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Relations with Tributary States and Frontier Affairs |
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Nagas on the Sibsagar frontier; danger to peace of Joboka Raja |
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31. The expeditions of the Deputy-Commissioner of the Naga Hills and the burning of Noagaon in 1886 had a salutary effect on all these tribes. Of the Eastern Nagas, who came under the political control of the Deputy-Commissioner of Sibsagar, there is little to report. Large numbers of them visited the district during the year, bringing the usual presents to the Deputy-Commissioner. The Deputy-Commissioner reports that - |
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"The village of Joboka continues to be the most formidable enemy to good order on this frontier. The Raja is a less unsophisticated being than most Naga chiefs; he associates with and dresses like the Assamese of the plains, and is ambitious. I cannot help thinking that the Joboka Raja would be a serious danger to the peace of the border if he were not convinced that his village is too close to the plains not to meet with short and sharp punishment." |
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A party of Nagas from the village of Banfera visited Sibsagar during the year with a view to solicit the intervention of the Deputy-Commissioner in composing the feud which has for some generations existed between them and the more powerful village of Joboka. Subsequently both chiefs appeared before the Deputy-Commissioner and swore to abide by the terms of a treaty of peace then made. Whether they will keep it is doubtful. Should either village violate British territory hereafter, the offending village will be punished; but so long as they confine their feuds to the territory lying outside the Inner Line, the Deputy-Commissioner will not interfere. In another case the Deputy-Commissioner reported that the Kansingia and Jumi Nagas had appeared before the mauzadar of Atkhel, and voluntarily compromised their feud. |
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The Joboka Raja having brought a claim against the manager of the Banfera tea-garden for compensation for the death of an elephant which he had hired out to the garden, the matter came before the Deputy-Commissioner for arbitration. The Deputy-Commissioner decided that the Raja had no claim, legal or equitable, for compensation, as the animal died from purely natural causes. The manager generously offered to give the Raja Rs.200, which amount the Raja at first agreed to accept. Subsequently, however, the Raja declined to accept anything but another elephant in lieu of the one he had lost, and behaved in an impertinent manner, for which he was forced to apologise. He then took the money offered. |
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There were nine criminal cases within the year in which twelve Nagas were convicted in the Sibsagar district. Most of these cases were for theft: the most serious was one in which three Nagas of Noagaon were found guilty of culpable homicide. |
