The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c25.16

c25.16

*Descriptions of small Forts*. I find a good description of a petty Rajah’s fort in W. H. Russell’s “My Diary in India”, ii, 318. Although this was written in 1858, it is quite as applicable to an earlier time. “The low bank of earth was the outer parapet of the fort of Amethī (in south-east Audh), with a very deep ditch of irregular profile separating it from the level of the field. It was some time ere we made out the entry. The gateway was approached by a dam across a ditch full of water, which was dominated by a bastion with the embrasures directed upon the dam. A sort of causeway at the other bank led us to a high gateway in a mud curtain, which was also flanked by a musketry fire and by a few embrasures. The lines of all the works were exceedingly irregular. The gates were of wood, studded and clamped with iron”.