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routes in the Naga Hills district |
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From the Nichi Guard to Zumha Pani is about eight miles. ( Brigadier-General Nation's No. 7, Field Operations-Transport, dated 5th January 1880.) The road now goes through the gorge of the Diphu river, and thus avoids the necessity of scaling the Samaguting hill, which rises abruptly to nearly 2,000 feet from the plains. Beyond the gorge it joins the old path which descends from Samaguting and crosses the Diphu or Zumha at an altitude of about 1,000 feet. |
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At the point of crossing is a stockade, known as the Zumha stockade. |
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The river is fordable, except in the rains, when it is a rushing torrent, and can only be crossed by means of a bridge. There is a rough Naga cane suspension bridge, and one or two attempts to build a bridge on piers have been made, but these bridges have always been swept away in the rains. There is no reason why a good bridge should not be erected. |
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After crossing the Diphu, the path ( to call it a road would be a misnomer) winds about through eight miles of densely wooded level country lying between the Samaguting range and the foot of the spurs which run down from Barel on the south. This part of the path is practicable for elephants. Good fodder ( chara) is easily obtainable, " jara" ( wild cardamum) being particularly abundant. The villages of Meziphima and Pherima are passed, lying to the north of the path, and about a mile from it. At the termination of this stage is a stockade on the right bank of the river known as the Pherima or Pherima Pani stockade. |
