The Memoirs of Bābur 933.5.4

933.5.4

When the various divisions, right, left and centre, had gone each to its place, I galloped from one to another to give encouragement to begs, braves, and _sipāhīs_. After each man had had assigned to him his post and usual work with his company, we advanced, marshalled on the plan determined, for as much as one _kuroh_ (2 m.)[2037] and then dismounted. The Pagan's men, for their part, were on the alert; they came from their side, one company after another. The camp was laid out and strongly protected by ditch and carts. As we did not intend to fight that day, we sent a few unmailed braves ahead, who were to get to grips with the enemy and thus take an omen. They made a few pagans prisoner, cut off and brought in their heads. Malik Qāsim also cut off and brought in a few heads; he did well. By these successes the hearts of our men became very strong. When we marched on next day, I had it in my mind to fight, but Khalīfa and other well-wishers represented that the camping-ground previously decided on was near and that it would favour our fortunes if we had a ditch and defences made there and went there direct. Khalīfa accordingly rode off to get [Sidenote: Fol. 316.] the ditch dug; he settled its position with the spades-men, appointed overseers of the work and returned to us. (_w. The battle of Kānwa._)[2038]