70 
H. Blochmann — Koch Bihar and A’sdm. 
[No. 1, 
large number of tlie retreating enemies. The garrison also of Fort Kajli, 
which lies 7 kos farther from Fort Pandu, had deserted the stronghold. 
Some zamburaks, matchlocks, and a quantity of gimpowder, were captured. 
Fort Srig’hat is bigger and higher than Fort Jogig’hopah. Fort Pandu 
is about equal to Fort Srig’hat ; Fort Kajli is not less important. Idol- 
temples devoted to Gaumuk’hiadebi and Lunachamari and Isma’il Jogi, 
are upon the mountain near Fort Pandu. From the foot of the mountain 
to the top there is a stone staircase of more than 950 and less than 1000 
steps. Fort Kajli lies near the very same ‘ Kajliban,’ which is mentioned 
in Hindu books. It is a place full of elephants. 
At this time Makardhaj,* Rajah of Durang, who is subject to the Rajah 
of A'sara, came and paid his respects to the Nawab, presented an elephant, 
received a khal'at, was promised protection, and was ordered to travel 
with the army. 
Muhammad Bog, a dependent of the Nawab, was made Faujdar of 
Gawahatti, and Hasan Beg Zanganah, also a servant of the Nawab, was made 
Thanahdar of Kajli. 
II. 
After Rashid Khan had occupied Rangamati, before the Nawab had 
left Khizrpur, the zamindars of A'sam had sent an ambassador to Rashid 
Khan with insolent letters. Rashid sent the man to the Nawab, who 
told him in plain terms that if the Rajah of A'sam would restore those 
lands which he had occupied and would send his daughter with a decent 
peshkash and also the guns and other things which he had earned off 
from Kamrup, and make a treaty and give his oath that he would in 
future desist from annoying the imperialists, the Nawab would give up the 
expedition. Indeed the Nawab would have liked such an arrangement, and 
would have contented himself with the cession of Kamrup and a mode- 
rate peskash, as he wished, after the rains were over, to invade Arakan ; 
for his . Majesty had ordered him to send the children and the wives of 
Prince Shuja’ to court. But the Nawab resolved to spttle in this year the 
affairs of Koch Bihar and A'sam, and to go next year to Arakan. The 
ambassador to whom he had given the aboVe answer, did not return ; and 
after having waited some time at Gawahatti, on the 27th Jumada II., the 
Nawab set out, and entered A'sam Proper. Asamese warfare depends upon 
tricks and night attacks ; hence all guards were ordered to do chauki armed 
and with their horses saddled. 
The march was directed to Ghargaon, the capital of the Rajah, which lies 
on the other side of the Brahmaputra. First it was necessary to take Fort 
* The Bibl. Indica Edition of the ’ A'lamgirndmah (p. 703) lias Malirox>anj. 
