NAGA CAMPAIGN, 1879-80, 
265 
The northern defence of the Nagas consisted of an irregular redoubt, 
with walls 5 ft. thick (except the south face) of stone, and 14 ft. high, 
measuring from the outside; a watch tower in the keep commanded a 
view on all sides. The thickness of the wall being observed through 
a glass, it was attempted to drop shell just over the wall, and for this 
purpose common shell, with 9-secs, fuze, was used, and, after the third 
shot, most of the shell burst in or over the work; the fuzes, being new, 
burnt with great regularity. 
The approach to the walls could only take place directly along the 
ridge, as the sides of the hill were too steep for infantry to obtain a 
foot-hold. For about a hundred yards in front, the ground was thickly 
“ panjeed,''* and no approach could be made except over ground on 
which loopholes were most perfectly directed. Firing was continued 
until the storming party arrived within 50 yds. of the work, and it was 
then taken with a rush, with a loss of three men; the last shell 
fired burst in the watch-tower, and killed the chief directing the 
defence. As this, the only work taken on the 22nd, was by far the 
strongest, the effect of the two weak 7-pr. guns from such a bad 
position, may be considered to have been very satisfactory. 
No time for training the native detachments having occurred on the 
march up, the amount of assistance they gave the two bombardiers 
in charge of the guns was wonderful. A few casualties occurred to the 
coolies, from Nagas concealed in the surrounding jungle, but they 
behaved well. 
As soon as firing was discontinued, after the fall of the first work, 
four rounds of shrapnel were fired at some of the enemy watching our 
dispositions from high points in the upper works, which dispersed 
them; the guns were then moved over to the fort that had been taken, 
as it was observed that the storming party had been checked. This 
was accomplished with considerable difficulty, owing to a brisk fire 
and the quantity of panjees that had to be removed before the coolies 
could proceed. 
The southern wall of this fort was a few feet below, and varying 
from 30 to 60 yds. from the faces of the enemy's next work, and was 
only composed of boarding and small loose stones, through which a 
few bullets found a passage, and killed and wounded a few of our men. 
The enemy's fire was so heavy that for a time no place could be found 
for a gun to bear on his upper works, which were composed of loose 
loop-holed stone walls, about 1 ft. 6 ins. to 2 ft. thick. Part of this 
wall was protected, by a projecting tongue of land, from any position 
it was possible for the guns to occupy. 
The right corner of our position being knocked away, double shell, 
with R.L. percussion fuze, were directed so as to uncover the left flank 
of his breast-work; one or two fuzes being not set in action by the 
4-oz. charge, 6-oz. was used; and, although the gun recoiled con- 
* -A- “ Panjee ” is a dried split bamboo, about 1 ft. or 1 ft. 6 ins. long, driven firmly in the ground, 
witb a barb to prevent removal, and then sharpened to a point; about four go to the square foot; 
and it is impossible to walk through them without getting tripped up and spiked. Longer natures 
are sometimes concealed in pits, on roads, approaches, &c. 
