J 845.] lying between the Diko and Dyang river. 839 



we passed for about half a mile, and then got into a narrow path 

 through high reed jungle, which continued till we reached Nowgong ; 

 after leaving this, we descended rapidly, till we came near to the level 

 of the plains, and then passed through very heavy reed jungle, till we 

 came out on the Dyung. After proceeding down thus for about two 

 hours, we encamped on one of its sands. 



On the 27th we continued our route, following the course of the 

 Dyung. After a very long march, we encamped a little above Nogora, and 

 reached Golaghat next day about 2 p.m. The country under the hills 

 is a wild, dreary, swampy forest, and continued so till we came out at 

 Nogora. There was nothing like a road or even a beaten path, which 

 is accounted for, by the Lotah Nagas generally using boats. 



In my report of the 15th September 1841, I have mentioned that the 

 Naga tribes are distinguished by the names of Boree and Abor — the for- 

 mer being dependent, and the latter independent tribes. To the east- 

 ward, however, the Boree Chiefs who acknowledge a kind of dependance 

 on us, have numerous Abor tribes tributary to them, which I did not 

 find to be the case to the westward. There is here, therefore, consider- 

 ably great difficulty in ascertaining the merits of any dispute, in which 

 one party are Boree, and the other Abor ; the former being bent on pre- 

 venting all kinds of intercourse between us and the Abor tribes. It is 

 only when they meet with some reverse, that they ask for aid ; and then 

 it is probable, that they will do nothing, but in furtherance of their own 

 ends, which are to slaughter their enemies, burn their villages, and 

 drive them to the jungles. 



Having taken engagements from all the Boree Chiefs to abstain from 

 warfare, it seems necessary, that the officer, in charge here, should be 

 furnished with instructions as to how far he should interfere in their 

 quarrels. It is obviously desirable, that he should do so as little as pos- 

 sible, but in the following cases it seems necessary : — 



1st. In any attack by one Boree tribe on another. In this case both 

 parties might be summoned down, and in the event of refusal to come, 

 or to settle the dispute as directed, their village might be occupied till 

 they complied. 2d. In an attack by a Boree on an Abor tribe, depen- 

 dent or independent of a Boree tribe. On proper complaint being made 

 in a case of this kind, the same course might be followed. In both 



5 T 



