| caption: |
Woodthorpe assumes civil charge of expedition; party splits into two survey groups, to meet at Tablung |
| text: |
15. On our return to camp, we found that Mr. Hinde had arrived at Rechim, bringing with him a letter of instructions for me from the Chief Commissioner of Assam, in which I was directed to assume Civil charge of the expedition, with Mr. Hinde as my Assistant. The Chief Commissioner informed me that he was enroute for Sibsagar; and as Tablung (where a guard and depot had been established) was close to Sibsagar, from which we were very distant at Rechim, and as, moreover, no work could be done at the latter place, I at once determined to move on to Tablung with the least possible delay. Our party, as it then stood, was a large one, and I knew the difficulties of providing a large force with rice from many of the villages along the routes we should have to take, as the Nagas seldom husk out more than a few days' supply at a time, and are unable to meet any sudden demands for large quantities, whereas we required ten maunds a day; therefore it was necessary to divide our party. Further, by dividing it, as I had originally proposed to Captain Butler, who had given his sanction to my proposal, much time would be saved, and our work greatly facilitated. The plan was that Messrs. Hinde and Ogle should proceed along the outer range, through country traversed by us last year, and Colonel Tulloch and I along the next inner range, our routes lying parallel to, and about twelve miles distant from, each other. Each party was to clear, and put up marks on the hills necessary for carrying out our triangulation, and we were all to meet again at Tablung, where we hoped to be about the 4th February. |
