35 
1872.] J. M. Foster — Note on Qhargnon, Asam. 
Acham had usurped from the Kingdom of Bengala, and possessed for many 
years. He attacked this place, and took it by force in less than fifteen 
daies ; thence marching overland towards Chamdara, which is the Inlet into 
the Country of that Raja, he entered into it after 26 daies’ journey, still 
Northward : There a Battel was fought, in which the Raja of Acham was 
worsted, and obliged to retreat to Guerguon, the Metropolis of his King- 
dom, four miles distant from Chamdara. The Emir pursued him so close, 
that he gave him no time to fortifie himself in Guerguon ; For he arrived 
in sight of that Town in five daies, which constrained the Raja, seeing the 
Emir’s Army, to fly towards the Mountains of the Kingdom of Lassa, and 
to abandon Guerguon, which was pillaged as had been Chamdara. They 
found there vast riches, it being a great, very fair and Merchant-like Town, 
and where the women are extraordinarily beautiful. Meantime, the season 
of the Rains came in sooner than usually : and they being excessive in those 
parts, and overflowing all the Country, except such Villages as stand on 
raised ground, the Emir was much embarrassed. For the Raja made his 
people of the Mountains come down from all parts thereabout, and to carry 
away all the provisions of the Field, whereby the Emir’s Army (as rich as 
t’was) before the end of the rains, fell into great streights, without being 
able to go forward or backward. It could not advance by reason of the 
Mountains very difficult to pass, aud continually pester’d with great Rains : 
nor retreat, because of the late Rains and deep ways ; the Raja having also 
caused the way to be digged up as far as Chamdara : So that the Emir was 
forced to remain in that wretched condition during the whole time of the 
Rain ; after which when he found his Army distasted, tired out, and half 
starved, he was necessitated to give over the design he had of advancing, and 
to return the same way he was come. But this retreat was made with so 
much pains, and so great inconveniences, by reason of the dirt, the want of 
victuals, and the pursuit of the Raja falling on the Rear, that every body 
(but he) that had not known how to remedy the disorder of such a March, 
nor had the patience to be sometimes five or six hours at one passage to 
make the Souldicry get over it without confusion, would have utterly 
perished, himself, army, and all ; yet he notwithstanding all these difficulties, 
made a shift to come back with great honour and vast riches. He designed 
to return thither again the next year, and to pursue his undertaking, sup- 
posing that Azo which he # had fortified, and wdiere he left a strong garrison, 
would be able to hold out the rest of the year against the Raja. But he no 
sooner arrived there, but dysentery began to rage in his army. Neither had 
he himself a body of steel more than the rest ; he fell sick and died, whereby 
fortune ended the just apprehensions of Aurengzebe. I say the just appre- 
hensions, for there was none of those that knew this great man, and the 
state of affairs of Industan, who did not say : “ ’Tis this day that Aureng- 
zebe is king of Bengala.” 
