56 
H. Bloehmann — Koch Bihar and A’sdm. 
[No. 1 
because he afforded protection to the people when the tax-gatherers came 
amongst them, and indirectly influenced the zamiudars of other imperial 
districts to delay the customary payments. 
During the governorship of Qasim Khan several chiefs had been sent 
to these districts with 10 to 12000 soldiers armed with shields and swords. 
Such soldiers are called pdiks, and had before been in Hajo, and lived on the 
lands which the Bengal governors had given them as jagirs, being engaged 
either in cultivation or keeping up Ic'hedahs (enclosures for catching wild 
elephants). But as these men had been remiss in forwarding elephants, 
Qasim Khan called the chiefs to Dhaka and imprisoned them for some time, 
after which he let them off on payment of a fine of 30,000 Rupees. The 
result was that Santosh Lashkar and Jairam Lashkar, who were the chiefs 
of the Paiks, fled to the Sargdeo Rajah of Asam, who provided for them, 
and thus attached them to his party. Again, when Islam Khan was ap- 
pointed to Bengal, Satrjit, the wicked Thanahdar of Pandu, made common 
cause with Baldeo, and instigated him to profit by the change of gover- 
nors and push forward. Baldeo thereupon collected an army of Asamese 
and Kochis, left Durang, and attacked ’Abdussalam, who was in charge of 
Koch Hajo and had been ordered to look after the k’hedahs. ’Abdussalam 
reported matters to Islam Khan and asked for reinforcements. 
Islam Khan, therefore, in the 9th year of Shahjahan’s reign (1st Jumada 
II., 1045 to 1st Jumada II., 1016, or A. D. 1636), sent ’Abdussalam’s bro- 
ther, Shaikh Muhiuddin, together with Muhammad £alih Kamlni, Mirza Mu- 
hammad Bukhari and other imperial Mumyibdirs, as also Sayyid Zainul’abi- 
din, one of his own soldiers of merit, with 1000 horse, 1000 matchlockmen, part- 
ly imperial and partly belonging to his own contingent, and 10 ghrahs and 
nearly 200 kosahs and jalbahs* all well provided and fitted out, to ’Abdus- 
salam’s assistance. An officer was at the same time ordered to hasten to G’ho- 
rag’hat.and there collect boats, to convey the army and the baggage. The rainy 
season delayed matters, and when the forces reached G’horag’hat, the horses 
and the heavy baggage were left behind till the end of the rains, whilst the 
men proceeded in small boats upwards. Muhammad f alih, whose kosahs 
were swift going, had a start of two days and arrived first in Hajo. At this 
time Satrjit, the traitor, sent a message to ’Abdussalam, stating that he had 
heard from spies that the Asamese intended to make a night attack on his 
thanah. ’Abdussalam, therefore, ordered Muhammad palih to accompany 
Satrjit and protect his thanah. After a short march, night overtook them, 
and Satrjit asked Muhammad f'alih to remain where they were, whilst he 
would go and get information about the thanah. But as next morning 
Satrjit had not returned, Qalih broke up, and met Satrjit half-way with 
his ships, who gave out that the Asamese had attacked and taken his 
thanah with superior forces, and he had fled to save at least the ships. 
* Kinds of ships ; vide below. 
