| caption: |
Noklak decides not to fight and sends embassy |
| text: |
At that moment we heard loud calls from the front and soon Chingmak was asked to come up. Smith and I were also called by Mills and soon we realised that Noklak had changed its mind in the last moment and wanted to keep the peace. Mills and Williams said that it was almost too late. They had suddenly seen a great number of men come up in full warrior's regalia and were certain that they had to shoot when these started to wave branches, the sign of peace. Thereupon the Chingmei people who understand their language called to them to send two gaonburas. (233) After a while there were indeed two old men who came with chickens and a goat and reassured us of their peaceful intentions, but begged us not to come into the village. The reason for that was probably partly sheer fright, partly also the thought that Pangsha might interpret this as though Noklak had helped us. Everyone in this area seems to live in panic-struck fear of Pangsha. We assured Noklak that we would not visit their village today but left them in no doubt that we would not simply accept the blocking of our path with panjis and the resulting injuries of three men. |
