A History of Assam c11.125

c11.125

Three months later, the Burhā Gohāin, Aikhek, was deputed to sue for peace. This was granted on the following conditions, *viz.*:—the acknowledgment of the Koch supremacy, the cession of a considerable tract of country on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, the delivery of a number of sons of the chief nobles as hostages, and the payment, as a war indemnity, of sixty elephants, sixty pieces of cloth and a large quantity of gold and silver. In the autumn, after these conditions had been complied with, Chilārāi returned to his own country, leaving a garrison at Nārāyanpur to hold the ceded territory on the north bank. As soon as he had departed, Sukhāmphā proceeded to his capital and at once took vigorous steps to repair losses and restore order. An enquiry was made into all the circumstances attending the reverses which the Ahoms had sustained, and the conclusion was arrived at that they were due to gross neglect to take proper steps for the defence of the country on the part of Aikhek, the Burhā Gohāin, who was in consequence dismissed from his appointment. One Kankham was appointed in his place, and was given strict injunctions to repair the forts, mount cannon where necessary, and re-organize the military arrangements in such a way as to enable future invasions to be repelled. A strong fort was erected at the mouth of the Dikhu. Soon afterwards Nārāyanpur was recovered from the Koches. Salā was next occupied by a strong force, and a fort was constructed there. In 1564 the hostages taken by the Koch king were returned. The common tradition is that they obtained their freedom owing to the success of one of their number in a game of dice with Nar Nārāyan, but in a *Buranji* of the Koch kings it is said that the release of the hostages was decided on by Nar Nārāyan after his defeat by the Gaur Padshah, in order to obtain the Ahom king's friendship, and to avert an attack at a time when resistance would have been difficult. If this story can be relied on, it affords an explanation of the ease with which the Ahoms recovered their lost territory on the north bank. It is said that a number of Koch artisans accompanied the Ahom hostages on their return to their own country. Amongst them were potters skilled in the art of making images of Durgā and other Hindu deities.