NAGA CAMPAIGN, 1879-80. 
269 
In no campaign could greater difficulties have been encountered, as 
the expedition started with practically no transport, it being presumed 
that the so-called friendly villages would supply the necessary 
transport. The help they afforded was considerable, but was of a most 
uncertain character. 
After the Khonoma affair, considerable loss happened to our men from 
Nagas creeping up and shooting sentries, and also from continued 
ambuscades, rendered successful from the impossibility of having flank¬ 
ing parties, owing to the thickness of the jungle, and the steep nature 
of the ground bordering every track. A more demoralizing description 
of fighting to troops it is hard to imagine. The Nagas* tactics on these 
occasions was to build a light stone wall, concealed perfectly in the 
jungle, about 30 or 40 yds. from the road, fire a volley of slugs at our 
men toiling in single file, and then disperse in the jungle, in which 
their activity rendered pursuit hopeless. Our loss during the eight 
months the campaign lasted was very heavy, and though I have not 
the exact figures by me, it was something like 150 killed and wounded 
out of the 600 men actually at the front. By far the heaviest losses 
occurred among the men of the 44th A.L.I., upon whom the brunt of 
the fighting fell. About half the force engaged in the campaign was 
employed in protecting the long and difficult line of communication to 
Golaghaut, whilst other available troops were posted in Cachar, &c., 
to protect the tea planters, &c., there. 
Heavier guns would have, of course, been much more desirable, but 
the difficulties of transport were so great that it would have been 
scarcely possible to have added another pound of weight unless a 
proper coolie corps of “ Bhooleahs/* or “ Nukes/* say, had been main¬ 
tained. To move the guns, the 300 rounds of ammunition, the 100 
rockets, with forge tools, &c., it would take 160 coolies, such as provided, 
and these would occupy on the march, with an escort of 50 men, very 
nearly a mile on the ordinary country road. Except Kahars (the 
ordinary dhoolie bearer), no coolies that I have experience of, carry, 
naturally, loads suspended on bamboos resting on their shoulder. The 
two Nagas detailed to each ammunition box always preferred taking 
it in turn on their backs to using the carrying bamboo, and this was 
objectionable in rainy weather, as water sometimes entered between 
the cover and side of the box. Each box, weighing as it does about 
86 lbs., is too heavy a load for a single coolie; whether it would be 
worth while to construct a box weighing, with ammunition complete, 
about 60 lbs., is a matter for consideration; it certainly would save a 
large number of coolies, but, on the other hand, in most countries where 
guns would be required, mules would probably be able to be used, 
which could not have been done in many places in the Naga Hills. 
A difference with the village of Kohima was settled by two 
rounds of common shell, which killed two men and a cow, at a range of 
1300 yds.; the gun was worked and ammunition prepared by the 
native detachments. Practice with plugged shell was made at Kohima 
against a fort 10 yds. square, over a screen, such as at -S'; at a range of 
300yds., with an average elevation of 15|°, and a charge of 17 drams, 
about 30 per cent, of the shot fell in the fort. No tables for curved 
fire for these guns seem to have been drawn out. 83 
