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: Col. Johnstone's description of the relief of Kohima
caption: Col. Johnstone assumes command
medium: reports
person: Johnstone/ Col.
production:
person: Maitland/ Capt. P.J.
date: 1880
acquirer:
person: India Office Library, London
refnum: IOR L/MIL/17/18/24
text: On arriving at Kohima, I at once by universal consent assumed complete military and political control, my first move being made to obtain supplies, in which I have been tolerably successful. I also set to work to clear the jungle in the neighbourhood of the stockade, so as to leave no cover for an enemy.
text: Since then, I have been successfully employed in quieting down the country, getting in supplies, and trying to break up the combination against us, consisting originally of-
____Khonoma._______________:________Kigwema.
____Jotsoma._______________:________Jakhama.
____Sachema._______________:________Chedema.
____Piphima._______________:________Phesamah,_and_the
____Merama.________________:________Chetonomah_Khel_of_Kohima.
____Viswema. :
text: Strong parties of Manipuris have been posted by me in the villages of Viswema, Jakhama and Kigwema so as to keep open my communications, and cut off the confederated villages to the east of the ridge on which Kohima stands, from Khonoma, and so successful has this measure been, that the inhabitants of the above villages have settled down quietly to their ordinary pursuits, and are bringing in supplies unconditionally, while the road to Manipur is so well guarded that a single unarmed man can pass along it by day or night.
text: On the 28th instant one of the Mozema men visited me, and told me that his people had saved a fugitive sepoy, who escaped the massacre of the 14th instant. I therefore told him to bring him in, at which he demurred on account of the danger of involving himself with Khonoma. I, however, insisted, and the next day he brought him in, together with his arms and accoutrements.
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