A History of Assam c21.84

c21.84

The more turbulent Angāmis were less amenable. For some years it was the practice to look to Tulārām and the Raja of Manipur to exact reparation for raids committed by them, and the tendency was to encourage the latter to extend his dominion over the whole area between the Doyang and the Dhansiri. In a treaty executed with Gambhir Singh in 1833, it was stipulated that "in the event of anything happening on the eastern frontier of the British territories, the Raja will, when required, assist the British Government with a portion of his troops." This policy proving a failure, it was abandoned in favour of one of repression by our own troops; and, between the years 1835 and 1851, ten military expeditions were led into the hills. After the expedition of 1851, when severe punishment was meted out to the offending hillmen, it was decided to try the combined effect of non-interference in their internal quarrels, of encouraging trade when they behaved well, and of shutting them out from the neighbouring markets when they gave trouble. The first year after the inauguration of this policy witnessed twenty-two raids, in which 178 persons were killed, wounded or carried off. In 1854 an officer was posted to Asālu and a line of frontier outposts was established, but they proved of very little use, and raids continued to be of frequent occurrence.