The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s2.32

v4.c23.s2.32

Aurangzib himself would have executed Shujā‘, but he did not like others doing it, and also it was necessary to curb the piracy of the Maghs. Shāyista Khān, the Mughul viceroy of Bengal, built a fleet, and in 1665 drove them out of their strong stockades on Sandwīp island. The news spread consternation, and the king in fear began to distrust the feringhis who, suspecting that he would exterminate their families, accepted the offers of Shāyista Khān and deserted to him with their families in forty-two galleys laden with munitions. In 1666 Shāyista Khān's force of 6500 men and 288 boats took Chittagong in a thirty-six hours' siege. They sold 2000 Arakanese into slavery, and captured 1026 cannon, mostly jingals throwing a one-pound ball. Many ships were sunk in action, 135 were captured, and two state elephants were burnt in the sack. Such of the Arakanese garrison as escaped tried to march home, but they were attacked by their former slaves, the kidnapped Muslims of Bengal, who had been settled on the land.²