402 Notes en the Tribes of the Kastern Frontier. [No. 4, 
down. They speak a different language, understood only by a few of 
the nearest Khoomees with whom they barter cloths and other articles. 
Several Shendoos were slain in an attempt to levy black mail, and 
within the last 2 years there has been little or no intercourse between 
them. Being at feud with each other, no accurate information could 
be obtained of the population or the precise limits of the Shendoo 
country. 
My best endeavours have been directed to carry out the instruc- 
tions contained in your letter No, 348 of the 12th October, 1859. 
I was always of opinion that without kindness and conciliatory 
measures, there was not the slightest chance of my being able to 
complete the duties entrusted to me in a satisfactory manner. I 
availed myself of every*opportunity to reconcile the people of one 
village with another with whom they are at feud. Rangkreegree and 
Kaffa, village chiefs of the same clan, are the only two Khoomees now 
at feud with each other ; this is a blood-feud, and it is not likely it will 
ever be adjusted till both become better men. There are no other 
internal feuds among the different clans of Khoomees. For the first 
two months of my stay in the hills, my proceedings were viewed with 
apprehensive jealousy by the chiefs Moungkhine, chief of the clan 
Yeasing who had committed dacoities near the thannah a few years 
ago, at first objected to my parties surveying near his village, but 
some months after, finding that all the most influential chiefs had paid 
their respects to me, he offered no further resistance. 
You are well aware that the Khoomees have always avoided 
any intercourse with the local authorities. Military expeditions had 
failed in effectually putting down their mroads, for the troops seldom 
penetrated beyond a short distance from the thannah, the country being 
most difficult of access. Before the troops reached the villages to be 
attacked, the robbers received timely notice, and deserted their villages, 
taking away their families with them, ‘There are no paths, and the 
hills being covered with lofty forest, no guides would venture to assist 
in making a search for fear of their lives. We knew nothing de- 
finitely of the most distant clanswho are separated by language, manners, 
prejudices of race, and a most difficult hilly country, from the neigh- 
bouring population. One of the leading points therefore, to which my 
attention was directed, was to induce the chiefs to meet me, so as to 
ascertain from them, how they propose that the system of dacoity and 
