NAGA. 1875–1880.
Reading edition
In January, 1875, a party of about seventy Sepoys and Coolies, under the command of Lieutenant Holcombe, were sent by the Indian Government to survey a wild tract of country in the north-east part of Assam, inhabited by the Nagas, an uncivilized race, whose name is derived from Nag, the Hindustani word for a snake. As their name implies, these people are very treacherous, and regardless of human life; but theft they regard with detestation. Clothing they entirely dispense with, but fantastically tattoo their totally naked bodies. A premeditated and sudden attack was made by them on the surveying party, and Lieutenant Holcombe, and the whole of his men were killed on the spot, or severely wounded. A force, under Colonel Nuthall, was at once dispatched to punish the tribe for this massacre, and after seven days’ march the troops reached the jungle-covered hills of the Nagas. There was very little fighting, and with the loss of one man, the villages and stores of grain of the enemy were destroyed, and their flocks and cattle captured. The effects of this lesson lasted for a long time, but about the close of the year 1879, the Nagas, of Konoma, renewed their outrages, and murdered Mr. Damant, the political agent in charge of the Naga Hills, and were again severely chastised in January, 1880, by a column commanded by Brigadier-General Nation.
No European troops were engaged in either of these expeditions, but the medal and clasp were given to the Native regiments employed, and their British officers.
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