A History of Assam c15.29

c15.29

The *pāiks* were further arranged by *khels*, which were provided with a regular gradation of officers; twenty *pāiks* were commanded by a *Bora*, one hundred by a *Saikia*, one thousand by a *Hazārika*, three thousand by a *Rājkhowa* and six thousand by a *Phukan*; and the whole were under as rigid discipline as a regular army. The *pāiks* were entitled to nominate, and claim the dismissal of, their *Boras* and *Saikias*, and sometimes even of their *Hazārikas*. This was a most valuable privilege, whereby they were saved from much of the oppression that would otherwise have fallen to their lot.