268 naga campaign, 1879-80. 
consisted of detached stone forts, and surrounded by innumerable 
obstacles. 
S3 = 300 yds. LKC Large stone forts. ssss Numerous sungas. 
vvvv Site of temporary village. S A thick stone screen. 
Their temporary village was on the narrow-topped ridge, on the 
sides of which a large open basin extended, whilst on the east ran a 
parallel hill (the Bassoma) about the same height as AB, with a point 
on it about 1500 yds. distant from C, too great a range for accurate 
practice with the light 7-prs. Position B, where it was proposed to 
construct a sand-bag battery for one gun, was rendered useless except 
from high-angle fire (the hill being about 20 yds. broad at B, tapering 
to about 10 yds. at 8) from the fact that the enemy, taking a lesson 
from the action of Khonoma, had constructed a screen (S) about 7 ft. 
high (the hill being carefully scarped on each side), made of huge 
boulders, 6 ft. thick at the top, and 8 ft. at the base. This was sur¬ 
mounted by a quantity of prickly-pear bushes, and rude fraises to pre¬ 
vent escalade. Prom the back of this screen to their first fort (C) ran a 
covered way, whilst a single plank over a chasm (d) entered its mouth. 
The eastern and western side were precipitous, whilst at A the steep 
slope was heavily “panjeed,” and strewn with abattis, and surmounted 
by a stout loop-holed stone wall. 
The stone fort K, from its position, would have made AC untenable 
had it been captured, and had it then been possible to take the guns 
there—a matter of grave doubt, owing to the precipitous nature of the 
hill on all sides. The rear of the position was protected by an inaccessi¬ 
ble mountain 9000 ft. high. Pew, indeed, could be the positions so 
naturally strong, and still fewer could have been better strengthened 
artificially. The few goat paths leading anywhere were occupied every 
200 or 300 yds. by small sungas, and wherever steps were used, planking, 
tied by cane, and supporting many tons of large rocks were suspended. 
The cutting of the canes, after we occupied the position, gave a very 
fair idea of what the effect would have been on advancing troops. 
Meantime, awaiting the arrival of reinforcements, a blockade as rigid 
as the numbers of our troops would allow of was maintained, and a 
position for the guns was prepared on the Bassoma ridge, the intention 
being to send one to B before the assault. Prom this it was proposed 
to shell the enemy whenever he showed, and to annoy him and 
render rest impossible by a shell and rocket every half-hour or hour 
during the night. The guns were marched for this purpose to Jokoma, 
about half-way. A wing of the 18thN.I. arrived at Suchema the same day. 
On this date, however, the enemy sent in an embassy, and accepted 
our terms. These involved the surrender of 200 guns, a fine of 1500 
rupees, the building of their villages in valleys instead of inaccessible 
hill tops, and that the site of Khonoma and its rich rice fields should 
be confiscated, whilst the three Key Is (clans) of the village were to be 
settled in different parts of the country. 
