Padshah-namah 17: Capture of Kandahar.

17

[p. 374.] Nasiri Khan had been placed in command of a force, with instructions to conquer the kingdom of Telingana. He resolved upon reducing the fort of Kandahar, which was exceedingly strong, and the most famous one of that country. It was under the command of Sádik, the son of Yákút Khudáwand Khán, and was in full state of preparation. On the 23rd Jumáda-l awwal he encamped one kos from the fortress. Next day he prepared to attack the town of Kandahár; but before reaching the place he was opposed by Sarfaráz Khán, the general commanding in that country, who had taken up a position between the fort and the town, and having covered his front with artillery, awaited the attack. He was protected also by the guns and muskets of the fortress. The royal army attacked with great vigour, and killed a great many of the enemy. Sarfaráz Khán with a few followers fled to the Nizám-Sháhís. After this Nasírí Khán pushed on the siege. * * * Randaula, Mukarrab Khán, and others, with a united force of 'Ádil-Khánís and Nizám-Sháhís, came up to attack him in his trenches. Undismayed by this fresh enemy, he boldly faced his assailants; and although he had also to bear the fire of the guns and muskets of the fortress, he defeated them with considerable loss, and compelled them to fall back a distance of three kos.
Out of twenty-one mines which had been opened, six were complete; three were charged with powder, and three were kept in reserve. 'Azam Khán, who had marched to support Nasírí Khán, now approached, and Nasírí Khán went forth to meet him, and to bring him to see the springing of the mines and the assault upon the fortress. The match was applied to the three mines; one failed, but the other two brought down the wall of the Sher-Hájí with half a bastion. The garrison kept up a discharge of rockets, mortars, stones and grenades, but the storming parties pressed on. The conflict raged from mid-day till sunset, but the wall of the fortress was not sufficiently levelled, and the defenders kept up such a heavy fire that the assailants were forced to retire. At night the trenches were carried forward, and preparations were made for firing the other mines. The garrison saw that the place must fall, and * * * made offers of surrender, which were accepted, and the Imperial troops took possession of the fortress. * * The siege had lasted four months and nineteen days, and the place fell on the 15th Shawwal.