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to Lakomi which was deserted; Lakomi destroyed; Siriru fear of British |
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Leaving the Commandant, went with the Subdivisional Officer and 36 rifles to Lakomi (Sirichu). I had sent on before calling in the murderer of the Photsimi man, but he was reported to refuse to come in. |
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The road runs down the TEPE Gorge, up that of a tributary and then up a very steep spur to the village. The village was empty when we got there - of human beings that is - and nearly empty of everything else. The Sema coolies soon saw that it was quite empty. |
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We went on to Siriru, another village on the same ridge who came and shouted to us because they were afraid to come too close. From Siriru we had a fine view over the Ti-Ho valley but the day too hazy to see much. Then back to Lakomi where we camped in some discomfort as we had come exceedingly light and the Naga house we slept in was full of fleas and rats. According to Siriru they and other friends of Lakomi had warned the village to run away as they had killed "Sarkari admi" and would certainly never be forgiven. So the whole village cleared out. They will not find much to come back to. It was an exceedingly well built village wall that defended the village, being in the form of a double fence, the outer one with two gates and the inner one very stoutly panjied and with no gate at all but a moveable bamboo ladder which was probably pulled up at night. The village was also fitted with a cowbell on a long bamboo with a string to be pulled by the sentry if strangers came in sight. |
