[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Akbar (1556–1605)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar) › [Akbarnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi) › [Akbar-nama, of Shaikh Illahdad Faizi Sirhindi (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi~en-elliot) › 7.2.5 # The Book of Akbar (Shaykh Ilāhdād Faiḍī Sirhindī) 7.2.5 Akbar-náma, of Shaikh Illahdád Faizí Sirhindí (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 7.2.5 - **Language:** English ### [7.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi~en-elliot.7.2.5) Of pieces of artillery (zarb-zan), small and great, there were more than 1300, besides some which were disused. The balls varied in weight from nearly two mans down to a sir or a half sir. There were great numbers of mortars (hukka-dan), and also many manjaniks, each of which threw stones of 1000 or 2000 mans. On every bastion there were large iron cauldrons, in each of which twenty or thirty mans of oil could be boiled and poured down upon the assailants in case of assault. No account was taken of the muskets. Of provisions of all sorts, wines, medicines, aromatic roots, and of everything required for the use of man, there was vast abundance. When, after a protracted siege of eleven months, the place fell into the hands of the Imperial army, the quantities of grain, oil, etc., which remained, after some thousands of men had been fed (during the siege), seemed as if the stores had never been touched. The stores of ammunition were such, that thousands of mans were left, although the quantity consumed had been enormous. For throughout the siege a constant firing was kept up night and day, with object and without object ; so that in the dark nights of the rainy season no man dared to raise his head, and a demon even would not move about. There were large chambers full of powder. There were no springs of water in the fortress ; - [Previous: 7.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi~en-elliot.7.2.4) - [Next: 7.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi~en-elliot.7.2.6) - [Up: 7.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi~en-elliot.7.2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi~en-elliot.7.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama-sirhindi~en-elliot.7.2.5) · Pramāṇa