The Memoirs of Bābur 933.4.3

933.4.3

That far he removes him from all things forbidden, That from all his offences he cleanses himself. With my own gain before me, I vowed to obey, In this my transgression,[2014] the drinking of wine.[2015] The flagons and cups of silver and gold, the vessels of feasting, I had them all brought; I had them all broken up[2016] then and there. Thus eased I my heart by renouncement of wine. The fragments of the gold and silver vessels were shared out to deserving persons and to darwīshes. The first to agree in renouncing wine was `Asas;[2017] he had already agreed also about leaving his beard untrimmed.[2018] That night and next day some [Sidenote: Fol. 312b.] 300 begs and persons of the household, soldiers and not soldiers, renounced wine. What wine we had with us was poured on the ground; what Bābā Dost had brought was ordered salted to make vinegar. At the place where the wine was poured upon the ground, a well was ordered to be dug, built up with stone and having an almshouse beside it. It was already finished in Muḥarram 935 (AH.-Sep. 1528 AD.) at the time I went to Sīkrī from Dūlpūr on my way back from visiting Gūālīār. (_s. Remission of a due._) I had vowed already that, if I gained the victory over Sangā the pagan, I would remit the _tamghā_[2019] to all Musalmāns. Of this vow Darwīsh-i-muḥammad _Sārbān_ and Shaikh Zain reminded me at the time I renounced wine. Said I, "You do well to remind me."