A History of Assam c12.113

c12.113

The Ahoms renewed their attacks upon Garhgāon, and in one of their assaults succeeded in burning down a number of houses. On another occasion they entered a bamboo fort which the Muhammadans had constructed, and occupied half of Garhgāon; they were repulsed, but with great difficulty. The Muhammadans were now reduced to severe straits. They were exposed to constant attacks both by day and by night. The only food generally obtainable was coarse rice and limes. Salt was sold at thirty rupees per seer, butter at fourteen rupees a seer, and opium at sixteen rupees a tola. Fever and dysentery became terribly prevalent, and a detachment which numbered fifteen hundred men at the beginning of the war was reduced to five hundred. Many horses and draught cattle also died. To add to his troubles, Mir Jumla heard that Prān Nārāyan had returned and driven out the garrison he had left in Koch Bihār. The troops, commanders and common soldiers alike, had become utterly dispirited, and they thought only of returning to their own homes.