Page:History of the Relations of the Government with the Hill Tribes of the North-East Frontier of Bengal.djvu/65

THE NORTH-EAST FRONTIER OF BENGAL. 45 every year of quiet, every visit paid by them to the markets of Sadiya, renders this more improbable. New wants are, being created and new ideas imbibed, which cannot fail to have effect. At the same time the local officers feel that they must be ever on their guard lest opportunity lead to outrage, and the fruit of years be lost in a moment of unbridled savagery. Much tact is required in dealing with them. They are in manner insolent and rude beyond all other tribes of this frontier. In 1863, for example, the Meybo Abo went off in a temper from the annual meeting, refusing to take their presents, because the Deputy Commissioner would not allow them to treat him with impertinent familiarity. Again in 1865 the Meyong Abors absented themselves from the meeting, alleging as an excuse the prevalence of small-pox and cholera on the plains. It transpired, however, that they were really indignant because the price of salt had risen in the Sadiya bazar, and that they had in spite eaten the agreement entered into with the Deputy Commissioner, and shown in various indescribable ways their low opinion of that officer and his superiors. In 1866 they were again absent, but sent in a demand that the posts at Pobah Mukh should be abandoned. Of course this only led to the stockades being strengthened, and the Meyongs by degrees came round to a better frame of mind. The Bor Abors, a very influential clan, attended the meeting of 1866, and entered into agreements. This may have had a good effect cii the rest, for there has been no open disturbance or dissatisfaction since. There is reason to believe that the Miris form very unsatisfactory agents between the local authorities and the Abors. It would be of great advantage to secure some Abor lads to educate as interpreters.

In 1876-77 the tribe showed symptoms of hostility consequent upon the advance of a Trigonometrical Survey Party into the hills, and it was thought expedient to discontinue these operations. The local authorities subsequently proposed a military demonstration along the frontier to overawe the hillmen, but this was negatived by the Government of India. The aggressive attitude taken up by the Bor Abors towards the Chulkatta Mishmis led, however, 1881 to a forward movement on our part: the fear being that if the Bor Abors were once allowed to cross the Dibong, they would establish themselves in the plains and seriously threaten Sadiya. Troops were advanced to Boinjur and Nizamghât, and the object in view was attained without opposition, the Bor Abors withdrawing to their own hills. The occupation of Nizamghât has served up to date to impose a salutary check upon the Bor Abor villages. But the Assam Report for 1881-82 contains an account of an outrage committed by Borkheng, the Chief of Pado, upon two Miris and a Native Sepoy, which had not up to the close of the year been properly explained.