Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c28.s12.28

v2.c28.s12.28

On the 18th the entire invading army crossed over to the eastern bank of the Jamuna, planted guns along the river and began to bombard Delhi across the water, because there was no wall along the eastern face of the city to stop the balls. This was done after plundering Shahdara, where grain beyond calculation was stored for sale in Delhi; "the floors were dug up, the houses were burnt, and the place utterly devastated." The Jat cannon-balls from the east bank fell on the houses along the eastern side of the capital; some even fell inside the imperial palace, and a few persons were killed and a crystal stool in the Diwan-i-khas was broken. Najib's troops withdrew from their trenches on the river sands (reti) and took refuge in houses within the city, while he himself dug an underground room in the Buland Bagh, with a roof of planks covered with earth. The bridge was protected by guns mounted on the ramparts overlooking it, and held by a strong Ruhela guard under shelter of an earthen wall one yard in height. In the city men were killed by the enemy shots.