Miles Bronson: Difference between revisions
clarification |
clarity |
||
Line 81: | Line 81: | ||
| box_width = |
| box_width = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Miles Bronson''', one of the pioneer [[American Baptist Churches USA|American Baptist]] missionaries who worked in the state of [[Assam]] in Northeastern India, arrived at Sadiya in Assam on 8 July 1838. In the previous year, [[Nathan Brown (missionary)|Nathan Brown]] and O.T. Cutter |
'''Miles Bronson''', one of the pioneer [[American Baptist Churches USA|American Baptist]] missionaries who worked in the state of [[Assam]] in Northeastern India, arrived at Sadiya in Assam on 8 July 1838. In the previous year, [[Nathan Brown (missionary)|Nathan Brown]] and O.T. Cutter, along with their families, landed at Sadia with the objective to go to Northern Burma and South China through Sadiya. Initially, as part of their mission, they worked among the local peoples by establishing schools both for boys and girls, writing books in their languages and preaching Christianity in and around Sadia. After staying more than about a year, Bronson left Sadia and moved to Jaipur in May, 1838. Jaipur, a place on the bank of the Burhidihing River, was an important strategic point for the Company Government because of its link road with Burma. Jaipur had connections with adjoining hills including that of Namsang. After the [[British Empire|British occupation]], the place also became important for large scale tea plantation. At Jaipur, Bronson opened a school with help of Captain S.F. Hannay. During his stay at Jaipur, Bronson spent his time in the study of languages of surroundings tribes including that of ‘Namsang Nagas’. The ‘Namsang Nagas’ are called today as Noctes and Wanchos. The Noctes are concentrated in Namsang, Khonsa and Liju areas in [[Tirap district]] of present [[Arunachal Pradesh]] in India. The Noctes had close contact with Jaipur and frequently visited the area for salt trade. Most of the people of this tribe could speak [[Assamese language|Assamese]]. Therefore, Bronson chose to work among the Noctes with a vision to go to Burma. |
||
==Mission to Namsang== |
==Mission to Namsang== |
Revision as of 15:34, 19 June 2013
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Miles Bronson | |
---|---|
Born | 1812 |
Died | 1883 |
Miles Bronson, one of the pioneer American Baptist missionaries who worked in the state of Assam in Northeastern India, arrived at Sadiya in Assam on 8 July 1838. In the previous year, Nathan Brown and O.T. Cutter, along with their families, landed at Sadia with the objective to go to Northern Burma and South China through Sadiya. Initially, as part of their mission, they worked among the local peoples by establishing schools both for boys and girls, writing books in their languages and preaching Christianity in and around Sadia. After staying more than about a year, Bronson left Sadia and moved to Jaipur in May, 1838. Jaipur, a place on the bank of the Burhidihing River, was an important strategic point for the Company Government because of its link road with Burma. Jaipur had connections with adjoining hills including that of Namsang. After the British occupation, the place also became important for large scale tea plantation. At Jaipur, Bronson opened a school with help of Captain S.F. Hannay. During his stay at Jaipur, Bronson spent his time in the study of languages of surroundings tribes including that of ‘Namsang Nagas’. The ‘Namsang Nagas’ are called today as Noctes and Wanchos. The Noctes are concentrated in Namsang, Khonsa and Liju areas in Tirap district of present Arunachal Pradesh in India. The Noctes had close contact with Jaipur and frequently visited the area for salt trade. Most of the people of this tribe could speak Assamese. Therefore, Bronson chose to work among the Noctes with a vision to go to Burma.
Mission to Namsang
From the accounts of Bronson, it is known that he made his first journey on 7 January 1839, from Jaipur to Namsang taking a rubber tent and an interpreter. Crossing dense forests, hill streams and mountains, he arrived at a Nocte village in Namasang. The coming of Bronson was a great suspense for the people as he was the first ‘white man’ to visit the village. The villagers suspected him as a spy of the British East India Company and thought that he came to collect necessary information about them with an object of annexing their territory. After waiting for two days by the side of the village, the Khonbao, the chief, called upon him. Bronson told the villagers that he had come to learn their language and to preach the massages of the Gospel. Bronson by his geniality, soft words and also by presenting a few useful articles brought for the purpose was able to gain goodwill of the Khonbao. Soon, they made provision for him for staying in the village. The Khonbao allow two of his sons to teach him Nocte. He stayed there up to 29 January 1839 and during this period he studied Nocte and prepared a catechism in Nocte.
First Books in Nocte
The missionaries brought a printing press and established it at Sadia. They learned the Assamese, Khamti and Singpho languages and prepared to write books in those languages. Very soon the missionaries began to publish books in their press at Sadiya. When they left the place after the Khamti insurrection in January, 1839, all the missionaries moved to Jaipur. Thus, Jaipur became the mission centre for sometime. The printing press was also brought to Jaipur. Already Bronson acquainted with the Nocte language. After his first Namsang visit, Bronson prepared a book of Catechism in Nocte. Soon he published it (1839) and wrote another book named A Spelling Book and Vocabulary in English, Assamese, Singpho and Naga (1839. During his second visit, he presented the two books to the Bor Khonbao, the acting chief, and wrote in his account that he had much satisfaction in presenting him the two first books ever printed in their language; that it could no longer be said that they had no books. He wrote other two books for the Noctes---Vocabulary in English, Assamese Singpho and Naga(1840) and Phases in English and Naga(1840). R. M. L. Bronson, wife of Bronson, translated Worcester’s Primer into Nocte (1840).
He stepped in June 23, 1834
First School at Top of the Namsang Hill
Bronson made his second Namsang mission on 20 December 1839. During this visit, he established a school with the help of villagers. Later he brought his wife and little daughter Marie from Jaipur on March 13, 1840. Initially he ran the school in much difficulty. Only young and the relatives of the chief were eager to read at the school. The common people had no interest to read and write as they had no sufficient time due to the manufacture of salt and other domestic works. Later evening school was held for those who worked and could not attend the school at daytime. It is interesting to note that the scholars came to the school with their dao (swords) and spears. The people were not in favour of female education. They were unwilling to spare their female from their traditional works such as bearing burden, bringing wood and water, making salt etc.
When Bronson was working among the Noctes, the American Board sent Cyrus Barker with his wife to assist him. Rhoda Bronson, sister of Miles Bronson, also came with Barker to work with her brother at Namsang. They arrived at Jaipur on 7 May 1840. She went to Namsang with his brother on 18 May 1840 and busied herself in the school affairs. Soon she engaged herself in studying Nocte there. The climate of Namsang was not favourable for Rhoda; she suffered illness. The frequent attacks of fever forced Bronson to return from Namsang Hill. They returned to Jaipur on 2 October 1840. It was their last journey from Namsang.
The establishment of the school at Namsang was not totally unsuccessful. While the school was in operation, Bronson wrote, all the sons of the chiefs came to the school and was able to read the books prepared for them. Several boys could read their own language and Romanized Assamese. Several had desire to learn Assamese. Even after coming down from the hill, once Bronson sent their native teacher Boliram to Namsang to see if they were daily reading or forgotten what they learned. After returning, the native teacher reported a very favourable account of their reading together evenings.
Besides his wife and departed sister Rhoda, Bronson assisted by the Boliram and Bhugchandra in teaching. The later was an interpreter.
Mission Suspended
The continued illness in his family brought to an end of Bronson’s Namsang mission. After their arrival, they suffered again. There was no medicine and no doctor even at Jaipur. Without proper treatment, Rhoda Bronson died on 8 December 1840. Under this situation, Bronson was not eager to work in Namsang. Bronson moved to worked in the plain areas of Assam. He went to Nowgong and opened Nowgong Orphan Institution in 1843.
Accounts on the Noctes
The accounts of Bronson throw light on the Noctes of the day. He refers on dress, jewelries, customs and usage as well as economy and political system of the tribe. Men particularly the warriors had their heads and ears ornamented with shells and precious stones. Describing their wild habit, he mentioned that they were indolent and had untamed nature. He spoke of the hospitality of the Noctes.He mentioned about their economic life. Barter system existed among the Noctes. They lived entirely upon profit of their salt springs and were daily seen on plains exchanging salt for their necessity. He also mentioned the process of salt making.The water was drawn from deep wells by buckets made of leaves which was poured into large wooden troughs nearby for the purpose of boiling. They built a long arch of stone and clay. On the top, thin but single joints bamboos spreading like a boat were placed closely together. These held from to three quarts each. The boats were kept full of the brine and a large fire were kept blazing under them without injury to the bamboos. When the water boiled away, it turned into salt. For making salt in this process at least 6 men, wrote Bronson, were required—one to attend the arch, one to bring the brine, and four to gather wood.
Regarding their political system, he wrote that councils were held among the chiefs on important matters. Regarding religion, he wrote that they had no ‘caste system’ and ‘religion’. He observed that after marrying Assamese brides, some people of the tribe inclined to the ‘Brahmin faith’. In the accounts of Ruth Bronson, we have the traditional works of the Nocte women which already mentioned.
Bronson’s Attempt for the Material Prosperity of the Noctes
Miles Bronson thought of material progress of the Noctes by introducing tea plantation. For that purpose he kept close contract with the Company officials. Bronson’s letters to different British officials regarding the Namsang Mission reveal his intense desire to uplift the Noctes from their utter backwardness keeping view in mind in spreading Christianity.
Actually the American Baptist missionaries came to Assam at the invitation of the Company Government. From the very beginning the missionaries had patronization from the British officials. The British administration and the tea planters like C. Bruce invited them with having political and economic ends and aided the missionaries both with financial and moral support. Bronson had close relationship with the British officials since his arrival in Assam. When he moved to Jaipur for the first time, Bruce gave half part of his residence to Bronson for temporary settlement. In consultation with Captain Hannay, Bronson decide to work among the people of Namsang. He had donations from different British officials for the Namsang Mission. From a letter of Bronson it is known that he received Rs. 600 from C. A. Bruce and Rs. 240 from S.F. Hannay in 1838, Rs 50 from Lieutenant Sturt and Rs. 200 from T. C. Robertson in 1839 and Rs.240 from Hannay and Rs. 60 from Lieutenant Brodie in 1840.
After the British occupation, Jaipur became an important for tea cultivation. Bronson saw the prospect of tea cultivation among the adjoining tribes of Jaipur particularly among the Noctes. He seriously discussed the matter with Bruce. He hoped that it would help to civilize the peoples and improve the country and bind the Nagas to Company by another strong link. He was also in favour of introducing of cultivation of wheat, potato, garden vegetables, cotton and apple.
At the request of Bronson, Jenkins wrote to T. H. Maddock, Secretary to the Government of India, about Bronson’s plan and requested to bear a small amount for the cultivation. His letter to the Secretary exhibits a clear intention of the Company government towards the tribes
"I conceive that by a proper cooperation with that gentleman (Bronson ) and the encouragement of the Nagas to cultivate the products of their hills and tea in particular, we may hope ere long to see civilization greatly advanced among these Nagas, and our supremacy gradually extend over the hills, without which, and the consequent suppression of the constant feuds amongst the tribes, there seem to be little hope of effecting any great change in the habits of the people, or of our being able to avail ourselves of the great natural resources of the fine tract of mountainous country1."
In this letter, Jenkins requested the Secretary to give him permission to allow him to expend Rs.100 PM in aid of the mission. In his letter to Jenkins dated 29 June 1840, Bronson assured that he would do as possible as he could to successfully carry on ‘the proposed plan for the civilization of the wild Naga tribes’. In the same letter, Bronson informed Jenkins that the Noctes suspected the expansion policy of the government or “Onward March”. In his letter, dated August 24, 1840, Bronson wrote to Jenkins that he informed the Noctes about the tea plantation of the Company; but they did not give consent about the implementation of the plan. Bronson realized that nothing important would ever be effected among the ‘Naga tribes’ either towards their education or civilization until they were made less independent of the government by occupation of their salt springs or by occupying so many of them as would supply demand with a better and cheaper kind of salt and then they might be more readily induced to cultivate tea and became more industrious in habit.
References
- M. Neog (ed), Introduction to the Orunodoi, Guwahati, 1983.
- H. K. Barpujari., The American Missionaries and North-East India, Guwahati, 1986,
- V. S. Sword, Baptist in Assam, Guwahati, 1992,
- E. W. Brown., The Whole World Kin, Philadelphia, 1890,
- H. K. Barpujari, Problems of Hill Tribes North East Frontier, Shillong, 1998,