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The Lushai expedition in Mizoram sketched by Lieutenant BWG Cole in the Illustrated London News 1889

The British Indian Army Lushai Expedition of 1871 to 1872 was a punitive incursion under the command of Generals Brownlow and Bourchier. The objectives of the expedition were to rescue British subjects who had been captured by the Lushais in raids into Assam—including a six-year-old girl called Mary Winchester—and to convince the hill tribes of the region that they had nothing to gain and everything to lose by placing themselves in a hostile position towards the British Government.

For the British, the expedition was a success: the prisoners were freed and the hill tribes agreed to negotiate peace terms. The border region was to remain peaceful until 1888 when large-scale raiding was resumed and another punitive expedition was organised.

Prelude

After turning the Burmese out of Assam during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, the Bengal Government of the East India Company attempted to administer all that was not absolutely necessary for the control of the frontier through Purandar Singha a native prince; this arrangement failed, and Assam became a non-regulation province in 1838. On its southern borders lay the Lushais, the principal tribes known to Assam being Thadoe and Poitoo Kukies. For many years, long before the British occupation, the inhabitants of the plains to the south had lived in dread of the Kukies, who used to come down and attack the villages, massacring the inhabitants, taking their heads, and plundering and burning their houses.^[1]

The first Kuki or Lushai raid mentioned as being committed in British governed Assam was in 1826. From that year to 1850 the local officers were unable to restrain the fierce attacks of the hillmen on the south. Raids and outrages were of yearly occurrence,^[2] and on one occasion the Magistrate of Sylhet reported a series of massacres by "Kookies" in what was alleged to be British territory, in which 150 persons had been killed.^[1]

In 1849 the Kuki attacks were so savage and numerous that Colonel Lister, then Commandant of the Sylhet Light Infantry and Agent for the Khasia Hills, was sent in the cold weather of 1849–1850 to punish the tribes. His expedition was only partially successful, for he found the country so impracticable that he considered it unwise to proceed further than the village of Mulla ^[1] which was about 100 miles (160 km) over the border.^[3] Mulla contained 800 houses and which he surprised and destroyed without opposition, all the male inhabitants being absent on a marauding excursion.^[1] The expedition also did manage to free about 400 captives, but Lister was of the opinion that "this robber tribe will not cease to infest the frontier until they shall be most servilely dealt with".^[3] This expedition, however, had the effect of keeping the British Assam southern border tolerably free from disturbance up to the beginning of 1862, when raiding recommenced.^[1]

In the cold weather of 1868–1869 the Lushais burnt a tea garden in Cachar and attacked Monierkhal, and an expedition was organized to follow the marauders, to punish the tribes concerned, and to recover the captives. This expedition was in command of Colonel James Nuttall and consisted of three columns,^[4] ^[5] but the monsoon rains coming on, the want of provisions and lateness of the season caused the expedition to fail in its principal objects. No tribes were punished and no captives were recovered.^[4]

The next season Mr. Edgar, the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, accompanied by Major MacDonald of the Survey Department and a police escort, made strenuous efforts to get into touch with the Lushais. Accompanied by a small escort he visited them across the border and left nothing undone to conciliate and make friends with them; his good intentions and friendly attitude, however, met with little success, for 1870-1871 saw a series of Lushai raids on a more extensively organized scale and of a more determined character than any previous incursions of the kind.^[4]^[3]

The first raid occurred in the Chittagong Hill Tracts on 31 December 1870, a little more than a day's journey from the Chima outpost. The raiding were about 200 strong. On 23 January 1871 the village of Ainerkhal, on the extreme west of the Cachar district, was burnt, 25 persons killed, and 37 taken prisoners. The same day the tea garden of Alexandrapore was destroyed by a party of the "How long" tribe under "Sanpoong" and "Bengkhuia". The Alexandrapur tea estate was owned by George Seller. George Seller invited James Winchester to spend Christmas at the tea estate. James Winchester was camping in Alexandarapur with his six year old daughter Mary Winchester from December 1969. On 23 January 1870, James had breakfast with his host outside his bungalow when a raiding party of the Howlong chief Bengkhuia descended on him and his estate. A number of labourers were killed and James Winchester was speared from behind in an attempt to escape. George Seller managed to escape unharmed. Winchester's child Mary, a girl of six years, was carried off as a captive among many others.^[4] The event became widely spread and publicised on the matter of two European planters being muredered and the kidnapping of a little girl of European blood. The rescue of this kidnapped little British girl became a major factor in the expedition that was to follow.^[3]^[6]

A few hours after the attack on Winchester tea garden (plantation), the adjoining garden of Kutlicherra was attacked, but the Lushais raiders were driven off by two planters. The following day a second attack was made on Kutlicherra, when two Lushais were wounded.^[4]

On 26 January the raiders surprised some sepoys and police in the Monierkhal garden, killed one sepoy, and wounded one sepoy and one policeman, and commenced an attack on the stockade and coolie lines. Reinforcements arriving they retired with a loss of 57 men killed and wounded. British loss being six killed and six wounded and one coolie missing. Simultaneously with the attack on Monierkhal a party raided the adjoining garden of Dhurmikhal, but did little damage.^[4]

Emboldened by their successes the raiders penetrated as far as Nundigram and on 27 January killed 11 and carried off three persons. The following morning they attacked a rear-guard of eight men, 4th Native Infantry, soon after they had left Nundigram; these fought most gallantly, only one man escaping. The Lushais lost 25 men on this occasion. On 23 February the Jhalnacherra tea garden was attacked by a party who killed and wounded seven coolies. Meanwhile, the Hill Tipperah and the Chittagong Hill Tracts also suffered, though not so severely.^[4]

Expedition

The Government of India now decided that an expedition should be made into the Lushai country during the ensuing cold weather. It was decided that the force should consist two columns, the right advancing from Chittagong and the left from Cachar. General Brownlow, C.B., commanded the former, with Captain Lewin, Superintendent of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as Civil Officer, and General Bourchier, C.B., with Mr. Edgar, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, as Civil Officer, was in charge of the left or Cachar column.^[4]

In addition to these two columns, a contingent of Meiteis accompanied by Colonel James Nuttall, the Political Agent of Manipur, made a demonstration across the southern border to co-operate with General Bourchier's portion of the expedition.^[4]

The entire political and military conduct of the expedition was placed in the hands of the Military Commanders, who were specially instructed that the object of the expedition was not one of pure retaliation, but that the surrender of the British subjects held in captivity should be insisted on, and that every endeavour should be made to establish friendly relations with the savage tribes and to convince them that they had nothing to gain and everything to lose by placing themselves in a hostile position towards the British Government.^[7]

Cachar Column Operations

The Cachar column, which consisted of half a battery of Artillery, a company of Sappers, and 500 rifles, started on 15 December 1871. After encountering and overcoming considerable resistance and penetrating a very difficult country, General Bourchier destroyed the chief village of the offending tribes and imposed conditions of peace. Hostages were taken and a fine of arms and produce was levied. The column reached Cachar on its return on 10 March 1872.^[7]

By the end of November, the column began to enter the Lushai Hills and was joined by John Edgar from Silchar on 6 December 1871.^[8] The force operated on the rationale that Lushai chiefs holding British subjects in captivity should surrender and release the captives.^[9] The 44th arrived to Tipai Mukh by 9 December 1871.^[10] The column was encamped on 13 December at the ascent of the Senvong range at an elevation of 4000 feet. The Lushai Hills and their settlements were observed this way. The observation saw the Tipai River, which, west of it, lay the jhums and cottages of Kholel. Further away in the south-east, the advanced settlements under Poiboi were observed. The force advanced through the Tipai river by a weir despite warnings and threats from the Lushais. The column did not respond because no first strike or attack from the Lushais would not warrant a violent interaction.^[11]

On 23 December 1871, the column ascended on the hill where the Kholel villages lay and was fired at by Lushai volleys from uphill. Due to this, the village was stormed and occupied with its granaries destroyed. Another village a mile further on the ride was occupied and repurposed as a military encampment while a third village on the top of a mountain was captured and burned down that same evening. The force evacuated Kholel and encamped in the valley below the stream but were forced to mobilise uphill after being harassed by firing from the jungles.^[12] However the enemy surrendered immediately as the force arrived. Darpong, an upa of Poiboi met with the column. He was described as clad in orange-colored garments and accessories with a lofty plume. Darpong intervened on behalf of Kholel and in anticipation for Poiboi. Darpong offered a cessation of hostilities. Darpong would climb up a tree and make a call to the surrounding war parties and guerillas to stop to the firing of guns in the jungles. The Lushais, previously enemies, met with the column subsequently. On the 30 and 31 December 1871, more upas came with peace offerings which were accepted with the column. The camp was stated to be filled with pumpkins, fowls and ginger including some barters for watches and burning glasses.^[13]

On 6 January 1872, the column crossed Tuitoo affluent of Tipai at a ridge of a height of 3400 feet. They marched further to the village of Pachnee where they observed the principal northern villages of Poiboi eastward of their position. While the general stopped to resupply their stock and logistics, an opportunistic excursion was made to the old site of Kholel which formerly was the village of Vonpilal. The village had been burnt six days before the arrival of the column but the tomb of Vonpilal was intact. It was described as a monument centred on a large stone platform surrounded by poles hanging with skulls of wild oxen, deer and goats.^[14]

On 13 January 1872, the force advanced forward. A road was cleared by the 42nd and 44th from Pachnee to Tipai.^[14] The force was approaching closer to Poiboi, an influential chief in the region. Despite his upa Darpong staying with the column in their camp, the attitude of Poiboi to the expedition was considered uncertain to ascertain. The column's advances were unpopular to the Lushais under the vassal settlements of Chipooee and Tingridong under Poiboi, which was practically independent to some extent. The column was anxious to secure the neutrality of the settlements while the settlements were hesitant to accommodate the force in case it went against Poiboi's wishes.^[15] As the column ascneded to the settlement of Chipoee, Darpong and a crowd of Lushais were met. A imposter of Poiboi claimed to meet with the General. However, once discovered of this lie, the General warned them that he would now listen to no one but Poiboi in his own principal settlement. A party was left behind to patrol the settlements while three upas were taken as hostages.^[16]

The force set out southeastward. The force arrived at another mountain ridge before approaching two paths. The Lushais had placed warnings and threats of crossing the ridge. However, the general continued to pursue the ridge path without issue while later on the safer path was discovered to be prepared for an ambush.^[16] On 25 January, Darpong returned to the General at their encampment after being sent to summon Poiboi. Darpong warned the column that Poiboi would attack the column if he were to continue further. The general and his force would be attacked further on from all sides in a difficult terrain for the troops. The general was wounded, but the war party was driven off. The attack proved that Poiboi had sided with Lalbura and opposed the column. As a result, the column sent out parties to burn settlements on the neighbouring hills. The force also displayed their force by utilising artillery which caused the Lushais to flee their stockades and abandon their settlements. Investigation of the corpses discovered ammunition from the raids at Nugdigram which further validated the progress of the column to the goals of the expedition. Poiboi was warned via envoys that a heavy fine of mithun and other accessories with complete submission could compensate the mistake in opposing the expedition or else all his villages will be burnt.^[17]

The force would cross three ridges at great heights to the top of Lengting range to become into sight at Sellam. Darpong arrived with offering but it failed to stop the advance of the column. Sellam was found deserted by Poiboi and the column entered without resistance. The following day, Lushais arrived at the forces encampment. Thye argued that only Poiboi's submission could save their settlements. Poiboi did take initiative in this by sending emissaries to General Nuthall and the manipuris however, no progress was made in his submission to General Bourchier in Sellam. At Sellam, the force assembled and prepared for their final operation to capture Lalbura.^[18]

On 12 February, the troops started upon the final stage of the expedition. Five days of marching southwards through the elevated mountain ranges and ridges brought them into full view of Champhai, where Lalbura resided. Lalbura was known as the son of Vonolel. On 17 February, the force entered Lalbura's settlement, which another force had besieged. The Manipur contingent withdrew due to disease outbreaks. Their absence inspired the Sukte tribes, enemies of the Lushais, to descend on Lalbura amidst the panic of the expedition. Lalbura had defended himself from the Sukte chief Kamhau with heavy losses. Due to this, Lalbura deserted his village and burned it to the ground. Only Vonolel's tomb was untouched by the burning of the settlement. Vonolel's widow, Rolianpuii was known to reside on a neighbouring hill. Her settlement was fined war gongs, mithun, goats which she readily paid.^[19] A peace agreement was made with Rolianpuii on behla for Lalbura that:

British agents would have free access to the village.
Three hostages would accompany the force to Tipaimukh if Lalbura could not be surrendered into their custody.
Arms and guns taken from the raids at Moinerkhal and Nugdigram would be surrendered. If unable to, then their own weapons would compensate the ones looted.
A fine of two elephant tusks, a necklace, and a war gong. Along with the fine, a number of animals were demanded, consisting of four mithuns, ten goats, ten pigs, fifty fowls and twenty maunds of husked rice.

If the last two terms were unable to be completed, then the column would attack the settlement of Rolianpuii in Chawnchhim on the 20th of February. The column moved to Rolianpuii's village of Chawchhin. Difficulties were proclaimed in collecting the muskets but the quota was fulfilled by nighttime and three upas were chosen to accompany the column to Tipaimukh.^[20]

Poiboi had met with the Lushai assistants under John Edgar but still did not commit to come in and sue for peace. The column considered this one of its failures. However, the force returned to Cachar without any attacks.^[21]

In January and February of 1872, the expedition saw an immigration of captives under Poiboi and Lemkham. A total of 649 captives were rescued and 2,112 refugees cross to Manipur to request protection from the King. The captives and refugees arrived at the Manipur camp at Chibu. Statistics of the refugees showed 373 being Sukte who took refuge with the Lushais during famine, 967 Paites who were vassal of Poiboi's villages, 110 Soomties who were vassals of Kamhau's Sukte settlement and 612 Lushais from Bomhung's villages which had been destroyed by Kamhau. The king of Manipur assigned plots of land in the Thangching hills and valleys. Food was also provided until the settlers could become subsistent.^[22]

Aftermath

Assam now enjoyed comparative peace until 1888-1889, when the hillmen raided into Chittagong, and Assam furnished a force of 400 police under the command of Mr. Daly to co-operate with General Tregear's column. Entering the hills from Cachar, the police, with a detached force of the Chittagong column, attacked and destroyed several villages which were implicated in the raids into Chittagong in 1888. When the troops retired at the close of the operations, they left two posts in the North Lushai hills—one at Aijal, the other at Changsil—and a Political Officer was appointed to administer the North Lushai Tract, with headquarters at Aijal.^[7] In 1891, another British column was murdered, leading to the Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1889-90.

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sausmarez & Tuck 1896, p. 14.
^ Sausmarez & Tuck 1896, p. 14 cites Mackenzie's North-Eastern Frontier of Bengal, Chapter XXI.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Low 1883, p. 110.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Sausmarez & Tuck 1896, p. 15.
^ Charles Low states two columns with 20 days of provisions; one column was under the command of Brigadier-General Nutthal and the other under consisting of the 7th Native Infantry under the command of Major Stephenson (Low 1883, p. 110)
^ Nag 2018, p. 205.
^ ^a ^b ^c Sausmarez & Tuck 1896, p. 16.
^ Reid 1893, p. 14.
^ Reid 1893, p. 15.
^ Reid 1893, p. 17.
^ Reid 1893, p. 18.
^ Reid 1893, p. 19.
^ Reid 1893, p. 20.
^ ^a ^b Reid 1893, p. 21.
^ Reid 1893, p. 22.
^ ^a ^b Reid 1893, p. 23.
^ Reid 1893, p. 24.
^ Reid 1893, p. 25.
^ Reid 1893, p. 26.
^ Woodthorpe 1873, p. 298.
^ Reid 1893, p. 27.
^ Brown 1874, p. 56.

Sources

Brown, R. (1874), Statistical Account of the Native State of Manipur and the Hill Territory under Its Rule, Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing{{citation}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)

Low, Charles Rathbone (1883), Major-General Sir Frederick S. Roberts, Bart., V. C., G. C. B., C. I. E., R. A., a Memoir, London: W. H. Allen and co., p. 110

Nag, Sajal (2018). "Shaming the self, negating history: Advent of evangelicals and transformation of a community in colonial North East India". In Seshan, Radhika; Kumbhojkar, Shraddha (eds.). Re-searchinhg Transitions in Indian History. New York: Routeledge. ISBN 978-0-429-48756-9.

Reid, A.S. (1893). Chin-Lushai Land: Including a description of the various expeditions into the Chin-Lushai Hills and the final annexation of the country. Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Co.

Attribution

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Sausmarez, Carey, Bertram; Tuck, Henry Newman (1896), The Chin Hills: a history of our people, Rangoon, Printed by the superintendent, government printing , Burma, pp. 12–16{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link). A note on page 16 states that: "This account is condensed from Mackenzie's North-Eastern Frontier of Bengal, pages 313–316."