A History of Assam c14.37

c14.37

The efforts which Welsh made to induce Gaurināth to conciliate his numerous enemies by acts of clemency were frustrated, not only by the vindictive disposition of the king himself, but also by the evil advice given to him by the Bar Barua and other ministers. It was discovered that, since the Raja's return to Gauhāti, no less than one hundred and thirteen persons had been murdered, including twenty-four for whose good treatment Welsh himself had given special orders. Seventy others were found in prison dying from starvation. Strong measures were taken to put a stop to these and other atrocities. The Bar Barua and the Soladharā Phukan were placed under arrest; the dismissal of the Bar Phukan was insisted on; and the Raja himself was severely rebuked. The latter, far from showing any signs of contrition, accepted full responsibility for all the brutalities that had been committed, and declared that he would rather abdicate than forgo the power of killing and mutilating his subjects at will. He was therefore deprived temporarily of all authority, save over a hundred attendants who were placed at his disposal. A new Bar Phukan was appointed, and entrusted with the administration of Lower Assam. Two manifestoes were issued, one to the people of Assam, and the other to the chiefs and nobles. In the former, the people were informed that, in future, justice would be righteously administered, and certain days were appointed on which complaints would be heard and grievances redressed; in the latter the chiefs and nobles were invited to come to Gauhāti, and assist in concerting measures for ameliorating the condition of the country.