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NOVEMBEE, 1898.)
THE SIEGE OF AHMADNAGAR.
289
lery also from the tops of the towers, with gans and kukkah-basan and pukban [rocketel sent the flames of destruction to the lives of the enemy, and drove them away from the ditch. The well-wishers' exertions in the fight against the enemy were such, that Muhammad Lari, ambassador of His Majesty
Adil-Shah (although there was no pause in the fire of the rockets and guns), in the hottest part of the fight weat up on one of the towers of the fortress opposite the breach in the wall and kindled & khirkah and firing several guns in that khirk zh, opened the doors of destruction in the face of the enemy. As all the defenders were aware of the presence of the Queen herself in the battle, all ranks - young and old - hurried in that direction, and with their own bodies blocked the breach in the wall.
They say that when the Queen arrived in the neighbourhood of the breach, a number of the elephant-keepers brought forward the elephants that they might interpose them between her person and the fire of the enemy, but she forbade them, and would not allow the elephants to be placed in front of her. With the tongue of inspiration she caused the following speech to be interpreted :" Although to take one's own life is forbidden both by the understanding and the divine law, yet I have brought a cup of poison with me, and if (which Heaven forefend !) the enemy take this fortress, I shall drink the cup of poisoa, and free myself from the annoyance of my enemies. Besides, since one will of a certainty obtain the rank of martyrdom from the wound of the enemies of the faith and the State, how can I guard myself against the wounds inflicted by the enemy ?"
Consequently God, the most holy and most high, owing to the sincerity of intention and purity of bar faith, bestowed on the Queen that fortress (which in fact had almost fallen into the hands of the enemy), and de onded it against the oppression of that band of tyranta.
of the people of the fortress, a number who were near the wall, engaged in the work of defence, some were killed by the falling of stones and earth, and some remained firm till the arrival of Majahidad-Din Shamshir Khin and Mubariz-ud-Din Abhang Khin saved the breach. By the will of the Omnipotent, Sadik Mubammad Khin, in order to fire the other mines and breach another part of the fortress, prevented his men from making an assault on the breach, and so gaining an easy victory. A number of rash ones who, in advance of the others had gone into the ditch reached the breach in the fortress, but as no one had the hardiwood to follow them, they stopped ; and after the enemy's force, from the failure of the other mines to explode, abandoned the hope of firing them, the defenders repaired the breach, and displaying much boldness and bravery, killed most of those who had gone into the ditch and scattered themselves about.
In the midst of the fary of battle, an arrow struck Alsal Khin on the breast, but the covering of an amulot which he wore on his arm wated him from injury, and by the felicity of the sincerity of his intentions and the purity of his mind, no annoyance whatever was caused to him.
The remainder of the enemy's force, seeing the state of affairs, and none having the boldness to enter the ditch, with their own hands thoy opened the doors of misfortune and adversity in their own faces; but having no other resouroa, they formed up on the edge of the ditch and attacked the wall of the fortroue. From both sides the world-consuming fire of slanghter and battle blased up.
Although the enemy fought bravely, yet since it was not so decreed by Fate, the face of victory did. not show itself in the mirror of sword and dagger ; and they only opened the register of their endeayours at the verge offering low" and " regret." A number of celebrated and brave men of the enemy's army, by the arrows, stones, gans and match looks of the defenders were overthrown and sent to the house of perdition. Many of the warriors received disabling wounds, and retired with repentance, wailing and restlessness.
When the sun set and darkness came on, the enemy's army, who after all their exertions had experienced no result bat hartfulness and regret, drew back their footsteps from that fatal place, and only half alive, wounded by arrows, matchlocks, cross-bows and stones, went to their habitations.
