A Sketch of Assam: With some account of the Hill TribesButler, John, Major
History
A Sketch of Assam: With some account of the Hill Tribes
Butler, John, Major
Assam (India) -- Description and travel; Assam (India) -- Social life and customs; Ethnology -- India -- Assam
that the British Government had repeatedly offered him repossession
of his territory, provided he came in a peaceable manner, but that it
was incompatible with its dignity to allow him to attempt to extort by
force that which had been given spontaneously. He was then required,
First, to make good, by an annual instalment in money, elephants'
teeth, or gold dust, the loss of 8000 rupees that our merchants had
sustained by his treacherous attack on Beesa: furnishing security,
or a hostage, for the fulfilment of his engagement; and, Secondly, to
dismiss the auxiliary Singphoos whom he had brought from the Burmese
territory: and as a security for their not returning he was to give
up their arms. The Duffa Gaum agreed to both these propositions,
apparently in the most joyful manner, and promised faithfully to come
in the following morning; but the next day he sent a letter into camp
referring entirely to his ancient dispute with the Beesa chief, and
making no allusion whatever to the terms proposed to him. Upon this,
the British force took up a position within five hundred yards of his
stockade; but the Duffa Gaum's agent immediately came out and said,
that if the Political Agent would advance alone to a place within
one hundred and fifty yards of the fort, the chief would come out and
accompany him to camp. The Political Agent complied with the request,
remained at the appointed spot half an hour at considerable personal
risk, and called upon the Duffa Gaum to fulfil to his promise. The
answer given was, that the Duffa Gaum had no confidence in the
sincerity of the Political Agent, as Wakutchangnang had sent him a
flint, powder and ball, the evening before: which was equivalent to an
intimation that his intentions were warlike whilst proposing peace. The
Agent urged in the strongest manner that no such message had been sent;
but finding the Duffa Gaum immovable, hostilities were reluctantly
resorted to. A signal was given to the battery, and the fire commenced;
the stockade was carried, and the Duffa chief fled beyond the frontier.
Not the slightest doubt was entertained of the individual desire of
the Duffa chief for peace; but the Khamtee chiefs, being irritated
by certain proposed innovations in 1834--such as taking a census and
taxing them--were the first, it is believed, to call in the Duffa
chief, with a view of exciting troubles and obstructing the maturity
of our plans; and thus was the negotiation marred.
In the year 1838 public tranquillity was again disturbed by a feud
between the Peshee and Let chiefs, which compelled the British
Government to interfere and punish the former: who, contrary to
his agreement, persisted in attacking the latter. The Luttora chief
likewise violated his compact, by giving aid to the Peshee chief,
and was driven from the Company's territory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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