A History of Assam c14.62

c14.62

Meanwhile, in Upper Assam, steps were being taken to form a standing army, modelled on the pattern of that maintained by the East India Company. It was recruited in the first instance from men who had served with credit in the Burhā Gohāin's operations against the Moāmariās. They were given a uniform, armed with flint-lock guns purchased in Calcutta, and drilled and disciplined by two of Captain Welsh's native officers, who had been induced by heavy bribes to remain in Assam.* With the aid of this force the king's officers were once more able to show a bold front to the Moāmariās and other internal enemies, and, but for the intervention of the Burmese, the downfall of the Ahom dynasty might have been considerably delayed.