A History of Assam c20.2

c20.2

It is impossible to say what would have been the ultimate fate of the unhappy Assamese, had they been left unaided to the tender mercies of the Burmese. The latter, however, soon embroiled themselves with the British, for whom they had conceived the greatest contempt. This feeling seems to have been engendered, partly by their own easy victories in other directions, partly by the paucity of British troops along the frontier, and partly by the proved inefficiency of the Ahom standing army, which was dressed and drilled on the model of the Company's sepoys. But, whatever the cause, they began to behave with the greatest insolence and to commit various wanton acts of aggression, not only along the northern frontier of Bengal, but also on the borders of Chittagong and Sylhet. Remonstrances were made by the Governor-General without effect, and it was at last decided to resort to arms.