Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.16.6

33.16.6

Animated by these appearances, the Marhattas advanced to the Qhyzri Gate, and were endeavouring to break it open, but in vain. The gate was covered with sheets of brass, and set thick with iron nails that jutted out to the length of more than a foot; nor could they make any impression there in four hours time. Meanwhile about five hundred men, finding not one man upon the Assed Tower, got upon the top of it, and being in this manner within the citadel, they advanced to the Imperial Hall of Audience, from whence they carried whole bundles of booty which they threw down the wall to their friends below, without having once thought of setting the gate open from within; nor did the troops without mind anything of the matter, being intent only on receiving and securing the plunder. Whilst these people were occupied in this manner, a dozen of Abdalies and Moghuls, coming out of Selimghur, fired upon those men that were plundering the Hall of Audience, many of whom they killed ; and falling upon the rest, sword in hand, they drove them out of the palace. The Marhattas having taken fright, got upon the top of the tower again, and jumping down had a great number of men maimed and wounded ; but meanwhile they gave up a fortress in which they had fairly found entrance. The Marhatta Generals informed of this whole affair, surrounded the citadel by an intrenchment, from whence they commenced firing on all that appeared upon the wall.