Mss Eur F157/324(16)

Genre: Historical Events

Distant view of burning grain houses. This reprisal again the Daflas was a result of increasing Dafla hostility to the British mission. On 21 February the party found the road into the Borelli Valley blocked by felled trees, with groups of Dafla warriors shadowing the convoy. Shortly afterward 40 armed Daflas surrounded the British camp but left with attacking. For a few days relations improved, but when Riang was reached, the situation had again deteriorated: '...Our interpreter stayed behind in the village, about 10 minutes after we had left numbers of men from the neighbouring villages arrived, they were all fully armed with swords, bows, spears, and they all caried shields, the latter are a sign of war. There was not now the least doubt as to their intentions, and it was quite evident that they meant to surprise us whilst we were in their village. They stayed about all day, but did nothing actually hostile...The following day we left camp at 7 a.m. As our advance guard reached Riang, a large number of Daflas were seen streaming up the khud on both sides of the village. The village itself was full of armed men, who as we came were endeavouring to erect a barricade. At this moment Captain Graham, who was with the rear guard, opened fire at the men advancing up the khud side. He did so just at the right time, as immediately afterwards a thick fog descended and nothing could be seen more than 20 yards off. It was an unpleasant position, as the khud side was lined with Daflas, whom we could hear but could not see. The coolies behaved excellently. Our advance, flank, and rear guard opened a slow fire, and we managed to get our whole party clear of the village...The Dafla casualties were to-day, I fancy, about 16 or 17...We had no casualties. Early next morning we left camp at 7-30. We went along very carefully, but saw no sign of Daflas. We continued our march till we got to the village of Yefan. There we saw a few men who waved green branches to signify peace. I met them and spoke to them. They acknowledged that some of their men had been at Riang. I told them I should fine them 20 pigs and 10 swords, and that they must produce the goanbura; they then said that would go and collect the fine, but instead of doing so, they left the village. I waited a while for them. As we left the village, the men shouted at us from the hill side, but they did not come on. I burnt all their grain houses, which is a very severe punishment...'