History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c41.s7.1

v3.c41.s7.1

Through all these dark months of alarm, suspense and even despair, the one steadfast ray of hope came from the Mughal navy under admiral Ibn Husain. The *nawwara* saved itself and thus saved the army, for, no invader of the Brahmaputra valley from Bengal can triumph or even remain alive without the mastery of the water and unbroken communication with his base by boat. When, early in the rainy season, Mir Jumla was isolated by the enemy, Ibn Husain acted on his own initiative very wisely and successfully. He made no futile attempt to reopen the road to Garhgaon before the return of dry weather, he withdrew the *thana* of Dewalgaon as needlessly expensive, but strengthened the outposts at Koliabar and westwards as vitally necessary for safeguarding his communication with Bengal. His boats plied up and down the river and kept constant touch with Gauhati and through it with Dacca and Delhi. Then he landed and made reprisals against the Ahom nobles sheltering in the Majuli island, so as to make it impossible for them to molest the fleet at its anchorage at Lakhau.