202 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
were selected for this enterprise, which was one of 
great peril and difficulty on account of the steepness 
of the ascent. The difficulty too was increased by the 
activity and desperation of the foe. 
It had been proclaimed throughout the imperial 
lines on the preceding evening that the signal for the 
troops to advance to the assault should be the raising 
of the royal standard, accompanied by a roll of the 
kettle-drum. The moment this was heard, and the 
floating banner seen quivering in the light morning 
breeze, those troops selected for the purpose stormed 
the lower works of the fort with irresistible impetuo- 
sity, and carried it after a vigorous resistance from the 
Hindoos, who rolled large stones from the ramparts, 
and cast fire upon the heads of their assailants, which 
produced incredible mischief, though it did not abate 
the energy of their attack. Meanwhile the scaling- 
ladders had been planted against the walls in several 
places, and the storming party poured rapidly in over 
the covered way, which was abandoned by its de- 
fenders, who retreated to the upper ramparts, whither 
they were eagerly followed by the successful Moghuls. 
Here a terrific struggle took place for some time ; but 
the Rajpoots were at length driven from the works, 
and the place was carried. Still the carnage was 
not at an end. Baber entered the citadel, and was 
witness to one of those awful acts of frenzy so 
common among the Rajpoot tribes when reduced to 
extremity. They put their wives and children* to 
* This is called the rite of the Johur ; for a detailed account 
of which see Colonel Tod’sAnnals andAntiquities of Rajast’han, 
vol. i. pp. 265-6. 
