The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.14

v4.c20.14

But discord and mutual jealousy among the Mughul commanders thwarted their efforts. So the emperor himself went to Bījāpur (13 July, 1686) and pressed the siege vigorously. The fort was completely invested and the friends of the garrison in his camp were crushed. The sufferings of the Bījāpurīs were aggravated by a famine which was then raging in the Deccan on account of the failure of the annual rains. Countless men and horses died within the fort, and from the lack of horses the Deccanis could not follow their favourite tactics of hovering round the invaders and cutting off their stragglers and transport. But even then the Mughuls could neither make any practicable breach in the walls nor fill up the broad and deep moat. On 14 September Aurangzib advanced his tent from two miles in the rear to a place immediately behind the siege trenches, and next day rode to the edge of the moat to inspect his raised battery.