History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c77.s10.13

v5.c77.s10.13

From the neighbourhood of Puna, the Mughal army reached Rajgarh in 18 days, and began its siege on 2nd December, 1703. The entire hill, 24 miles in circuit, is really one stronghold. To borrow the hyperbole of the Persian chronicler, "Imagination cannot estimate its height. The wind alone can cross its thorny jungles and spectre-haunted chasms." [M. A. 478.] So vast a position could neither be invested, nor its food supply from outside stopped. The Mughals bombarded it for two months, and then captured the first gate by assault on 6th Feb. 1704. The garrison under their chiefs Firangji and Hamanji retired to the inner citadel, and kept up the resistance for ten days more, during which the Mughal troops in their unsheltered newly-won position suffered heavy losses from the enemy's fire. At last the qiladar made terms, hoisted the imperial flag on his tower, and fled away at night (16 Feb.) [M. A. 484-485, K. K. 513.]