MERAT. 
215 
having tied his Icummurbund *, or waist-band, in a 
noose, by a skilful cast affixed it to one of the bat- 
tlements of the parapet, and immediately ascended to 
the top of the wall. Here he encountered Elaias, the 
Afghan, who being a famous swordsman, had like to 
have slain him ; but he was quickly supported by his 
comrades who followed ; and, as the numbers in- 
creased on both sides, a desperate struggle ensued, in 
which the gaubur chief was slain. A panic imme- 
diately spread through his hitherto dauntless fol- 
lowers, which being communicated to the rest of the 
garrison, the gates were thrown open to the besiegers, 
almost without opposition, and every man was 
speedily put to the sword. Thus, in a few short 
hours, a fortress which had defied the puissance of 
Turma Kurreem Kahn, fell before the spirit of 
Taimour and his veteran legions. 
As a mark of his vengeance, Taimour gave the 
city up to the plunder of his troops, and then, with 
his own hand, planted a torch in the most combus- 
tible place, on the windward side. The conflagration 
spread even to the last house, consuming all but the 
citadel and fortifications. These were partially over- 
thrown by the soldiers, at the command of their 
chief ; but some were found so solid as to defy their 
utmost efforts, and are standing at this moment. 
Beyond these shapeless remains, patched and re- 
* Usually composed of about twenty yards of muslin, which can 
be rolled up like a rope. 
