| caption: |
warnings of attack by Nagas; Dobashis leave for Thingee festival |
| note: |
inaccurate spelling in the original text |
| text: |
20th February, Sunday. I heard this morning that the Nagas of Kekrinmah and other villages on the right bank of the Sujo had sent off all their women and children into the jungles and were now busy in conveying away and hiding their grain and stores on completing which they intended making a combined attack upon our camp and strange to say all my Dobashas from Mazamah Khonomah, Kheemah and Jotsomah left camp yesterday having asked my permission to return to their homes in order that they might be present at their Thingee Festival and on taking leave they warned me not to proceed further south and the Moneeporees report that Nagas have been seen growling about in the valley in twos and threes evidently on the watch so that there is undoubtedly something brewing, but what it is I am not quite sure except that putting together the facts of their sending their women off into the jungles and having spies posted watching our movements, I am inclined to think that the Nagas fear an attack from us rather than preparing for an attack against us, yet as I consider one can never be too careful in guarding against a surprise when dealing with savages I have taken every precaution to repulse an attack should one be made. |
| text: |
Vekrumah I must observe is the village that in 1851 had the temerity to challenge Captain Reid, taunting him to come out with his "choongas" (muskets) and meet them in open fight which he promptly did and burnt the village to the ground killing over a hundred of the enemy. |
