The Memoirs of Bābur 908.1.6

908.1.6

All his men had adorned themselves in Mughūl fashion. There they were in Mughūl caps (_būrk_); long coats of Chinese satin, broidered with stitchery, Mughūl quivers and saddles of green shagreen-leather, and Mughūl horses adorned in a unique fashion. He had brought rather few men, over 1000 and under 2000 may-be. He was a man of singular manners, a mighty master of the sword, and brave. Amongst arms he preferred to trust to the sword. He used to say that of arms there are, the _shash-par_[623] (six-flanged mace), the _piyāzī_ (rugged mace), the _kīstin_,[624] the _tabar-zīn_ (saddle-hatchet) and the _bāltū_ (battle-axe), all, if they strike, work only with what of them first touches, but the sword, if it touch, works from point to hilt. He never parted with his keen-edged sword; it was either at his waist or to his hand. He was a little rustic and rough-of-speech, [Sidenote: Fol. 103b.] through having grown up in an out-of-the-way place. When, adorned in the way described, I went with him to The Khān, Khwāja Abū'l-makāram asked, 'Who is this honoured sulṯān?' and till I spoke, did not recognize me. (_c. The Khāns march into Farghāna against Taṃbal._)