A History of Assam c12.153

c12.153

"Once Husain Shah, a Sultan of Bengal, entered Assam with 20,000 foot and horse and numberless boats, and the Raja leaving his kingdom, fled to the hills. Husain Shah then returned to Bengal, leaving his son with most of his troops to occupy the country. When the rainy season arrived and the roads became closed, the Raja came down from the hills to the low country and surrounded Husain Shah's son with the help of his subjects who had professed submission to the latter. And that unfortunate prince and troops, soon becoming weak through lack of food, were slain or captured. It is said that certain inhabitants of this country who bear the name of Muhammadans are descended from the captured soldiers of that army. And as no one who entered this country ever returned, and the manners of its natives were never made known to any outsiders, the people of Hindustan used to call the inhabitants of Assam sorcerers and magicians and consider them as standing outside the human species. They say that whoever enters this country is overcome by charms and never comes out of it.