BABER. 
215 
provinces,, laid siege to Chunar, a remarkably strong 
hill-fort on the Ganges about eighteen miles west of 
Benares. It was defended by a small but resolute 
garrison, and the besiegers could make no impression : 
they were repulsed in every attempt to scale the walls. 
Hearing of the approach of the imperial forces, they 
abandoned the place in haste and dispersed, passed 
over the river to Benares, and in the confusion of 
their retreat two boats full of soldiers sank and the 
whole were drowned. On the day that this news 
reached the royal camp, Baber nearly lost his life by 
an accident not unfrequent on the Ganges. He was 
riding on the margin of that river where it had been 
undermined by the current. Ere well aware of his 
proximity, he had reached the extreme edge of the 
bank, where it was unusually steep and high. Before 
he could retreat, he felt the ground totter suddenly 
under him : in another instant a chasm yawned beside 
him, the earth gave way and sank into the stream be- 
low. The moment he felt the quivering movement of 
the earth, aware of his peril, he sprang from his horse 
and leaped forward upon the centre of the disunited 
mass, where there was a firm footing : upon this he 
stood erect and uninjured after the shock had sub- 
sided. The portion of the bank which fell forced 
the water further out into the channel, forming a low 
promontory, upon which the conqueror of Hindostan 
remained without injury. His horse had fallen into 
the stream and was drowned. 
The intelligence which Baber received respecting 
the fort of Chunar being so suddenly abandoned by 
the Afghans determined him to proceed at once to 
