A History of Assam c12.24

c12.24

The Ahoms assume the offensive. Pratāp Singh now determined to carry the war into the enemy’s territory. He sent presents to the chiefs of Dimarua, Hojāi, Barduār and other frontier tracts and induced them to join.* He also succeeded in attaching to his cause the chiefs of about ten thousand soldier cultivators, or *pāiks*, who had been settled by Qāsim Khān in Kāmrup. His troops soon reduced the Muhammadan forts at Deomiha, Bantikot, Chamaria and Nāgarberā, after which they entrenched themselves at Pāringa, on the bank of the Kulsi river, and at Niubihā, which had been evacuated by the Muhammadan garrison on their approach. In the course of the operations a Musalman general and many soldiers were killed and a great quantity of booty was captured. Hājo was now invested, and the Muhammadans were defeated in several engagements, in one of which they lost 360 cannon and guns, as well as other stores.†