264 
NAGA CAMPAIGN, 1879-80, 
The route was to Goalundo by rail, Nigriting Ghaut on the Bhrama- 
putra by river steamer, and by march to Suchema, the GeneraTs camp, 
a distance of about 120 miles, the last 40 being hill travelling. 
The guns arrived at Nigriting on the 12th November, and there met 
the elephants and 30 men of the 44th A.L.I., detailed as gunners. 
Before daylight on the 13th a start was effected. 18 elephants being 
loaded with the guns, ammunition, and forge tools, &c. These being 
mostly small and unaccustomed to government harness could not carry 
the weights as laid down; and, after being twice unloaded to cross 
two rivers, Golaghaut, 20 miles distant, was reached at 10.30 p.m. 
Next day a halt was called, and the loads re-arranged; but, as no more 
elephants were available, it was deemed advisable to leave 126 rounds 
and 20 rochets at this base of operations. The two largest elephants 
being unable to carry the gun and carriage, the former was dismounted 
and lashed on a pillow on an ammunition cradle, together with two 
ammunition boxes; the remaining elephants carrying four instead of 
six boxes. Even thus lightened, the marches, averaging 20 miles, 
were accomplished with the greatest difficulty; and, when the hills 
were reached, 12 to 14 hours was the time taken to get over ten miles. 
The roads at this part were execrable, and one seeing them could 
scarcely credit the possibility of elephants being able to travel on them 
at all; trees had to be felled, roadways sunk, banks cut away, and, on 
several occasions, bridges repaired. One elephant, loaded with rockets, 
fell over a precipice, and this shaking impaired their shooting very 
much. 
On the 21st November, Suchema was reached, and on the 22nd the 
attack on Khonoma took place; no opportunity for an artillery 
reconnaissance thus being possible. From Suchema to the hill on 
which Khonoma is situated is about four miles ; north of this hill, and 
separated from it by the Zubya River, is the village of Moyema. This 
valley, and the lower slopes of the surrounding hills, are in rice 
cultivation, rising in terraces from three to six feet in height. 
Kuki* coolies were provided for the guns, which, under the Generates 
direction, took up a position on the Bassoma Hill, to the enemy^s right 
front, 1160 yds. from, and 200 ft. below, his most northern and strongest 
work. Owing to the difficulty of taking the guns over the rice terraces, 
sometimes under fire, they were not in position till nearly 11 a.m., 
although the start had been effected at 7.30 a.m. Lieut. Raban, R.E., 
with the rockets, fired from the Moyema hill, at a range of over 
2000 yds. 
Meanwhile the bulk of the force, about 400 men, had been disposed 
in the jungle to cut off the Naga^s retreat; whilst the storming party, 
about 200 strong (44th A.L.I., commanded by Colonel Nuttall), attacked 
up the northern slope of the hill, on which Khonoma is situated. 
A suitable position for the guns was observed on the south side, 
from which the line of the defences could have been enfiladed from a 
distance of 600 yds. from the southern wall, but it was considered that 
the time taken to occupy it would delay the infantry attack too much. 
* A tribe bordering on the Naga country, and mostly subject to Mainpur. 
