| caption: |
getting village names; to Unrongmai then Diumai |
| text: |
Marched again via Aphomai, but this I was glad of for it enabled me to get in the names of several villages in the far distance in the valley of Lanierh, which owing to having no good interpreter I was unable to obtain. Villagers were very anxious that we should march towards where the Munipur force now is, so that our presence simply prevent the looting & probably burning of some of the villages in that direction. But we have to go towards Sikhamih & therefore had to descend into the valley of the Tsoloray or Eeril of old maps. This valley is pretty with a broad belt of cultivation (rice) along the stream, whence grassy slopes run up on the northern bank into woods of oak & fir. The spurs on the south are better wooded. Near the crest of the ridge to the north the hills are very steep. Ascended & passed through the village of Unrongmai a small scattered poor place. There is a very marked change in these villages here which had received visits from the Munipuris. The houses look tumble down. Charred logs, saved in some former burning are often seen let in with the newer timbers. Fowls & cattle are very few. Against my advice we pushed on over the ridge instead of halting at the last water. We did not therefore reach the crest until it had got dark & it was nearly 8 before we got into the village of Diumai (Diumai and Yenamai form Mahamai). Luckily there was good moonlight & all the disagreement of marching on so late was soon forgotten over a warm fire & some hot soup. Lovely view over the Hills bounding the head of the Barak valley. |
