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to Tablung to find that the rice stored has been drastically depleted; fresh supplies from Nazira |
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45. On the 25th, we went on through Chongvi (being again among the naked Nagas), hoping to be able to encamp on the Dikhu; but the road was long and the day hot, and, two hours being lost at Chingtang by a wretched guide deliberately leading the whole camp astray, we had to halt for the night in the village, and, starting early next morning, crossed the Dikhu, here called Yangnu, and reached Tablung once more in the afternoon. 46. When we left Tablung in February there were about 60 maunds of rice in the godown. I had sent for 40 maunds more, in order to have at least 100 maunds awaiting us for our final excursion in the Eastern Naga Hills. What was my dismay, therefore, when I found that the police stationed at Tablung to guard the rice had disposed of 60 maunds among themselves, the sick I had left behind, dak-runners, etc., instead of, in accordance with my instructions, getting up their own supplies from Sibsagar. There was not four days' supply for our whole force. Our work and correspondence would oblige us to halt at Tablung for at least two days; the villages to the east we knew had little or no rice to spare, and it was therefore out of the question to think of starting with only two days' supply. Senua being about eight days' journey away, not allowing for any delays on account of weather, etc., nothing remained for it but to send down to Nazira for the supplies we wanted; and on the 28th I started off 100 coolies with a small guard to that place. Had we attempted to explore more of the valley of the Yangmun, we should probably not have found a day's supply at Tablung, in which case the whole party would have been obliged to leave the hills then, to the probably stoppage of all further work that season. Mr. Fisher, Superintendent of the Assam Tea Company, as usual, was most kind in affording us assistance in procuring supplies. Mr. Hinde has also noticed (Appendix D, paragraph 2) Mr. Baker's cordial assistance later on in the season, and our thanks are due to these two gentlemen for their help at a time when it was of great importance that no delay should occur. Our coolies returned from Nazira on the 1st April. |
