1872.] 
H. Blochmann — Koch Bihxr ancl Asam. 
79 
country, bringing gold, musk, lignum aloes, filfil, sadaj, and silk. These 
articles they gave in exchange for salt, saltpetre, sulphur, and other tilings, 
which the people of Gnwahattl used to furnish. But all armies that 
entered Asam perished, and no caravan ever got safe out of it. If an 
army invaded the country, it was exposed to continual night attacks ; or 
the people withdrew to the hills, and waited for the beginning of the rains, 
when the soldiers were sure to die or could easily be cut off. 
Thus Husain Shah, one of the kings of Bengal, invaded Asam with 
24000 foot and horse and numerous ships. The Rajah withdrew to the 
hills. Husain Shah, therefore, took possession of the country, left his son 
there with a strong detachment, and returned to Bengal. As soon as the 
rains set in, the Rajah came down from the hills and, assisted by his own 
people, who had of course submitted to Husain’s son, killed the prince, 
starved the army, and managed to capture or kill the whole of them. It is 
said that the people who are now called Moslems in Asam, are the descendants 
of the captives of Husain’s army.* 
It is from the misfortunes which have invariably befallen those who 
entered Asam, that the people of India have come to look upon the Asamese 
as sorcerers, and use the word 1 Asam’ in such formulas as dispel witchcraft. 
The Asam Rajahs have always been insolent and proud of their power 
and the number of their men. 
The present Rajah, Jaidliaj Singh, is called Sargi Rajah, because sarg in 
Hindi means ‘ heaven.’ The fellow believes that one of his ancestors 
commanded the heavenly host, and descended from heaven on a golden ladder ; 
and as he found the country beautiful, he remained there instead of returning 
to heaven. The present Rajah is much prouder than his ancestors : for a 
slight fault he will destroy a whole family, or on suspicion throw people into 
fetters. His wife only gives birth to daughters, and has no son ; hence the 
* Vide Prinsep’s list of tho Asam Rajahs, p. 273, of Thomas’s Edition of Prinsep’s 
Useful Tables. His list is based upon the Asam Buranji, or Asam Chronicle, by Huliram 
Dhaikiyal Phukan, of Gawahatti. Another Asam Buranji, or history of the kings of 
Asam, was compiled by Sri Radhanath Bar Bamwa and Knsinath Tumuli Phukan, 
(printed by tho American Baptist Mission Press, Sibsngar, Asam 1844, 8vo , 102 pp.). 
Husain's invasion is generally referred to A. X). 1408, and his son s name is said 
to have been Dalai (Jalal, ?) Gliazi. 
Tho ’ Alamgtmdmah and the Asam Histories speak of an invasion of Asam by 
Muhammad Shah (A. D., 1337). The former work says (p. 731)—“ Muhammad Shah, 
son of Tughluq Shah, sent 100,000 horse well equipped to Asam ; but the whole army 
perished in that land of witchcraft, and not a trace was left of the army. He sent a 
second army to avenge the former disaster ; but when they came to Bengal, they 
would not go farther, and the plan had to be given up.” 
Tims it would seem that Muhammad Tughluq intended to invade China via 
Asam. Vide Dowson, Elliot’s History, Vol. Ill, pp. 241, 242. 
