1839.] the ISiaga territories of Assam. 463 



so, for they found them all ready to fly at the first signal of our ap- 

 proach. The chief and his two sons came and brought eggs and grain, 

 not more however than would allow of the old allowance of half a 

 seer. They informed me that the head man of Ikkaree's village was up 

 in their village and would come down if I would not molest him, which 

 being guaranteed he came down and offered a spear, and said Ikkaree 

 was most anxious to come to terms, but feared coming to camp from 

 dread of being seized again, which I assured him would not be the 

 case, and that he might depend upon our word, as it was our custom 

 to act as we spoke, which appeared to satisfy him, and he departed 

 with a promise to bring Ikkaree the next day. 



March 7th. Sent our Cachar Naga interpreter with the Tukquoge- 

 nam Angamee interpreter to Cheremee to fetch grain, which he 

 succeeded in getting, to the delight of the coolies, who had had none 

 the day before. He informed me that at the village he had met with 

 two men from Sumoogoding, whom he wanted to come and see me ; 

 but they replied, that a body of troops were on their way from Dhejna, 

 and that they must return to their village to get grain ready for 

 them. This fable served my purpose most admirably, and I told 

 them to tell Ikkaree that if he did not come in soon,> I should give 

 him no terms, but advance and burn his village directly the Dhejna 

 troops arrived. This threat brought him to the village of Tukquoge- 

 nam, and a promise to come down and accept terms next morning. 

 The people of this village had the insolence to say they could drive us 

 out of the country, but they feared the other troops that were coming 

 from all directions to attack them. 



March 8th. Ikkaree sent word to say he feared coming into camp, 

 on which I sent the Mohurir Ram Doss and the chief of Umponglo, who 

 had been trying to allay his fears. They returned after about an hour's 

 absence, and said they could not persuade him to come down to camp, 

 but that he would meet me half way between the village and the 

 camp. Seeing that we had no grain for that day's consumption, and 

 fearing that if I should be obliged to attack any of their villages I 

 should only be put in possession of an empty place, as all the grain 

 had been previously secreted in the jungles (as indeed it had been iji 

 those we had passed, for they had long been aware of our coming) 

 I determined on going to meet him in his own den. Placing a pistol 

 in my pocket and a sword by my side, and giving a pistol to the Mo- 

 hurir, I sallied forth with an Assamese Mohurir to take down the 

 questions and answers ; a quarter of an hour brought us through an 

 open vale to five or six men watching on a slightly rising ground, be- 

 yond them were more men scattered about in an open plain or dale of 



