3.6 Bengalee chupprassee

3.6      Bengalee chupprassee

The cause of the massacre was attributed to the false speech of a Bengalee chupprassee[1], who in a dispute with the Cassyas, prior to Scott's coming up to Nongkhlao, had threatened them with his master's vengeance.
He told them that it was part of his master's plan to subject them to taxation, the same as the inhabitants of the plains. Soon, at the shrill sound of their mountain-whistle, some 1,500 men banded together.

Tirot's men were intent on carrying out a massacre of the foreigners. It was at this stage that Scott escaped the impending danger after Ka Ksan Syiem, the mother of Tirot, crawled stealthily at the dead of the night to Scott's bungalow to inform him of the danger awaiting him and advised him to leave the station at once for Sohra via Mawphlang and avoid Gowhattie as it was safer to take the first alternative.

Scott realised the danger and immediately set out and came to Mawphlang[2] on 1 April 1829. Here he secured shelter in the house of a Lyngdoh who later escorted him to Cherra. They reached Sohra safely and Scott was sheltered by Duwan Singh, the Syiem of Cherra.

Meanwhile the Cossyas skirted around the Nongkhlaw station to perpetrate the massacre of strangers and the destruction of the Company's posts. They could not find Scott, so they rushed to avenge themselves on persons of other rank in the station. It was then that at the recently installed Nongkhlaw convalescent camp (sanatarium),there were two British soldiers, Lieutenants Burlton and Beddingfield. Both were sent for by the Durbar, upon which the latter complied and was immediately murdered on appearing before the Durbar. Ironically Beddingfield had made a special efforts to fit in with the Cossyas. He spoke their language and cultivated friendship with some families at Nongkhlaw. Burlton made good his escape to Kamrup with a company of sepoys but were besieged at the foothills and massacred.

The Cossyas however spared the lives of the Assamese persons in the Company. Messages of support soon poured in from the other Syiems. Tirot was now to champion the cause of the Cossyas, receiving provisions and assistance from all corners in the country.

On hearing of the outrage at Nongkhlao, operations commenced immediately on the Assam side. At that time, there were 50 or 60 men of the Assam Light Infantry at Gowahatty, and aid could not be procured nearer than Bishnath, about 192 kms. away (near Sonitpur/Tezpur, Assam). The first vague report Major White received, merely mentioned that Lieutenant Bedingfeld had been killed, but there was no further information. On hearing the news, Major White requested Lieutenant Hamilton Vetch, commanding at Gowahatty, to march with his detachment, and he accompanied it as well.

The detachment left Gowahatty on 8 April 1829, with 40 men, leaving only 14 or 15 men to protect the place, and the treasury, containing a Lakh and a half of rupees. In ordinary circumstances, this might have been an imprudent move, but as the British rightly guessed, the blow was designed to menace their national power in the hills. It was necessary to make an emergency effort to aid the party at Nongkhlao, or at the very least, to afford them assistance, if retreating.

The detachment entered the Cassya country, and towards evening, surprised the outpost of Jeeran, where a party, under the command of a cousin of the Tirot Sing, was posted to oppose the British. Taken unexpectedly, this warrior rushed out sword in hand, with a few followers, upon the leading section, but seeing himself unsupported, made rapidly for the jungle amidst a shower of balls. The village being situated on a rocky eminence, surrounded by jungle, in which the enemy had taken refuge. To secure their position, it became necessary to set fire to the houses skirting the jungle, but being filled with grain, it spread to the whole village. A lofty pillar of fire rose up from the village, and beyond it, a dense column of smoke towered up to the sky.

Scenes of pillage and plunder soon emerged. Some of the soldiers and camp followers were shooting pigs and fowls, others were roasting them before the fire, some were running about in the colourful dresses of the Cassyas. A few were eagerly searching for arms to carry off as trophies, while other were looking for liquor.

The next morning Major White received two ‘expresses’ and was compelled to return to Gowahatty. They stated that a party of Cassyas had approached within 13 kms. of that place, that the Assamese were supposed to be in league with them, and that most of the Bengalee merchants and Amlahs had taken to their boats (on the Brahmaputra). On arriving at Gowahatty, Major White found that the situation was somewhat exaggerated, but the country being in a state of great agitation, it was necessary to detain Vetch's detachment until reinforcements arrived.

About a week later a Captain Urquhart arrived, with two companies of the 54th Native Infantry, about 80 men strong. At this time reports came in that most probably Scott had perished along with the people connected with the Agency. As there was no pressing call to provide support to the British party in the Cassya Hills, they decided to wait for further information from Sylhet.

About a week later, intelligence was received that Scott had managed to escape, and that the Sylhet force was in motion. Captain Urquhart's detachment immediately advanced, and pushing on by the Bundrew route, reached Nongkhlao, where the detachment met with Scott and some of the officers of the Sylhet party.

Even though Scott was at Cherrapunji, it was not possible for him to go down to Sylhet and so with the Syiem of Cherra’s help, he managed to send a message to the Sylhet authorities. On receiving the news, Captain Lister at once advanced to the heights of the southern mountains whereas the news of the outrageous conduct spread to Gowhattie where Vetch immediately proceeded to Nongkhlaw. Captain Lister commanded the 44th Sylhet Light Infantry from Sylhet side and Lieutenant Vetch commanded the 43rd Assam Light Infantry from the Kamrup Side.

By this time, the Khasi alliance had been further strengthened by further allegiances from the other sides. However, due to the severe chastisement they had received from Captain Lister's detachment, the spirit of the Cassyas was broken.

The conflict was prolonged for about 2 months, and various skirmishes took place, in most of which Scott was present. At one stage, he was out on horseback with a few followers, and, perceiving a body of Cassyas, manoeuvred and kept them in play. He detached a messenger to Captain Lister, who making a detour unseen, came unexpectedly upon the Cassya leaders, in the midst of a grand debate whether they should push on or not. A volley of musketry broke up the gathering, and the leaders retired in great confusion — the Tirot Sing being wounded and a number left dead.

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[1]Uniformed office messenger.

[2]Hamlet Bareh: According to local legend in Mawplang, in the act of gratitude, a few strips of territory were added to this Lyngdohship.