The Memoirs of Bābur 932.15.1

932.15.1

Loathing Hindūstān, Khwāja Kalān, when on his way, had the following couplet inscribed on the wall of his residence [Sidenote: Fol. 296.] (_`imāratī_) in Dihlī:— If safe and sound I cross the Sind, Blacken my face ere I wish for Hind! It was ill-mannered in him to compose and write up this partly-jesting verse while I still stayed in Hind. If his departure caused me one vexation, such a jest doubled it.[1930] I composed the following off-hand verse, wrote it down and sent it to him:— Give a hundred thanks, Bābur, that the generous Pardoner Has given thee Sind and Hind and many a kingdom. If thou (_i.e._ the Khwāja) have not the strength for their heats, If thou say, "Let me see the cold side (_yūz_)," Ghaznī is there.[1931] (_f. Accretions to Bābur's force._) At this juncture, Mullā Apāq was sent into Kūl with royal letters of favour for the soldiers and quiver-wearers (_tarkash-band_) of that neighbourhood. Shaikh Gūran (G'hūran)[1932] came trustfully and loyally to do obeisance, bringing with him from 2 to 3,000 soldiers and quiver-wearers from Between-two-waters (_Mīān-dū-āb_). (_Author's note on Mullā Apāq._) Formerly he had been in a very low position indeed, but two or three years before this time, had gathered his elder and younger brethren into a compact body and had brought them in (to me), together with the Aūrūq-zāī and other Afghāns of the banks of the Sind.