70 
SCENES IN INDIA, 
daily, the governor Yekhtyar Khan, undertaking to 
purchase all they could provide. Having ascertained 
from them sundry interesting particulars respecting 
the condition of the besieged, by promising them his 
protection and liberal rewards, the Emperor prevailed 
upon the pliant villagers to conduct him in disguise to 
the spot where they were in the habit of obtaining ad- 
mittance into the fortress. He accordingly accom- 
panied them, as one of their own body; and, when he 
had made the necessary observations, returned to the 
camp without exciting the least suspicion in the minds 
of the enemy, who, secure in the strength of the battle- 
ments behind which they were ensconced, and know- 
ing that their provisions could not be exhausted un- 
less the siege were protracted beyond all reasonable 
bounds of calculation, derided the efforts of the Mo- 
ghuls, and never suffered themselves for a moment to 
anticipate disaster. 
On the very night of that day during which Hu- 
mayoon had visited Champanere by the secret path, 
he caused to be forged a considerable number of strong 
iron spikes, about a foot in length, with the points so 
sharp as to be readily forced between the masonry or 
fissures of the rock which formed that portion of the 
rampart abutting upon the forest. These being pre- 
pared, he selected three hundred of his bravest troops 
and marched with them towards that part of the 
works which he had examined during the morning, 
determined if possible to gain possession of the place 
by escalade. Although considered by all his officers 
a desperate adventure, he nevertheless resolved to 
attempt it. 
