New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-19


DESCRIPTION OF TIE LOOsHAI COUNTRY AND
IT'S NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE BRITISH
EXPEDITION.
The Looshai country, within which tho Brit
.sh Government has just terminated successful cam
psgn in India lying north Of the British Province OF
Cbiagong southwest Of the protected State OF NUM-
Pore south Of the tea district portion Of British Cachar
and due west OF the protected State Of Tpperah. The
best way find this country is to draw line due east
from Calcutta. At distance OF about 800 miles this line
strikes the southeastern angle Of the district in Ques
ton. This tract of country is about co miles broad
ct the widest part and 195 miles long. 1t is
lllly and densely covered with Jungle, traversed
BY numerous streams and only sparsey Inhabited by
temnomadc race Of men. who pass their time alNr-
nately In rude cultivation, hunting and internal war
fare varied by occasional predatory ncursOns on terri
tory occupied either by the British or the semiindepon
dent states protected by Great Britain There are no
roads the district having been surveyed and being
Is little explored the interior OF Africa. The best
paths the dry beds Of streams by tTaversDg which
the traveller only obtains Of passage through
hills and jungle but also shelter FROM the rays OF The
tun afforded by oyerhangiDg trees.
Respecting the inhabitants Of this country they are
little known the country isoli, but believed By
some TO be of the Malay origin. They divided into
numerous clans, OF most OF which the very names
unknown The three principal tribes with which tray
ees have come ~ contact the HowlOng the Syloo,
and the Ruttun POya, which number all about 10000
Individuals These tribes all situated In the south
eastern corner OF the district II been asserted that
Of the chiefs could bring 5000 fighting men into
the field but this statement rcgarded by good author
tiles exaggerated The LOOshas exceedingly brave
tDd warike but extremely cruel setting but very little
vlue on human life, es the following snecdoe viii
.Aow: Ruttun Poiya, powerful Chief who has given
h name 20 taken II from OF the naraudng clans,
STACKED, on one occasion, village which he found de-
nrfa1f r.ffr
4iants with avOley OF abuse which at first only
cited laughter but at length provoked practical retort
the shape Of cutting down Of the most vOcerous
Old women The remainder OF the women then
carried of captiyes, hat after a time one of Them
young and very pretty girl found herself unable to
proceed any further The chief thereupon ordered
Of bis slaves, who his first war-path TO spear
the girl. The latter begged hard for mercy
and her entrealies backed up by the
yGehg slave me chief was however ptess, and in
peadiDgs OF the girl and full OF natural humanity The
sS wound U ON b ts ta ob hniGsng comparatively
coup DE grace with his own hand, and then made the
further proof OF the cruelty Of the Loosha il NAV e
mentioned that their hab securing capves
IL 20 make an inesion IN the wrist, aud pass FEATURES
behind the tendOns.
The cause of these constant raids is twofold-reed
and desire TO obtain skulls without a certain number
" which the obseQues Of chief cannot be propery nr
formed For more than ten Years these maiauders have
been making mTderOus Iaids on British subjects in %
J4Tah, the tea-plsnter OF Cachar Tn ia he fp
tbss made daring lniOad into the Tertiary of he mo-
tocted chief OF MunipOfe, and the British I0vernrient
Resolved on chastsng the perpetrators For This I,r
pose force consisting OF two columns of regular trnno
and body OF police, Gen. Nuthall being placed A.,
command OF the whole, was detailed. Owing 10 delaVs
due TO misInanage or the Inherent dcuites nj TIE
expedition the principal force started AZ TOO lae q ~
Rod OF the and, after marching ia miles witnd,
firing shot wss driven back by the rains Not an enc
ny had been seen' and the affair proved a fail.
nre. The eecond column, under Major Sic.
the actual results obtained were altogether
,ncommepsurate with the expense incurred and The
labor UNDERGONE Embroidered by the failure Of the
attempts TO punish them and relying probably on the
apparently inaccessible nature Of the country the Loo
thss during the early part Of 1871, made an in
snrsoD In the tea districts Of Cachsr murdered Mr.
Winchester and several others and carried of the little
Daughter OF the former into captivity The act put
an end TO all political theories, AID the British
authorities determined 10 their orders the dis
ct OF the offending tribes at the point the sword
me indian Government, acting under the advice Of
ord Napier OF Megdaa, caused force 10 assemble for
iss expedition. This force divided into two col
snhs, each numbering 1878 men. and 10 each column
~ coolies for carrying the baggage were attached.
ane artillery OF the forces was 20 be trans
ksrsed On elephants 100 OF those animals
ht alec employed IN carrying tho baggage OF
49, column In addition 10 the two columns there was
~ subsidiary column, composed OF the contingent OF
.nHjah OF MunipOre. This force included 400 cavalry
hisntfy, 900 artillerynen. and 400 elephants It WAS
noed that the expedition should return TO British
''"'ofy before the fret week In March.