History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c42.s11.2

v3.c42.s11.2

Meantime, ever since hearing the news of the advance of the fleet on the 23rd, the army under Farhad Khan had been making strenuous efforts to force a way through the dense jungle towards Chatgaon. At his approach the Mags abandoned their outposts in his way. The Commander-in-Chief himself arrived at Chatgaon on the 26th and made his triumphal entry into the fort the next day. The prize taken was of little money value. It consisted of three elephants, 1026 pieces of cannon made of brass and iron (mostly small pieces, carrying 1 lb. or smaller shot), many matchlocks and camel-swivels (zamburaks), and much ammunition. To this must be added the price of two thousand Mag captives, taken in the entire campaign, and sold into slavery. But the most glorious result of the victory was the release and restoration to home of thousands of Bengal peasants who had been kidnapped by the pirates and held in serfdom. As Shaista Khan very happily put it in his reply to the Emperor's inquiry about the money gain from the newly conquered province, "In truth, its revenue (jama) is the composure (jamait) of the minds of the Muslims [with regard to the pirates]. We can easily imagine how fast cultivation will increase in Bengal, now that Mag violence has been put down." (Cont., 174b.) The fall of Chatgaon caused indescribable joy throughout Bengal. The victors were highly rewarded by the Court. The Nawab gave "wealth beyond measure to the Feringi pirates and one month's pay as bounty to his own officers and the crew of the nawwara." (Cont., 172b.)