THE NAGA HILLS MASSACRE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 273, 27 April 1875, Page 3

THE NAGA HILLS MASSACRE.

{Calcutta Englishman.') A correspondent, whom we believe to be well informed, sends us the following particulars of the late disaster in the Naga Hills. The party, consisting of Lieutenant Holcombe, assistant commissioner, in charge ; Captain Badgley, surveyor, a guard of fortytwo men of the 44th Silhet Light Infantry, and twenty-two men of the Silhet police, with coolies, &c, had been successfully working the survey since November. On the morning of the 7th inst, the news came into the station at Dibrugarh that the party had been attacked by the Nagas in the hills, that Lieutenanc Holcombe and a number of his party had been massacred, and that Captain Badgley had been seriously wounded. A consultation was held, and within a short time Dr M'Kay was in his saddle on his way to Jaipur, and in the course of the day Major Tulloch and Mr Goad, district superintendent, with a detachment of the 44th, started to give what aid might be required to any of the party who might still be in the hills. At Jaipur they found that Captain Badgley had arrived, and was in the able hands of Dr M'Kay. The survivors had also come down from the hills. The story of the massacre was here learned in detail. On the morning of the 2nd instant the party were at an Abor-Naga village, called Neun. It was about 6 a.m. Lieutenant Holcombe was talking to some Nagas ; Captain Badgley was dressing, and the men and coolies "were eating their morning meal or packing up, the party intending to march to another camp. Nagas were all about the camp, on the pretence of selling fowls, potatoes, &c, to the men, two and three wherever our men were. Suddenly one of the Nagas gave a shout, bill-hooks were out, and each small group of Nagas struck at the heads of the men nearest them, and Lieutenant Holcombe was the first to receive his death wound, a blow from a bill hook. He fell to the ground. Four Nagas rushed at Captain Badgley, who was in his tent, in the act of tying hii shoes. Directly he saw them coming, he put his hand up t» get his revolver, which was hanging at the side, Whilst doing this one of the Nagas struck at his head. He avoided the blow, and the billhook struck him on the thigh, inflicting a nasty wound Captain Badgley soon got his revolver in hand, and fired, knocking one of the four men? over. The others might have done him serious mischief had he not had a back door to his tent, for he backed out with revolver in hand. The Nagas, however, succeeded in giving him three more wounds. When he got well into the open, the whole affair was over, and not a Naga was to be seen. Lieutenant Holcombe and some eighty men had fallen. Of these eleven were of the 44th, and eight of the Silhet Police. Captain Badgley took steps to prevent the Nagas carrying off Lieutenant Holcombe's body, and gathering the survivors together, brought them all safely down to the plains (although followed by the Nagas, who had gone round to intercept them), the majority of them walking the whole distance with wounds which are very severe. There are forty-two wounded in the hospital at Jaipur. Such is the story of this horrible tragedy. Major Tulloch ,and Mr Goad are now at the foot of the hills, and are hourly expecting orders to proceed to the Bormettion friendly Naga village, which is two days' march from the scene of the disaster. Major Willoughby Clarke, deputy commissioner of Lakhimpur, is expected in camp to-day. Another correspondent, who corroborates the above account in most of its details, adds that Mr Chennell, the surveyor who accompanied the party, has not yet been heard of.