The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s4.72

v4.c23.s4.72

Singu (1776–82) at once finished the Siamese escapade by withdrawing the armies. His only wars were in Manipur. The rightful raja who fled from the Burmese in 1770 made four attempts to oust their nominee between 1775 and 1782; his base was in Cachār and they drove him back each time, but after 1782 they left him in possession, perhaps because the country was now so thoroughly devastated that nothing more could be wrung out of it. In the first two years, for which Singu was not responsible, the army was absent continuously, losing 20,000 men, partly by fever, and gaining barren victories in Cachār and Jaintia. These states had to present daughters and pay tribute of a tree with the earth still clinging to its roots in token that the king had seisin of the land; and henceforth he claimed these countries, although his suzerainty was, as usual, nominal.