The Memoirs of Bābur 932.1.3

932.1.3

(_Dec. 7th_) Starting off the camp at dawn, we ourselves went on a raft, and there ate confection (_ma`jūn_). Our encamping-ground was always Qīrīq-ārīq, but not a sign or trace of the camp could [Sidenote: Fol. 252b.] be seen when we got opposite it, nor any appearance of our horses. Thought I, "Garm-chashma (Hot-spring) is close by; they may have dismounted there." So saying, we went on from Qīrīq-ārīq. By the time we reached Garm-chashma, the very day was late;[1578] we did not stop there, but going on in its lateness (_kīchīsī_), had the raft tied up somewhere, and slept awhile. (_Dec. 8th_) At day-break we landed at Yada-bīr where, as the day wore on, the army-folks began to come in. The camp must have been at Qīrīq-ārīq, but out of our sight. There were several verse-makers on the raft, such as Shaikh Abū'l-wajd,[1579] Shaikh Zain, Mullā `Alī-jān, Tardī Beg _Khāksār_ and others. In this company was quoted the following couplet of Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ:—[1580] (Persian) With thee, arch coquette, for a sweetheart, what can man do? With another than thou where thou art, what can man do? Said I, "Compose on these lines";[1581] whereupon those given to versifying, did so. As jokes were always being made at the expense of Mullā `Alī-jān, this couplet came off-hand into my head:— (Persian) With one all bewildered as thou, what can man do? . . . . . . , what can man do?[1582] (_b. Mention of the Mubīn._[1583])