1839.] the Naga territories of Assam. 467 



summit of which Sumoogoding is situated. The stream was joined 

 by another river called Omporo, which increased its width towards 

 the end of the journey. Some Nagas were observed to follow, but on 

 several men detaching themselves to go after them, they fled in all 

 directions. The chief of Ompoa accompanied us, as also Bahoota, as 

 far as the Sumorginding ridge, where they left us. The weather was 

 very threatening, and as we ascended the ridge the clouds lowered and 

 rolled through the opposite high range we had left, and we expected to 

 have been deluged before we reached the top ; however it cleared off 

 and we ascended, but met a fierce looking foe in the shape of the vil- 

 lagers of Sumoogoding drawn up in battle array to resist our ingress 

 into their village. We found many who could speak the Cacharee lan- 

 guage ; these were informed of our only wishing for rice and a convenient 

 locality for our camp, and on this they showed us the road across the 

 range, and from it, a most extended view is laid open of a vast plain 

 to the north, (which greatly pleased our inhabitants of the plains, who 

 were sick of mountain life) and on the south, of the whole Angamee 

 valley and mountains ; we then descended to a small nullah under the 

 north side of this range called Narrow, and encamped on its bank. 

 We got enough grain for the party to allow of half a seer for each per- 

 son, the chief however did not seem much inclined to give us the 

 quantity we required to take us to the end of our journey, viz. three 

 days. Next day he brought only one maund, and said he could 

 give no more, on which I sent the Mohurir Ram Doss with ten men 

 and a Naick up to the village with the men who brought down the 

 grain, one of whom however I took the precaution to retain, as 

 the Cacharee interpreters had not made their appearance, according 

 to promise, and in case we should require to force grain out of them 

 and have a dispute, and thus obtain no guide. The party returned 

 and said they could not get any more grain, and that the Nagas who 

 had followed had come into the village, and were only prevented from 

 attacking us by the villagers, who were afraid of our burning their 

 village. Taking twenty-five men under the Jemadar, and the Kookee 

 coolies, and leaving the same number under the Subadar, who had 

 been ill since our leaving Semker, to protect the baggage, I proceeded 

 up to the village, which I found empty, but saw parties of Nagas 

 scattered about on the neighbouring hills, and the villagers in a small 

 stockade on the crown of a hill beyond the village. Finding plenty of 

 grain, I set the Kookees to work to clean it whilst I attempted to get 

 the villagers down from their citadel, but to no effect. After some 

 grain had been beaten out we observed some Nagas attempting to 

 sneak through the jungle up to us, but as I was unwilling to injure 



