page_title: Tashons people
section_title: The Fall of Fahlam (13 March 1892)
hierarchical_section_title: Tashons people / The Fall of Fahlam (13 March 1892)
caption_attribution_description: English: British Column Halted Previous to Final Advance on Fahlam
context_page_description: The Tashons people are ethnic tribes that live in the Falam Township, in the central part of Chin State, Myanmar. The Tashons were the most powerful tribes in the north of the Chin Hills prior to the British Empire's annexation of the region. Their influence extended over the borders of Manipur in the north, Hualngo and Lusai Hills in the west, the Phau River in the south and the Kalay-Kabaw Valley and Zanniat land in the east. They practiced a democratic system where the position of Chief was attained not by the virtue of birth but by vote of the people. The Tashons tribe and their villages were ruled by the Fahlam Council or Tashon Democratic Council, locally known as Nam Kap. The Tashons people have their own language, customs and culture.
context_section_description: After the expedition of March 1891, the Tashons promised the British of good behaviours, however, Throughout 1891, the Chin people continued to rebel against the British. The British had it enough and prepared to rule the Tashons directly and put Chin Hills under their firm control. For this, they prepared the final expedition to the capital. In March 1892, the British force then prepared another expedition to the capital with two columns as in 1890 and 1891 expeditions. The political officer of Chin Hills Mr. B.S. Carey writes about the needs for the British to keep under their direct rule as thus: “Throughout Chin Hills, Tashons were regarded as powerful rivals to ourselves, it was therefore necessary to bring this tribe under our control, so that our authority in the country might be universal and paramount. The Tashons had, however, never shown any active hostility towards us, and instructions were therefore issued to the effect that, while promptly suppressing any resistance that might be met with, every effort was to be used to carry out the programme peaceably and to avoid recourse to military force. As the Tashons and their tributaries were supposed to be able to muster 10,000 fighting men, two columns were told off for the expedition”. The two columns consisted of the followings: 
  The column from Hakha under Major Hewlett, and Burma Regiment, consisted of Royal Artillery, Section No. 8, B. M. B., Lieutenant Knapp, and 65 men.
  King's Royal Rifles, three officers and loo rifles under Major Gunning.
  10 rifles, 4th Madras Pioneers. 130 rifles and 20 mounted infantry, Burma Battalion, under Captain Presgrave.
  360 coolies and 200 mules, Darjeeling cooly corps, Lieutenant Watson, King's Royal Rifles, in charge.
  Staff Officer— Lieutenant Evatt, 39th Garhwal Rifles.
  Medical Officer— Surgeon-Captain Newland, I.M.S.
  The column from Hakha was originally to have started in February 1892, however, they could only march on 10 March 1892. For some time before the column started marching, the British sent spies and reported that the Tashons also prepare for war. Military intelligence from the Fort White column also reported the warlike intentions of the Tashons. At this point, the Tashons tried to persuade the Hakha in the south and the Sizangs and Sukte in the north to bring about a general uprising, but failed to win over those tribes. Failing in the general uprising attempt, the Tashon Chiefs met with the Lt. Macnabb from the Hakha column at Mangkheng. Lt. Macnabb pointed out to the Tashons that resisting such the British columns will be catastrophic for the Tashons. The Hakha column arrived at Ngalzawl on 13 March 1892 and the northern column also arrived at Parte on 13 March 1892. The Tashons chiefs were told that for the first time in their history that the British intended to occupy their proud capital Fahlam. The Tashons strongly objected. The Tashons thought that the British would camp at Ngalzawl for a few days and left as they had done in the previous two expeditions. However, the British troops marched towards Fahlam but the Tashons offered no resistance and the village was peacefully occupied by the British force.
  
  On 14 March reinforcement from the Gungal column also marched to Fahlam, having camped the previous night 2 miles below the village. Mr. Carey then joined Lieutenant Macnabb and the Falam Chiefs were summoned to talk over affairs. The Tashon chiefs were informed that their village had been occupied as an imposition of punishment for their breach of faith, in attempting to instigate a general uprising against the British force and the British intend to establish a permanent post at Fahlam. The Tashons were forbidden in future to levy tribute from the Kamhau, Sizangs or Sakhiling. So long as the Chiefs were obedient and loyal their rights and privileges would be maintained and their authority assured both over the Tashons and over their tributaries. The Chiefs were warned that any tributary tribes who offered resistance when visited by our officers would be removed from their control and administered direct
caption: British Column Halted Previous to Final Advance on Fahlam
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