A History of Assam c13.57

c13.57

In the meantime the Pāni Phukan proceeded down the Kallang to Rahā. As there was no road between this place and Demerā, forty-one miles distant, the army had to cut its way through dense jungle. This was a most tedious operation, and the rate of progress did not greatly exceed a mile a day.* On the way to Demerā, Salgāon, Lambur and a village of Dharmapur, belonging to a temple of the Goddess Kāmākhyā were sacked. The Kachāris had made preparations to repel the invasion, but were deterred on seeing the strength of the hostile army. As the Ahoms advanced, the inhabitants of the villages along the line of march deserted their homes and fled towards Maibong. Demerā was occupied without opposition. A garrison of 3,000 men was left there, and the army then entered the hills and continued its arduous march to Nādereng, 23 miles distant, which was reached in thirteen days. Here a letter was received from the Bar Barua saying that he had already occupied Maibong. The Pāni Phukan pressed on to join him, and covered the remaining distance of seventeen miles in two days. During his march he had taken in all 322 prisoners and a small quantity of loot.