Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 1.djvu/74

Rh them; but the Hos settled in the heart of Singbhoom have, from the earliest times, proudly held the country of their adoption against all attempts at invasion, and so far as is known, they never submitted to rulers of an alien race, till they were forced to do so by British troops.

It was no doubt in retaliation for attacks on their independence, that the Hos became, as they were found to be when brought to our notice in 1819-20, the terror of the inhabitants of the more civilized parts of Singbhoom, and of all the surrounding districts. They attacked and pillaged villages, showing little mercy to the inhabitants, if of the Brahminical race. A long line of Brahmin villages, on the Brahmini river in Gangpore, was laid waste by them, and has remained depopulated ever since. No travellers ever ventured to pass through their country, no Brahmin, Rajpoot, or other Hindoo of caste, or Mussulman, was suffered to reside in it.

In 1820, Major Roughsedge, the Governor-General's agent, entered the Colehan at the head of a force consisting of artillery, cavalry, and infantry. He was surprised to find the wild race of whom he had heard such disparaging accounts, in possession of an open, undulating, richly cultivated country, studded with villages in groves of magnificent tamarind and mango trees, abounding in unusual indications of rural wealth. He was allowed to enter on this scene unmolested: but the slaughter of some of his camp-followers who had incautiously strayed into one of the villages demonstrated the hostility of the people, and an attempt to capture the murderers, brought about an immediate collision between the Lurkas and our troops. A party of cavalry sent to the offending village were met in the open field by a body of 300 warriors, who undauntedly advanced to meet their charge, rushed between their ranks hacking especially at the horses with their formidable battle-axes, and showing no disposition to yield or to turn, till half their number had been sabred. In the village, where the murder was committed, was found a reserve of sixty men, who fought desperately, and were all killed. Eventually the Lurka chiefs, in the immediate vicinity of Chyebassah, reluctantly agreed to acknowledge and pay tribute to the Rajah of Singbhoom.

Major Roughsedge met with further opposition from the Lurkas of the Southern Peers, especially those of Barunda, near Jyuntgurh, and in consequence of their aggressions, the Government determined on the prompt reduction of the Lurkas by a large force which entered Singbhoom during the following month from different directions, in three columns, under the command of Colonel Richards. After hostilities of about a month's duration, the leaders surrendered and entered into engagements, binding themselves to subjection to the British Government, and agreeing to pay the Rajpoot chiefs at the rate of eight annas (one shilling) for each plough, which was to be raised eventually to one rupee. This