The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

published - Appendices. 'Detailed Report on the Naga Hills Expedition of 1878-80', Capt. P.J. Maitland

caption: transport and supplies
caption: food supplies
medium: reports
person: MacGregor/ Capt.
production:
person: Maitland/ Capt. P.J.
date: 1880
acquirer:
person: India Office Library, London
refnum: IOR L/MIL/17/18/24
text: Supplies.
text: With regard to supplies, it has already been mentioned that the Naga Hills produce little but rice and beef. In the Angami country, Captain Macgregor calculates that only about one-fourteenth of the total area is cultivated, and that the amount of rice and other food grains raised by the inhabitants is at present but slightly in excess of what is required for their own consumption. All the necessaries of life for Native soldiers have therefore to be imported, and sepoys are, moreover, apt to be attacked with scurvy from the difficulty of getting fresh meat, milk, or vegetables. Two thousand tins of Swiss milk were forwarded to the Naga Hills as a hospital comfort, and found very useful; also lime juice, first at the rate of 25 gallons per man for 2,000 men (troops and followers), and afterwards a second supply at double the former allowance. The Swiss milk was sent to Golaghat and got up by medical officers when required, the lime juice was sent at once to all stations. A small quantity of Liebig's extract of meat was also used as a medical comfort.
text: The Commissariat ceased to supply rations after the 20th May, on which date the troops were considered to be located in their permanent garrisons, i.e., Kohima, Konomooma, Woka, &c.;
text: (8) but free rations were continued to troops and establishment working on the roads. Four weeks' notice was given previous to suspension of rations.
text: In the expedition now under report rations were issued on the " Khyber scale" and not on that which obtained during the Duffla Expedition. This was because the Controller General of Transport and Supplies considered there was no good reason for two scales of rations, though differences of climate might justify different scales of clothing. ( Military Department No. 607 S.T., dated 1st November 1879.)
text: The Khyber scale of rations for fighting men is as under:-
___________Atta______...________..._____1_seer.
___________Dhall_____...________..._____2_chittacks.
___________Ghee______...________..._____1_chittack.
___________Salt______...________...____1/3 chittack.
text: The scale of followers' rations is given on page 4. It differs from the above only in that followers receive one-half instead of a whole chittack of ghee. The Duffla scales will be found on page 10.
text: The Executive Commissariat Officer procured supplies as far as possible by local purchase. No arrangements were made to provide a meat ration as was done in the Duffla Expedition. Pumpkins and other vegetables were procurable for the first month, but afterwards the supply of these totally failed. In December, January, February, and March, native troops and followers received only the rations given above. Occasionally fowls, eggs, &c., were brought for sale by the Nagas, but at prices prohibitive to all but European officers.
text: A few sheep were despatched for officers' rations towards the close of the expedition, and tea, coffee, rum and meat were sanctioned for Native troops in the Naga Hills on the same conditions as for troops on active service in Afghanistan. ( Military Department No. 2660 S.T., dated 20th March 1880.)
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