My Experiences in Manipur and the Naga Hills

When I first began this book it was my intention to have given a connected account of the Palace Revolution of September 1890, and that of 1891, against the British Government....

Shortly after my arrival at Samagudting, I received a cheering letter, just when I most needed it, from my old friend Wynne, then Acting Foreign Secretary, saying, "Don't be too...

Mr. Damant--The Naga Hills--Rumours on which I act--News of revolt in Naga Hills and Mr. Damant's surrender--Maharajah's loyalty--March to the relief of Kohima--Relief of Kohima...

Early on the morning of the 28th, I took out all the men I could collect and set to work to clear away the jungle in the neighbourhood of the stockade so as to give no covert to...

On the 26th of November, my old friend Lieutenant Dun (now Major Dun, D.S.O.), joined me. Knowing I wanted a friend to cheer me in my loneliness, he had very kindly accepted the...

I left England with my wife on November 13th, 1873, and after an uneventful voyage, reached Bombay, December 9th. We proceeded at once to Calcutta, where some of my old servants...

An incident occurred which might have caused some trouble, while it served to show the violent disposition of Kotwal Koireng, later known as the Senaputtee. One evening my Naga...

Mischief done by departure of steamers--Determine to establish the Woon at Tamu--The Country quieting down--Recovery of mails--Letter from the Viceroy--Arrive at Manipur--Bad ne...

Manipur consists of about 8000 square miles, chiefly hills surrounding a valley 650 square miles in extent. This valley from north to south is about 35 miles, and from east to w...

My first impressions of Samagudting, were anything but favourable. It was eminently a "make-shift place." It had been occupied by us as a small outpost, from time to time, betwe...

March to Mao and improvement of the road--Lieutenant Raban--Constant troubles with Burmah--Visit to Mr. Elliott at Kohima--A tiger hunt made easy--A perilous adventure--Rose bus...

One day some men in Shan costume came and asked me for a pass to enter Burmah. I inquired who they were, and one said he was the Chowmengti Gohain. I remembered him fourteen yea...

People fairly friendly--Crucifixion--Carelessness of Manipuris--I cross the Chindwin--Recross the Chindwin--Collect provisions--Erect stockades and fortify our position--Revolt...

The first few weeks in Manipur were taken up in making acquaintance with the place and people, and doing all that was possible to disarm the fears of the Durbar. Never was there...

Once more before the weather began to be unpleasantly hot, we went down to Dimapur that I might inspect the road and a rest house being built at Nowkatta. Dimapur though hot, wa...

Lowremba Subadar, an excellent old fellow, formerly in the service of Colonel McCulloch, was sent to Shillong to be in attendance on me, and of course to find out all he could a...

After a day's rest I paid a visit to the Maharajah, having first stipulated as to my proper reception. I was received by the Jubraj (heir apparent) at the entrance to the privat...

These experiences were written in brief intervals of leisure, during the last few months of the author's busy life, which was brought to a sudden close before they were finally...

Punishment of female criminals--A man saved from execution--A Kuki executed--Old customs abolished--Anecdote of Ghumbeer Singh--The Manipuri army--Effort to re-organise Manipur...

Almost from the day I took charge, I let it be known that I was, as natives say, "a man of one word," and that if I said a thing, I meant it. If I promised a thing, whether a pr...

I have briefly described the old Residency which was rented from the Heir Apparent. Money had been sanctioned for a new Residency, to belong to the British Government, but there...

About this time I heard one morning that a man had been convicted in concert with a woman of committing a grave offence, and that the woman had, according to custom, been senten...

I was really not fit to undertake any work in India till my health was re-established, but could not bear to leave the interests of Manipur in other hands until the boundary was...

More troubles with Thangal Major--Tit-for-tat--Visit to the Kubo valley--A new Aya Pooiel--Journey to Shillong--War is declared--A message to Kendat, to the Bombay-Burmah Corpor...

Konoma evacuated--Journey to Suchema for provisions and ammunition, and return--We march to Suchema with General--Visit Manipur--Very ill--Meet Sir Steuart Bayley in Cachar--His...

I had not fully recovered my strength after my illness, and besides there was much to do, so I did not start for Chingsow till the 11th, when I marched to Lairen, twenty-five mi...

I left for India again in August 1884. I had had but a sad period of sick leave, as my wife never recovered from her fatigue and illness, and died in 1883. I was obliged to prol...

News from Kendat--Mr. Morgan and his people safe--I determine to march to Moreh Tannah--March to Kendat--Arrive in time to save the Bombay-Burmah Corporation Agents--Visit of th...

The spring in Manipur is a charming time, the nights are still cool, though the days are hot, and abundance of flowering trees come into blossom; among them one that attains a c...

Ghumbeer Singh did much for Manipur during his comparatively short reign. He made all the roads in his territory safe, and subdued the different hill-tribes who had asserted the...

Malaria, and all the evils that follow in its train, are more easily acquired than got rid of. Possibly two years in England, including four visits to Carlsbad, which high medic...

Konoma evacuated--Journey to Suchema for provisions and ammunition, and return--We march to Suchema with General--Visit Manipur--Very ill--Meet Sir Steuart Bayley in Cachar--His...

Mischief done by departure of steamers--Determine to establish the Woon at Tamu--The country quieting down--Recovery of mails--Letter from the Viceroy--Arrive at Manipur--Bad ne...

Mr. Damant and the Naga Hills--Rumours on which I act--News of revolt in Naga Hills and Mr. Damant's murder--Maharajah's loyalty--March to the relief of Kohima--Relief of Kohima...

People fairly friendly--Crucifixion--Carelessness of Manipuris--I cross the Chindwin--Recross the Chindwin--Collect provisions--Erect stockades and fortify our position--Revolt...

Punishment of female criminals--A man saved from execution--A Kuki executed--Old customs abolished--Anecdote of Ghumbeer Singh--The Manipuri army--Effort to re-organise Manipur...

March to Mao and improvement of the road--Lieutenant Raban--Constant troubles with Burmah--Visit to Mr. Elliott at Kohima--A tiger hunt made easy--A perilous adventure--Rose bus...

Saving a criminal from execution--Konoma men visit me--A terrible earthquake--Destruction wrought in the capital--Illness of the Maharajah--Question as to the succession--Arriva...

More trouble with Thangal Major--Tit-for-tat--Visit to the Kubo valley--A new Aya Pooiel--Journey to Shillong--War is declared--A message to Kendat to the Bombay-Burmah Corporat...

News from Kendat--Mr. Morgan and his people safe--I determine to march to Moreh Tannah--March to Kendat--Arrive in time to save the Bombay-Burmah Corporation Agents--Visit of th...

Value of keeping a promise--Episode of Sallajee--Protection given to small villages, and the large one defied--"Thorough" Government of India's views--A plea for Christian educa...

My early days in Manipur--The capital--The inhabitants--Good qualities of Manipuris--Origin of valley of Manipur--Expedition to the Naga Hills--Lovely scenery--Attack on Kongal...

A friend in need--Tour round the valley--Meet the Chief Commissioner--March to Cachar--Tour through the Tankhool country--Metomi Saraméttie--Somrah--Terrace cultivators--A dislo...