War in Ancient India c6.s6.12

c6.s6.12

The most striking is the remarkable study of a besieged city in Tope No. 1. Soldiers attacking the enemy down with arrows and huge stones below are found on the gateway and also on the great towers. Here we find no swords of any description.¹³⁴ But that they were none the less used by the warriors is obvious from the fact that several of them have long shields. On the left side are seen two men carrying ensigns, a number of elephants with riders, and also one man riding on a horse. We also notice distinctly enough the quiver which is fastened to the right shoulder, and also the fastenings, which are apparently leather straps, are passed over the shoulders, crossed in front, and carried to the back. The dress is a kilt and also a jacket of some kind. According to Cunningham their dress on the whole resembles that of the Scottish Highlanders. Their principal weapon used in this siege-fight seems to be the arrow. ‘Their (Mauryan) arrows are little less than three cubits long and fly with such force that neither shield nor breast-plate nor armour is strong enough to withstand them’. But in the bas-relief some arrows seem to be even four or five feet long. It is also seen that some warriors have darts in the place of arrows.