A History of Assam c10.84

c10.84

Bali Nārāyan was installed by the victorious Ahoms as tributary raja of Darrang, and was renamed by them Dharma Nārāyan. Three thousand Chutiyas were at the same time sent from Upper Assam and settled as pāiks in the Mangaldai sub-division. Dharma Nārāyan crossed the Bar Nadi and invaded Kāmrup, while Sanātan made an attack on the garrison at Barnagar. The Muhammadans repelled both these attacks, but they were at once called upon to face a rising on the south bank where "the 18 hill rajas" declared their independence and built a stockade at Râni, a few miles south-west of Gauhāti. They attacked Sahin, who was encamped at Pāndu, but were defeated after a severe struggle. A few days later Sahin took their stockade, but at this juncture Ibrahim Khan was appointed governor of Bengal in supersession of Qāsim Khan, who was regarded as responsible for Aba Baqar's disastrous expedition, and Qāsim's partisans in Assam thereupon deserted their posts. Shaikh Ibrahim, the revenue collector of Hājo thinking he saw a chance of making himself independent, sought an alliance with the Ahoms. This was promised on condition that he first drove out the Imperialists from Hājo. Thus encouraged, he stirred up the Koches to a fresh rebellion. Sanātān attacked the Mughal fort at Damdama and Dharma Nārāyan laid siege to Pāndu, but both were driven off. Ibrahim's treachery was discovered; and although he was assisted by the Ahoms, Sahin defeated and killed him. The Ahoms with Dharma Nārāyan occupied Pāndu and advanced towards Hājo, but were defeated with heavy losses, as will be narrated in Chapter VI. The country was still, however, far from settled, and Sahin was constantly fighting with Dharma Nārāyan, Samru and the 18 hill rajas. He was defeated by the Ahoms and Dharma Nārāyan in a surprise attack, and fled with a few survivors to Suālkuchi, after killing his women to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. Having received reinforcements from Bengal, he again took the offensive, captured Samru and forced the hill rajas to submit. On the arrival of further reinforcements (in 1619) he advanced to Pāndu but was overwhelmed by the Ahoms in another surprise attack and fled in great disorder to Hājo.∗ Fresh quarrels now broke out between the Muhammadan leaders, and when Shah Jahān rebelled against his father, Sahin left his post to support him. An attempt was made to come to terms with the Ahoms, but the negotiations broke down. The Muhammadans, however, were too disorganized to carry on the war effectively and contented themselves with holding Hājo and a few other strongholds.