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
I do not vouch for the correctness of the list of the Naga tribe
inserted in a later page, but in the absence of more authentic
details, it may be deemed worthy of consideration. The present account
of the tribes is confined to the Nagas of Upper Assam; but it is
supposed that very similar customs and habits prevail amongst those
of central Assam. The Nagas bordering immediately on the plains are,
for the most part, amicably disposed towards the British Government;
and those on the Patkoe range have shown a desire for our protection
against the marauding Singphoos. The Nagas residing on the hills most
remote from the valley are said to be fine, stout, athletic men,
of fair complexions; and unencumbered with the smallest strip of
covering in the shape of clothing for any part of the body.
In 1842-43, the Namsangea, Bordoareah, and Borkhoormah Nagas invited
a party of the Khetree to visit them as friends, but when they got
them into their power they treacherously massacred twenty-four
persons. Thageng, one of the Khetree party, being only wounded,
fled and communicated the catastrophe to his tribe, who at the
sight of his wounds prepared for revenge; and in a short time they
were successful against the Nagas. The Khetrees, being ignorant of
the Assamese language, were unable to pass through the territory of
their enemies to report their grievances to the British authorities
at Jeypoor. They accordingly went to Tomkhoomana, and lying in ambush,
surprised and cut off the heads of twelve men of the Borkhoormah tribe,
in revenge for the murdered of their own tribe. Upon this the civil
authorities proceeded to the village of the Khetrees to endeavour
to put a stop to these atrocious assassinations, but unfortunately
the Namsangea and Bordoareah Nagas, contrary to strict injunctions,
persisted in following in the wake of the British embassy of peace. The
Khetrees perceiving the advance of their enemies, placed in the road a
small basket of ginger kuchoos and a spear, as a token of submission
to the British Government, but loudly protested from the summit of
their hills against a visit being made to their village; dreading,
as they did, the vengeance of the Namsangea and Bordoareah Nagas. The
interpreter, Bhog Chund, who accompanied the party, entreated the
Khetrees to remain quiet in their village, and to listen to terms of
peace; but they indignantly rejected the offer, and threw down stones,
and discharged a volley of spears, upon the advancing embassy. This
being returned by a few rounds of musketry in self-defence, the
Khetrees fled from their village to the neighbouring inaccessible
hill fastnesses. The Namsangea and Bordoareah Nagas perceiving this,
instantly rushed into the deserted village, slaughtered all the cows,
pigs, and fowls, and burnt every house to the ground. After this
untoward event a retreat was necessary, for the Khetrees came upon the
party, throwing down stones and spears from their hills. A Sepahee
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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