A History of Assam c21.83

c21.83

The hilly tract inhabited by the various tribes known to us collectively as Nāgas had never been subjugated by the Ahoms, and it was no part of the British policy to absorb it. Pemberton and Jenkins marched across the hills from Manipur to Nowgong, but, as it appeared that the opposition of the tribesmen would throw great difficulties in the way of maintaining communications by this route, it was decided to leave them to their own devices. Those on the Sibsāgar and Lakhimpur frontier, who were accustomed to trade in the plains, were easily brought to book for any misdemeanours they might commit by the simple expedient of closing the passes against them.