A History of Assam c21.86

c21.86

After the foundation of the new district, the Angāmis gave no trouble until 1877, when they attacked a Kacha Nāga village. The people of the offending village refused to surrender the raiders, and their village was, therefore, burnt. In October 1878, a more serious outbreak occurred. Mr. Damant, the Political Officer, was shot as he was attempting to enter the village of Khonoma, and some of his escort were also killed or wounded.* The Angāmis then rose in a body and, advancing against Kohima, invested it for eleven days. The garrison was reduced to great straits for want of food and water, but Colonel (afterwards Sir James) Johnstone arrived in the nick of time with a force of 2,000 troops, supplied to him by the Raja of Manipur, and raised the siege. A campaign against the Angāmis ensued, in the course of which every one of the thirteen villages that had entered into the hostile coalition was either occupied or destroyed. They then submitted and agreed to pay revenue, to supply labour when required, and to appoint for each village a headman, who should be responsible for good order and for carrying out the wishes of Government.