THE ABOR CAMPAIGN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 5

THE ABOR CAMPAIGN.

HOW ME. WILLIAMSON WAS KILLED. By Telceraph—Press Association-Copyright Calcutta, December 21. The headmen of certain Abor tribes stato that warriors of Kotung and Kebang, who have since disappeared, were responsible for the murder of Mr. Noel Williamson, British Agent, and other members of his party somo months ago. Mr. Williamson met five Kebaug men, who, learning that ho was not coming to their village, returned to Kobang. Afterwards theso warriors crossed the river and attacked him. HISTOKT OF TEE TliIBB?. The Abor Expeditionary Forco has been, sent lo punish the tribesmen responsible for Urn murder of Mr. Williamson and other members of his party. The Abor Hills arc an ofl'shoofc of tho Himalayan range. So far the Abors have defied exploration of tho upland forests which cover tho hills. Tho natives aro of Tibetan origin, and are Chinese in appearance. They are very fierce: and the Bor Abors make life on tho Dihong-Diboug Plains not worth living, so insistent aro their raids. Villages below their hills aro, therefore, unknown. Three previous i expeditions have penetrated tho region to avenge lawlessness, which culminated ot one time in a massacre near Dibrugarh, tho present expeditionary force's railway base. A number of outposts were at one time erected north of tho Brahmaputra as a consequence. Allowances of salt, opium, meal, and other articles wore then made to tho tribesmen, and this brought some years of peaco. but in 1889 a partr of Miris. belonging to and acting for the Indian Government, were invited beyond tho outpost line and killed by tho PassiMeyongs. They were consequently deprived of their allowances and made to pay tribute. This chafed the tribesmen, and in 1893 they again attacked a British nalivo party. A forco was sent north, which indicted penalties and blockaded the whole of tho region. Under this thoy suffered considorablv, and the block- - ado was raised about ton years ago. Sinco then until this year the behaviour of the tribe, if truculent, Ims been com- ! paratively good, but the instinct for killing occasionally r i<. M above agreement r and bonds. They have continuously raid- : ed their neighbour-tribes, carrying on" , goods, women, and slaves. Lately the ' young men of a new-generation have como 5 into Hie powers of .ho headmen, and the i word of th« elders proviouslv given for goad behaviour has been lightly regarded