The Memoirs of Bābur 905.2.2

905.2.2

Favouring caution and good generalship, our begs, Qāsim Beg and, especially, `Alī-dost did not think it advisable to send far in pursuit; for [Sidenote: Fol. 70b.] this reason, many of their men did not fall into our hands. We dismounted right in Khūbān village. This was my first ranged battle; the Most High God, of His own favour and mercy, made it a day of victory and triumph. We accepted the omen. On the next following day, my father's mother, my grandmother, Shāh Sulṯān Begīm[489] arrived from Andijān, thinking to beg off Jahāngīr Mīrzā if he had been taken. (_j. Bābur goes into winter-quarters in Between-the-two-rivers._) As it was now almost winter and no grain or fruits[490] remained in the open country, it was not thought desirable to move against (Taṃbal in) Aūzkīnt but return was made to Andijān. A few days later, it was settled after consultation, that for us to winter in the town would in no way hurt or hamper the enemy, rather that he would wax the stronger by it through raids and guerilla fighting; moreover on our own account, it was necessary that we should winter where our men would not become enfeebled through want of grain and where we could straiten the enemy by some sort of blockade. For these desirable [Sidenote: Fol. 71.] ends we marched out of Andijān, meaning to winter near Armiyān and Nūsh-āb in the Rabāṯik-aūrchīnī, known also as Between-the-two-rivers. On arriving in the two villages above-mentioned, we prepared winter-quarters.