A History of Assam c10.78

c10.78

Parikshit now asked the Ahoms to come to his assistance. They consented, on condition that he sent all his available forces to join the Ahom army, but he was unwilling to do this, and elected to carry on the contest alone. The Muhammadans halted at Dhubri for the *Ramazān* (month of fasting), but hearing that Lakshmi Nārāyan, who in accordance with his promise had invaded Parikshit’s territory, was being hard pressed by the latter, Mukarram Khan sent a force under Sattrajit to his assistance. Parikshit was forced to retire, and took up a position on the Gadadhar river, a day's march from Dhubri. The Bengal auxiliaries cut off his supplies by blockading the mouth of this river. Parikshit, rendered desperate, sent his son-in-law, Dumria, against them, with a naval force, while he himself set out for a night attack on Dhubri. Dumria was entirely successful, capturing 250 warboats and inflicting heavy losses on the garrison of a fort which had been constructed by the blockaders. But Parikshit himself suffered unexpected delays and did not reach Dhubri till long after daylight. The Mughals were then ready for him. A battle raged all day without any decisive result, and at night Parikshit withdrew to his former position. The Mughals followed him and he continued his retreat across the Sankosh* to Barnagar on the Monās. Lakshmi Nārāyan joined in the pursuit. Parikshit’s fleet was defeated. He escaped to Pându, but realizing that his case was hopeless, he surrendered himself, his elephants and all his possessions. He was taken to Dacca, whence he was sent, under the Mughal Emperor’s orders, to Delhi. According to local accounts, Jahāngir agreed to restore him to his kingdom, on his undertaking to pay a sum of four lakhs of rupees, and he actually started to return, but fell ill and died on the journey.