A History of Assam c22.11

c22.11

The Mishmis inhabit the country between the Dibong Mishmis and the Brahmakund. There are four main tribes, Chulikātā, Digāru, Miju and Bebejiā. In 1854, a French missionary reached the confines of Tibet by way of the Miju country,* but in the following year, when repeating the visit, he was murdered. The crime was punished by a brilliant feat of arms. Lieutenant Eden led a small body of twenty sepoys and forty Khāmti volunteers with a few hill porters far into the hills, and, after forced marches for eight days in succession, surprised and captured the offending chief and his village. In spite of this, the years that followed witnessed frequent raids. In 1866 the expedient was tried of creating a militia, by supplying arms to the local Khāmtis and giving a monthly payment of one rupee to all members of this tribe who would settle along this section of the frontier. This proved successful, and very little trouble has since been given by the Mishmis. Two small raids were reported in 1878. The culprits were pursued, but escaped, and no further action was taken. In 1899 the Bebejiā Mishmis murdered three Khāmtis and carried off several children. A force was despatched against them which, in the face of great natural difficulties, reached the guilty villages, burnt them, and recovered the captives. One of the raiders was subsequently given up, and was tried and executed at Sadiya.