| caption: |
Pangsha delegation makes peace |
| text: |
Halted. We had always been told that the path from Chingmei to Panso lay over Yakko Peak, but not till today were we told that it is quite impossible for loaded coolies. This means that we must change our plans and move our rice dump tomorrow to Chenteng, so that we can make a temporary base there. The day was as uneventful as it was cold till evening. |
| text: |
Then Pangsha suddenly appeared, escorted by friends from Ponyo (which I find is the same as Himbu) and Tsawlaw (which is properly called Shiwu). The Pangsha men were three in number, including Mongsen, one of the men who had met us when we first approached the village. They frankly said they wanted peace and friendship and as a sign thereof accepted drinks from us. Changs and their neighbours know how to make war without malice, and our visitors were soon discussing the incidents of the engagement of Friday with the utmost cheerfulness. They promised to get back the remaining slave, and I believe them. I am pretty sure she was sent away as soon as we demanded the slaves back. The transactions must have been a hasty one, for Pangsha complained they had never been paid for her: Tsawlaw admitted acting as middle-man for her sale to villages further in Burma. The whole discussion was most satisfactory and the visit a compliment to the reliability of our promise of safe conduct. Mongsen said four bullets missed him by inches and attributed his safety to my naming him a lambu when I first met him - lambu being the Chang term for a sacrosanct go-between between villages. He had burnt his foot very badly in the ashes of his village and I had medical attention given to him. That he hobbled in so many miles because I asked him to come is a tribute to his pluck and good faith. |
