§ MR. PATESHALLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, If the Government has received any definite information respecting the fate of Lieutenant Holcombe, who recently was murdered, with eighty other British subjects, by the Naga Hill Tribes, on the frontiers of Assam, while engaged on an exploring survey?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONYes, Sir, we have received definite information confirming the news of the murder of Lieutenant Holcombe and 80 British subjects, by a very treacherous attack made upon them by the Nagas on the 2nd of February, 1875. Captain Badgeley, who was with him, and was wounded, gives an account of the attack, from which the following is an extract:—
About sunrise there were a number of Nagas in camp. Sitting in my tent, I heard one of the head-men say to Lieutenant Holcombe, 'The village head-man is there, but is afraid of the gun.' lieutenant Holcombe took the rifle from the sentry and gave it to the Naga, who then began to dance and laugh with the rifle on his left shoulder. One of the young men near Lieutenant Holcombe felled him with a blow from behind on the side of the head, and there was a yell raised all through the camp.Captain Badgeley then describes his escape, due to his falling over a stump; and he goes on to say—When I got to my feet again, the Nagas had disappeared and a wail was rising from the camp. Running to where Lieutenant Holcombe lay, I found him with two crossed cuts on the right side of the head. A minute of treachery has cost us the lives of 80 men, and of a fine and kind-hearted young officer.Lieutenant Holcombe was a most promising young officer, and his murder has deprived the Government of the services of one in whom they had great confidence and reliance. An expedition was despatched at once against the Nagas, and we have received the following telegram from India:—" Naga expedition returned. Heavy punishment inflicted on Nagas. No casualties."