Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c47.s4.4

v4.c47.s4.4

The foremost rebel vassal to be suppressed was Rāwat Bhim of Sālumbar, the Chundā-ot leader, holding the fort of Chitor. So, from Naharā Magrā Sindhia and the Mahārānā together marched to that historic fort and encamped near it, at Senthi and Olri, two and five miles respectively south of Chitor, (middle of September.) All the lands outside Chitor hill were occupied, and that fort itself was blockaded by Sindhia's troops. Mounting guns on the eminence from which Akbar had conducted his attack on Chitor in 1568, Mahādji subjected the fort to a continuous bombardment. He had to face internal troubles too; a severe famine was desolating the land, "grain could not be had even at seven seers to the rupee"! (DY. ii. 38, but MD. ii. 211 says four seers.) The Pathan mercenaries of the Rānā mutinied and had to be quelled.