Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c18.s1.8

c18.s1.8

With this brief description of and reference to the conjectural drawing (Fig.78), let us try to understand the safety measures for the inmates of the fort and ununderstandable dangers to enemies implied in planning. First of all the moats (Fig. 79 and Fig. 80) are very wide and three in numbers; the total width is of 46 Daṇḍas including the space between the innermost moat and the fort wall. There is some strategic importance in having such a distance from the edge of the outermost moat to the fort. It is more or less a fact that if an arrow is shot with utmost force aimed at a particular person it can go straight to a distance of about 60 m. and then in the meanwhile owing to the gravitational force it gradually slides down. Therefore, when enemy is at the point of the outermost moat his shots with arrows, spears etc. towards the protectors of the fort would miss the object and become ineffective. Secondly the moats are so wide that it would not be easy to cross; further in the moats generally are reared crocodiles and other acquatic creatures fatal to those who fall in. So crossing moats even swiftly is wrought with many dangers. Enemies are forced to follow the main streets. When enemies try to squeeze in by the roads naturally they are not having enough space to move about and are practically trapped and hit by the protectors guarding the gateways. Suppose soldiers try to get along the bunds, the upper parts of the moats are sloping inwards and even a slight slip would throw them into the moat. Even if they succeed to approach the gateways and try to steal a way through the fort, they are enticed by the underground passages. The enemies who try to crawl in through the passage (Fig.82 and Fig.84) would actually get their knees broken and their body scratched/and torn with the pointed sharp instruments scattered Other kinds of Forts