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Chapter Eighteen. A Skirmish with Head-Hunters |
| caption: |
people from Burmese side arrive |
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As dusk falls, we hear that men from Ponyo have arrived in Noklak, and we are surprised, for Ponyo lies on the Burman side of the Patkoi mountains, and is a close friend and ally of Pangsha. They have apparently heard of the burning,and have come to pay their friends a visit of condolence. Why they have also come to Noklak is not quite clear but perhaps they want to boast at home about their encounter with white men. Mills invites them to our camp, but it is late in the evening before they appear with a few of the Noklak people. We soon set them at ease, and when they have drunk a little rum they tell us that five Pangsha men were killed in today's fight and many more were wounded. Mills takes this opportunity of using the Ponyo men as ambassadors to Pangsha. He sends them messages, still offering them peace, but demanding the slave-girl. The envoys accompanying her will be assured of a safe conduct, and are to meet us in Chingmei the day after tomorrow. But should Pangsha continue their policy of raiding and slave-hunting, then there were still more bullets in our rifles. |
