The Memoirs of Bābur 908.2
The Bābur-nāma in English (A. S. Beveridge) 908.2
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908.2.1
(_Author's note on Aūzkīnt._) Aūzkīnt formerly must have been a capital of Farghāna;[629] it has an excellent fort and is situated on the boundary (of Farghāna). The Marghīnānīs also came in after two or three days, having beaten and chased their commandant (_darogha_). Except Andijān, every fort south of the Khujand-water had now come in to us. Spite of the return in those days of so many forts, and spite of risings and revolt against him, Taṃbal did not yet come to his senses but sat down with an army of horse and foot, fortified with ditch and branch, to face The Khāns, between Karnān and Akhsī. Several times over there was a little fighting and pell-mell but without decided success to either side. In the Andijān country (_wilāyat_), most of the tribes and [Sidenote: Fol. 104b.] hordes and the forts and all the districts had come in to me; naturally the Andijānīs also were wishing for me. They however could not find their means. (_d. Bābur's attempt to enter Andijān frustrated by a mistake._) It occurred to me that if we went one night close to the town and sent a man in to discuss with the Khwāja[630] and notables, they might perhaps let us in somewhere. With this idea we rode out from Aūsh. By midnight we were opposite Forty-daughters (Chihil-dukhterān) 2 miles (one _kuroh_) from Andijān. From that place we sent Qaṃbar-`alī Beg forward, with some other begs, who were to discuss matters with the Khwāja after by some means or other getting a man into the fort.
908.2.2
While waiting for their return, we sat on our horses, some of us patiently humped up, some wrapt away in dream, when suddenly, at about the third watch, there rose a war-cry[631] and a sound of drums. Sleepy and startled, ignorant whether the foe was many or few, my men, without looking to one another, took each his own road and turned for flight. There was no time for me to get at them; I went straight for the enemy. Only Mīr Shāh _Qūchīn_ and Bābā Sher-zād (Tiger-whelp) and Nāṣir's Dost sprang forward; we four excepted, every man set his face for flight. I had gone a little way forward, when the enemy rode rapidly up, flung out his war-cry and poured arrows on us. One man, on a horse with a starred forehead,[632] came close to me; I shot at it; it rolled over and died. They made a little as if to retire. The three [Sidenote: Fol. 105.] with me said, 'In this darkness it is not certain whether they are many or few; all our men have gone off; what harm could we four do them? Fighting must be when we have overtaken our run-aways and rallied them.' Off we hurried, got up with our men and beat and horse-whipped some of them, but, do what we would, they would not make a stand. Back the four of us went to shoot arrows at the foe. They drew a little back but when, after a discharge or two, they saw we were not more than three or four, they busied themselves in chasing and unhorsing my men. I went three or four times to try to rally my men but all in vain!
908.2.3
They were not to be brought to order. Back I went with my three and kept the foe in check with our arrows. They pursued us two or three _kuroh_ (4-6 m.), as far as the rising ground opposite Kharābūk and Pashāmūn. There we met Muḥ. `Alī _Mubashir_. Said I, 'They are only few; let us stop and put our horses at them.' So we did. When we got up to them, they stood still.[633] Our scattered braves gathered in from this side and that, but several very serviceable men, scattering in this attack, went right away to Aūsh. The explanation of the affair seemed to be that some of Ayūb _Begchīk's_ Mughūls had slipped away from Aūsh to raid near Andijān and, hearing the noise of our troop, came somewhat stealthily towards us; then there seems to have been confusion about the pass-word. The pass-words settled on for use during this movement of ours were Tāshkīnt and Sairām. If Tāshkīnt were said, Sairām would be answered; if Sairām, Tāshkīnt. In this muddled affair, Khwāja Muḥ. `Ali seems to have been somewhat in advance of our party and to have got bewildered,—he was a Sārt person,[635]—when the Mughūls came up saying, 'Tāshkīnt, Tāshkīnt,' for he gave them 'Tāshkīnt, Tāshkīnt,' as the counter-sign. Through this they took him for an enemy, raised their war-cry, beat their saddle-drums and poured arrows on us. It was through this we gave way, and through this false alarm were scattered! We went back to Aūsh.
908.2.4
[Sidenote: Fol. 105b.] (_Author's note on pass-words._) Pass-words are of two kinds;—in each tribe there is one for use in the tribe, such as _Darwāna_ or _Tūqqāī_ or _Lūlū_;[634] and there is one for the use of the whole army. For a battle, two words are settled on as pass-words so that of two men meeting in the fight, one may give the one, the other give back the second, in order to distinguish friends from foes, own men from strangers. (_e. Bābur again attempts Andijān._) Through the return to me of the forts and the highland and lowland clans, Taṃbal and his adherents lost heart and footing. His army and people in the next five or six days began to desert him and to flee to retired places and the open country.[636] Of his household some came and said, 'His affairs are nearly ruined; he will break up in three or four days, utterly ruined.' On hearing this, we rode for Andijān.
908.2.5
Sl. Muḥ. _Galpuk_[637] was in Andijān,—the younger of Taṃbal's cadet brothers. We took the Mulberry-road and at the Mid-day Prayer came to the Khākān (canal), south of the town. A [Sidenote: Fol. 106.] foraging-party was arranged; I followed it along Khākān to the skirt of `Aīsh-hill. When our scouts brought word that Sl. Muḥ. _Galpuk_ had come out, with what men he had, beyond the suburbs and gardens to the skirt of `Aīsh, I hurried to meet him, although our foragers were still scattered. He may have had over 500 men; we had more but many had scattered to forage. When we were face to face, his men and ours may have been in equal number. Without caring about order or array, down we rode on them, loose rein, at the gallop. When we got near, they could not stand; there was not so much fighting as the crossing of a few swords. My men followed them almost to the Khākān Gate, unhorsing one after another.
908.2.6
It was at the Evening Prayer that, our foe outmastered, we reached Khwāja Kitta, on the outskirts of the suburbs. My idea was to go quickly right up to the Gate but Dost Beg's father, Nāṣir Beg and Qaṃbar-`alī Beg, old and experienced begs both, represented to me, 'It is almost night; it would be ill-judged to go in a body into the fort in the dark; let us withdraw a little and dismount. What can they do to-morrow but surrender the place?' Yielding at once to the opinion of these experienced persons, we forthwith retired to the outskirts of the suburbs. If we had gone to the Gate, undoubtedly, Andijān [Sidenote: Fol. 106b.] would have come into our hands. (_f. Bābur surprised by Taṃbal._) After crossing the Khākān-canal, we dismounted, near the Bed-time prayer, at the side of the village of Rabāṯ-i-zauraq (var. rūzaq). Although we knew that Taṃbal had broken camp and was on his way to Andijān, yet, with the negligence of inexperience, we dismounted on level ground close to the village, instead of where the defensive canal would have protected us.[638] There we lay down carelessly, without scouts or rear-ward. At the top (_bāsh_) of the morning, just when men are in sweet sleep, Qaṃbar-`alī Beg hurried past, shouting, 'Up with you! the enemy is here!' So much he said and went off without a moment's stay. It was my habit to lie down, even in times of peace, in my tunic; up I got instanter, put on sword and quiver and mounted.
908.2.7
My standard-bearer had no time to adjust my standard,[639] he just mounted with it in his hand. There were ten or fifteen men with me when we started toward the enemy; after riding an arrow's flight, when we came up with his scouts, there may have been ten. Going rapidly forward, we overtook him, poured in arrows on him, over-mastered his foremost men and hurried them off. We followed them for another arrow's flight and came up with his centre where Sl. Aḥmad _Taṃbal_ himself was, with as many as [Sidenote: Fol. 107.] 100 men. He and another were standing in front of his array, as if keeping a Gate,[640] and were shouting, 'Strike, strike!' but his men, mostly, were sidling, as if asking themselves, 'Shall we run away? Shall we not?' By this time three were left with me; one was Nāṣir's Dost, another, Mīrzā Qulī _Kūkūldāsh_, the third, Khudāī-bīrdī _Turkmān's_ Karīm-dād.[641] I shot off the arrow on my thumb,[642] aiming at Taṃbal's helm. When I put my hand into my quiver, there came out a quite new _gosha-gīr_[643] given me by my Younger Khān dādā. It would have been vexing to throw it away but before I got it back into the quiver, there had been time to shoot, maybe, two or three arrows. When once more I had an arrow on the string, I went forward, my three men even holding back. One of those two in advance, Taṃbal seemingly,[644] moved forward also. The high-road was between us;
908.2.8
I from my side, he, from his, got upon it and came face to face, in such a way that his right hand was towards me, mine towards him. His horse's mail excepted, he was fully accoutred; but for sword and quiver, I was unprotected. I shot off the arrow in my hand, adjusting for the attachment of his shield. With matters in this position, they shot my right leg through. I had on the cap of my helm;[645] Taṃbal chopped [Sidenote: Fol. 107b.] so violently at my head that it lost all feeling under the blow. A large wound was made on my head, though not a thread of the cap was cut.[646] I had not bared[647] my sword; it was in the scabbard and I had no chance to draw it. Single-handed, I was alone amongst many foes. It was not a time to stand still; I turned rein. Down came a sword again; this time on my arrows. When I had gone 7 or 8 paces, those same three men rejoined me.[648] After using his sword on me, Taṃbal seems to have used it on Nāṣir's Dost. As far as an arrrow flies to the butt, the enemy followed us.