Page:Studies in Mughal India.djvu/154
trustworthy men out of those taken prisoner in the ships, wrote to the qiladar who represented the Rajah of Arracan, "Why should you needlessly destroy yourself and your family? Before you are forcibly seized and sacrificed to our swords, give up your fort, and save your life and property." The qiladar, feeling himself helpless and in need of protection, sent back the reply that he should be granted respite for the night and that next morning he would admit them.
CHATGAON FORT SURRENDERS.
In the morning of 26th January, 1666, which was the sunset of [the glory of] the Maghs, the commandant opened the fort gate and informed Ibn Husain, who started for the fort. But Munawwar Khan zamindar had entered it before him, and his companions had set fire to it. Ibn Husain entered soon afterwards, and tried his best to put out the fire, but in vain. The fire was so violent that he could not stay there, but came out bringing the qiladar away with himself.
When the fire went out, he again proceeded to the
army. The Imperial forces by land and sea encircled the fort. The garrison, after making great exertions, found that they could not resist the Mughal army, and at last sought safety. The second day of the siege, 26th January, 1666, the Imperial army gained possession of the fort, the whole province of Chatgaon, and the entire artillery and navy of the place. ... [p. 953]. The Governor of Chatgaon, who was the son of the Arracan king's uncle, was taken prisoner with one son and some other relatives, and nearly 350 men of the tribe, 132 ships of war, 1,026 guns made of bronze and iron, many matchlocks and zamburaks (camel pieces), much shot and powder, other artillery materials, and three elephants, were captured Large numbers of the peasants of Bengal who had been carried off and kept prisoner here, were now released from the Magh oppression and returned to their homes."