Kohima Subdivision, 1908
Kohlma Subdivision, 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Subdivision of the Naga Hills District, Eastern Bengal and Assam, lying between 24 degree 42' and 26 degree 34' N. and 93 degree 7' and 94 degree 26' E., with an area of 2,337 square miles. The whole of the subdivision consists of hilly country inhabited by various tribes of Nagas, of whom the most numerous and important are the Angamls and Lhotas. The average rainfall at Kohima is only 76 inches, but at Wokha, farther north, it exceeds 100 inches. Population fell from 70,221 in 1891 to 68,619 m l 901, giving a density of 29 persons per square mile. The subdivision contained one town, Kohima (popula- tion, 3,093), the District head-quarters; and 224 villages. A pecu- liarity of the subdivision is the terraced cultivation of the AngamI Nagas. This powerful and warlike tribe cut out the slopes of the hill-side into terraces built up with stone retaining walls, which are skilfully irrigated by channels distributing the water over the whole series. This system enables them to grow good rice at an elevation at which rice sown broadcast does not thrive. The principal source of revenue is house tax, which in 1903-4 was assessed at Rs. 34,000.
