No. NAGA-009
Konyak Naga rain-making bullroarer, Wakching
Nagaland · Mon District · Wakching · South Asia · Northeast India
Weather / fertility magic
Source term: Bullroarer
Among the Konyak Naga of Wakching, in the Mon District hills of Nagaland, rain was called down with a flat piece of wood: it widens toward one end, trails a fibrous cord, and hums when it is spun. Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf collected it during his 1936-1937 fieldwork among the Konyak, and carried off a second Wakching rain-caller besides — a bamboo bullroarer, now in Vienna, likewise for the ritual summoning of rain.
When twirled around on its cord it produces a humming sound. Used for Rain-making.
Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, object 1937.1086
Particulars
- Object
- Flat wooden bullroarer widening toward the end with attached fibrous cord; twirled on its cord to produce a humming sound.
- Function
- Used for rain-making; a second Wakching bullroarer in Vienna carries the same rain-calling record.
Source
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, 1937.1086 (Wakching; collected by C. von Fürer-Haimendorf, 1936-1937); Weltmuseum Wien, 126758