A History of Assam c12.159

c12.159

“They build war boats like the *kosahs** of Bengal, and call them *bacharis*. There is no other difference between the two than this that the prow and stern of the *kosah* have two projecting horns, while those of the *bachari* consist of only one levelled plank; and as, aiming solely at strength, they build these boats with the heart-wood of timber, they are slower than *kosahs*. So numerous are the boats, large and small, in this country that on one occasion the news-writer of Gauhāti reported in the month of Ramzan that up to the date of his writing 32,000 *bachari* and *kosah* boats had reached that place or passed it. The number of boats that conveyed the Imperial army and those inhabitants of Assam who accompanied the Nawab (Mir Jumla) on his return probably exceeded the number mentioned by the news-writer. Probably half of these were owned by Assamese. They build most of their boats of *chambal* wood; and such vessels, however heavily they may be loaded, on being swamped do not sink in the water.