The Memoirs of Bābur 911.9.3

911.9.3

Of the painters, one was Bih-zād.[1165] His work was very dainty but he did not draw beardless faces well; he used greatly to lengthen the double chin (_ghab-ghab_); bearded faces he drew admirably. Shāh Muz̤affar was another; he painted dainty portraits, [Sidenote: Fol. 182.] representing the hair very daintily.[1166] Short life was granted him; he left the world when on his upward way to fame. Of musicians, as has been said, no-one played the dulcimer so well as Khwāja `Abdu'l-lāh _Marwārīd_. Qul-i-muḥammad the lutanist (_`aūdī_) was another; he also played the guitar (_ghichak_) beautifully and added three strings to it. For many and good preludes (_peshrau_) he had not his equal amongst composers or performers, but this is only true of his preludes. Shaikhī the flautist (_nāyī_) was another; it is said he played also the lute and the guitar, and that he had played the flute from his 12th or 13th year. He once produced a wonderful air on the flute, at one of Badī`u'z-zamān Mīrzā's assemblies; Qul-i-muḥammad could not reproduce it on the guitar, so declared this a worthless instrument; Shaikhī _Nāyī_ at once took the guitar from Qul-i-muḥammad's hands and played the air on it, well and in perfect tune. They say he was so expert in music that having once heard an air, he was able to say, "This or that is the tune of so-and-so's or so-and-so's flute."[1167] He composed few works; one or two airs are heard of.