114 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
fitted, and so substantial as to bid defiance to the ope- 
ration of any ordinary mechanical force ; they were sur- 
rounded by a deep ditch upwards of thirty feet broad. 
This ditch being drained by the indefatigable Jagatays, 
though, during the whole progress of the work; huge 
stones and Greek fire were continually cast upon them 
by the besieged; they began to undermine the walls. 
As these were of immense thickness; and built upon vast 
masses of rock; the besiegers placed fire at their bases, 
and heating the rock through, suddenly cast vinegar 
upon it, thus causing it to split ; it was then broken 
with hammers, wooden props being placed underneath 
to sustain the superincumbent wall until a sufficient 
portion of the foundation should be removed to effect a 
practicable breach. So soon as the principal tower was 
sufficiently undermined, fire was applied to the props : 
these suddenly giving way, the tower fell with a tre- 
mendous crash, and eighty persons were crushed under 
a .mass of the adjoining bastion, which fell with it. The 
governor now capitulated, throwing himself upon the 
clemency of the conqueror, who ordered him to be put 
to death for his obstinacy. The citizens were involved 
in one indiscriminate massacre ; only a few persons of 
distinction, together with a colony of artificers, whom 
the conqueror sent to Samerkund, were spared.* On 
the following day, the city accidentally taking fire, 
was reduced to ashes. 
The unusual activity of this campaign and the im- 
* Timur, who was a Sheeah or follower of Ali, affected to 
avenge the cause of the fourth Khaliph on the Syrians, who were 
the most devoted adherents of Moawiyah. 
