The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c26.39

c26.39

*Reduction by Starvation.* Many instances of this cause of surrender might be adduced. This was, for example, the principal reason of the surrender of Āgrah in 1131 H. (Aug. 1719), when Nekūsīyar, after laying claim to the throne, was invested in that fort by Ḥusain ‘Alī Khān. “After a month, provisions began to be scarce. Many of those who had joined from the country round began to desert, getting over the walls at night, only to be seized by the Nawāb’s sentries. These fugitives informed Ḥusain ‘Alī Khān of the disheartened and suffering condition of the garrison. All the good grain had been used up, and nothing was left but inferior pulses, and even these had been stored over seven years and smelt so strong, that even the fourfooted beasts would not eat them with avidity. Attempts were made to bring in small supplies of flour, which were dragged up by ropes let down from the battlements. Some of the artillery of the besieging force took part in this traffic. After this was found out, the strictness of watch was redoubled, anything moving in the river at night was fired upon, and expert swimmers were kept ready to pursue and seize any one who attempted to escape by way of the river”, Mḥd Qāsim, Lāhorī, 286, 287. Negociations commenced, and the fort was surrendered on the 12th Aug. 1719, after an investment of nearly three months.