The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.45

v4.c19.45

In August a terrible epidemic broke out in Mīr Jumla's camp at Mathurāpur. Fever and flux carried off hundreds daily, reducing the army to nearly a quarter of its strength; no suitable diet or comfort was available for the sick. Coarse rice and the meat of commissariat bullocks were the food of all from the general down to the humblest soldier. Indeed, the whole of Assam was infected, and 230,000 of its people died of disease that year. At last the garrison of Mathurāpur fell back on Garhgāon (27 August), abandoning their numberless sick. But the refugees only infected the garrison of Garhgāon.