood
and bamboo pieces, clearing shrubs, in making baskets as well as killing large
mithun and pigs for sacrifice or feast. It is made from steel. Dao, for
which the local term is wetz are like bow and arrow of various sizes.
The biggest type of wetz is known as wetzpa, the medium size by welfa and the
smallest one is called wetza.
Ornaments
The Aka women wear a number of silver ornaments as
well as necklaces of beads. The common silver ornaments are melu-a
flat shaped ornament worn over the chest, rombin- the ear bulbs,
gichlu-the earrings and gejjul-the wristlets. Well to do women wear a
fillet of silver chain-work called lenchhi. An ancestral necklace, called aescheri
is worn invariably by women and often by men. It forms a necessary
part of gift which a brides parents give at her marriage.
Tattooing
Women tattoo their faces in a pattern of a straight line
running from below the fore head to the chin where it bifurcates into two directions.
No other part of the body are tattooed. The most common form of
aka art is their drawings on wood in their house.
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