FALL OF THE FORTRESS 211

of the fortress sixty-four elephants, along with his mother and son, to the emperor and begged forgiveness of his offences. The emperor replied that if he desired pardon, he must come out at once to make submission, and trust to the emperor's mercy. On the 16th of Zi-al- hijja, a sortie was made, in which many of the garrison lost their lives in a desperate struggle. When they were driven back, a little hill called Koriya fell into the hands of the besiegers. This eminence is so close to the fortress as to have command over it. The be- siegers then saw that, by occupying this commanding position and by getting possession of another which was strongly fortified, they might overawe the garrison. The former masters of the place had seen the impor- tance of this position and had scarped the rock so that no one could climb up, but, after hard fighting, the place was finally carried. On the 21st of Safar, news arrived of the capture of Ahmadnagar on the 18th. The fortress had long been defended by Chand Bai, the sister of Nizam-al-mulk, and when formerly besieged, dissensions among the Imperial amirs averted its capture, but Prince Daniyal, assisted by some of the great amirs, had taken it by assault. The siege of Asir had now been carried on for nearly six months and a constant fire had been kept up without effect, when Khan-khanan thought that min- ing must be resorted to, and the other amirs coinciding with him, a mine was formed. It was charged with 180 mans of gunpowder and was exploded on the 20th of Shahryur, in the 45th year of the reign. A bastion