288:. Describing their wild habits, he mentioned that they were indolent and had an untamed nature. He spoke of the hospitality of the Noctes and talked-about their economic life. The barter system existed among the Noctes. They lived entirely upon the profit of their salt springs and were daily seen on the plains, exchanging salt for needed goods. 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. The Noctes then built a long arch of stone and clay. On the top, thin but single joints of spread bamboo were placed closely together. These held up to three quarts each. The joints were kept full of brine and a large fire was kept blazing under them. When the water boiled away, it turned into salt. Making salt in this process took at least 6 men, wrote Bronson. It took one man to attend the arch, one to bring the brine, and four to gather wood. There was controversy over the land-rights to the wells and Bronson supported the idea of the government taking on the manufacture of salt, with Nagas working for the government.
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civilization of the wild Naga tribes." In the same letter, Bronson informed
Jenkins that the Noctes suspected the expansion policy of the government (or the "Onward March"). In his letter, dated August 24, 1840, Bronson wrote to Jenkins that he had informed the Noctes about the tea plantation proposal 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 toward their education or civilization - until they were made less independent. Either the government could their salt springs or provide them with a better and cheaper kind of salt so they might be more readily induced to cultivate tea.
313:. Bronson had close relationships with British officials from his arrival in Assam. When he moved to Joypur for the first time, Bruce gave half of his residence over to Bronson for temporary settlement. In consultation with Captain Hannay, Bronson decided to work among the people of Namsang. He had donations from different British officials for the Namsang mission. From a letter of Bronson's, it is known that he received 600
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eager to read at the school; the common people had no interest in learning to read and write, as they did not have sufficient time due to the manufacture of salt and completing other domestic chores. Evening school was established and held for those who worked and could not attend the school during the daytime. The scholars came to the school with their
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After the
British occupation, Joypur became important for tea cultivation. Bronson saw the prospect of tea cultivation among the adjoining tribes of Joypur, particularly the Noctes. He seriously discussed the matter with Bruce. He hoped that it would help to civilize the peoples, improve the country,
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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 were able to read the books prepared for them. Several boys could read both in their own language and Romanized Assamese. Several
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Bronson made his second
Namsang mission on December 20, 1839. During this visit, he established a school with the help of villagers. On March 13, 1840, he brought his wife and daughter Marie from Joypur. Initially, running the school was difficult. Only the very young and relatives of the chief were
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In reality, the
American Baptist missionaries had come to Assam at the invitation of the Company Government, with patronization from the British officials. The British administration and tea planters like C. Bruce had invited them, having political and economic ends, and aided the missionaries both
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Bronson thought the key to creating material progress for the Noctes was to introduce the concept of tea plantation. For that purpose he kept close contact with the
Company officials. Bronson’s letters to different British officials regarding the Namsang mission reveal his intense desire to uplift
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The continued illnesses in his family brought an end to
Bronson’s Namsang mission. After their arrival, they suffered again. There was no medicine and no doctor, either in Namsang or Joypur. Without proper treatment, Rhoda Bronson died on December 8, 1840. Afterward, Bronson was no longer eager to
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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,
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with them to Sadiya. They learned the
Assamese, Khamti and Singpho languages, and prepared to write books in those languages. Very soon the missionaries began to publish books on their press at Sadiya. When they left Sadiya for Joypur in January 1839, following the Khamti insurrection, they took
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When
Bronson was working among the Noctes, the American Board sent Cyrus Barker with his wife to assist him. Miles Bronson's sister, Rhoda Bronson, also came with Barker to work at Namsang. They arrived at Joypur on May 7, 1840. Rhoda Bronson went to Namsang with her brother on May 18, 1840, and
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In this letter, Jenkins requested the
Secretary to give him permission to allow him to spend 100 rupees in aid of the mission. In his letter to Jenkins dated June 29, 1840, Bronson assured Jenkins that he would do as much possible as he could to successfully carry on "the proposed plan for the
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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 country.
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From his accounts, it is known that Bronson made his first journey to Namsang, on January 7, 1839. Taking a rubber tent and an interpreter, he crossed dense forests, streams, and mountains. He was the first Caucasian to visit the area. At first, the villagers took him for a spy for the
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Regarding their political system, Bronson wrote that councils were held among the chiefs on important matters. Regarding religion, he wrote that they had neither caste system, nor religion. He observed that after marrying Assamese brides, some people of the tribe inclined to the
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and southern China through Sadiya. Initially, as part of their mission, they worked among the local people by establishing co-ed schools, writing books in the local languages and preaching Christianity. He was prominent in the official recognition of the Assamese language.
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busied herself with school affairs. Soon, she engaged herself in studying Nocte. The climate of Namsang was not favorable for Rhoda; frequent attacks of fever forced Bronson and his sister to return to Joypur on October 2, 1840. It was their last journey from Namsang.
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had the desire to learn Assamese. Once, Bronson sent their native teacher Boliram to Namsang to see if they were daily reading or had forgotten what they learned. After returning, the native teacher reported a very favorable account of their reading in the evenings.
120:, the place became important for large-scale tea plantations. At Joypur, Bronson opened a school with the help of Captain S.F. Hannay. Bronson spent his time studying languages of the surrounding tribes, including that of the
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In 1835, David Scott, the Agent to the Governor General in the North-East Frontier invited American Baptist Missionaries working in Burma (now Myanmar) to come to Assam to spread Christianity and education. Rev
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from Bruce and 240 rupees from Hannay in 1838, 50 rupees from Lieutenant Sturt and 200 rupees from T. C. Robertson in 1839, and 240 rupees from Hannay and 60 rupees from Lieutenant Brodie in 1840.
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Ruth Bronson died in 1869 and in 1871 Miles married Mrs. F. A. Danforth who died in Rangoon in 1874. Miles later married Mary Donnelly Rankin and they had twins, Laura and Ruth.
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Bronson was born in Herkimer County in New York to Deacon Bronson and Rebekah Hall Bronson and was the youngest of five children; he married Ruth Montague Lucas in 1836.
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their printing press with them. After his first Namsang visit, Bronson prepared a catechism book in Nocte. The book was published in 1839 and Bronson followed it up with
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and bind the Nagas to the Company by another strong link. He was also in favor of introducing the cultivation of wheat, potatoes, garden vegetables, cotton, and apples.
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At the request of Bronson, Jenkins wrote to T. H. Maddock, Secretary to the Government of India, about Bronson’s plan and requested a small amount for the cultivation.
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was pleased that two books had been printed in their language; it could no longer be said that they had no books. Bronson wrote another two books for the Noctes:
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Bronson's writings throw light on the Noctes of the day. In his accounts he referred to dress, jewelry, customs, and language usage as well as the economy and
112:, was an important strategic point for the Company Government because of its road link to Burma. Joypur also had connections with adjoining towns, including
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151:, who wrote several books including a short biography of her sister Maria; Maria went on to work at the school her mother had founded and was part of the
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242:(swords) and spears. The villagers were not in favor of female education and were unwilling to spare their women from their traditional duties.
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Besides his wife and the late sister Rhoda, Bronson was assisted by the Boliram and Bhugchandra in teaching. The later was an interpreter.
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He worked with Nathan Brown and Cyrus Barker, organized and founded the first Baptist church at Panbazar in Guwahati on January 25, 1845.
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in Assam on July 8, 1838. Brown and Cutter, along with their families, had landed at Sadia with the objective to go to northern
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172:(chief) called upon him. Bronson told the villagers that he had come to learn their language and to preach the messages of the
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168:, sent to collect information before annexing their territory. After waiting for two days by the side of the village, the
209:, written in English, Assamese, Singpho, and Naga. During his second visit to Namsang, he presented the two books to the
140:. The Noctes had close contact with Joypur and frequently visited the area to trade salt. Most of these people spoke
453:, by Anupama Ghosh, published in the Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 72, PART-I (2011), page 865
433:, article by S. K. Barpujair, published in Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 33 (1971), page 522
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Conversions, Education and Linguistic Identity in Assam: The American Baptists Missionaries, 1830s-1890
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the Noctes from what he saw as utter backwardness, keeping in mind the goal of spreading Christianity.
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of the tribe. Men (particularly the warriors) had their heads and ears ornamented with shells and
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A New Endeavor: Dedicated To The Young People's Society Of Christian Endeavor Of America (1891)
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faith. Ruth Bronson's writings described the traditional works of Nocte women.
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A spelling book and vocabulary in English, Assamese, Singpho and Naga
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After staying for almost a year, Bronson left Sadiya and moved to
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Facets of the North-east: Contributions of Nathan Brown to Assam
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work in Namsang, moving to the plain areas of Assam. He went to
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Miles Bronson: His Mission of Civilisation in the Naga Hills
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During this time the Bronsons had six daughters, including
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were the first to arrive in 1837, and Bronson arrived at
54:(July 20, 1812 – November 9, 1883), was one of the first
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at Williams College Archives & Special Collections
266:and opened the Nowgong Orphan Institution in 1843.
613:Miles Bronson family papers (microfilm), 1831-1883
567:The Early Story of Christianity in Northeast-India
534:The early story of Christianity in Northeast India
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219:Vocabulary in English, Assamese Singpho and Naga
155:until her death from cholera at the age of 33.
383:The American Missionaries and North-East India
200:Bronson and his fellow missionaries brought a
153:Women’s Baptist Missionary Society of the West
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629:Baptist missionaries from the United States
404:Problems of Hill Tribes North East Frontier
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184:allowed two of his sons to teach him the
471:, by Sophie Bronson Titterington, page 4
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213:(acting chief). Bronson wrote how the
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584:, article dated August 1, 2021
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207:A Spelling Book and Vocabulary
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565:Sangai Express website,
532:Himal Magazine website,
516:American-Nocte Relations
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550:India Wijzer website,
536:, published 09 Oct 2020
482:Library Thing website,
62:in northeastern India.
580:Nocte Digest website,
514:Nocte Digest website,
496:Thrift Books website,
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276:Accounts on the Noctes
654:19th-century Baptists
364:Catechism in Assamese
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399:, Philadelphia, 1890
229:into Nocte in 1840.
196:First Books in Nocte
397:The Whole World Kin
309:with financial and
467:Internet Archive,
381:H. K. Barpujari.,
227:Worcester’s Primer
118:British occupation
110:Burhi Dihing River
402:H. K. Barpujari,
392:, Guwahati, 1992,
257:Mission suspended
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29:20 July 1812
639:1883 deaths
634:1812 births
215:Bor Khonbao
211:Bor Khonbao
623:Categories
411:References
369:References
192:in Nocte.
66:Early life
190:catechism
142:Assamese
300:Motives
294:Brahmin
264:Nowgong
182:Khonbao
178:Khonbao
170:Khonbao
159:Namsang
126:Wanchos
114:Namsang
355:(1840)
349:(1839)
315:rupees
174:Gospel
130:Khonsa
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106:Joypur
94:Sadiya
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124:and
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