The Memoirs of Bābur 935.12
The Bābur-nāma in English (A. S. Beveridge) 935.12
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935.12.1
The Sulṯāns arrived while I was making ablution for the Mid-day Prayer; I praised and thanked them and led them to expect guerdon and kindness. `Askarī also came; this was the first affair he had seen; one well-omened for him! As the camp had not yet crossed the river, I took my rest in the boat Gunjāīsh, near an island. (_ccc. Various incidents of the days following the battle._) (_May 6th_) During the day of Friday (_Sha`bān 27th_) we landed at a village named Kūndīh[2626] in the Nirhun _pargana_ of Kharīd on the north side of the Sarū.[2627] (_May 8th_) On Sunday (_29th_) Kūkī was sent to Ḥājīpūr for news. Shāh Muḥammad (son) of Ma`rūf to whom in last year's campaign (934 AH.) I had shown great favour and had given the Sāran-country, had done well on several occasions, twice fighting and overcoming his father Ma`rūf.[2628] At the time when Sl. Maḥmūd _Lūdī_ perfidiously took possession of Bihār and was opposed by Shaikh Bāyazīd and Bīban, Shāh Muḥammad had no help for it, he had to join them; but even then, when people were saying wild words about him, he had written dutifully to me. When `Askarī crossed at the Haldī-passage, Shāh [Sidenote: Fol. 375.] Muḥammad had come at once with a troop, seen him and with him gone against the Bengalīs. He now came to this ground and waited on me. During these days news came repeatedly that Bīban and Shaikh Bāyazīd were meaning to cross the Sarū-river.
935.12.2
In these days of respite came the surprising news from Sanbal (Saṃbhal) where `Alī-i-yūsuf had stayed in order to bring the place into some sort of order, that he and a physician who was by way of being a friend of his, had gone to God's mercy on one and the same day. `Abdu'l-lāh (_kitābdār_) was ordered to go and maintain order in Sanbal. (_May 13th_) On Friday the 5th of the month Ramẓān, `Abdu'l-lāh was given leave for Sanbal.[2629] (_ddd. News from the westward._) In these same days came a dutiful letter from Chīn-tīmūr Sl. saying that on account of the journey of the family from Kābul, several of the begs who had been appointed to reinforce him, had not been able to join him;[2630] also that he had gone out with Muḥammadī and other begs and braves, not less than 100 _kurohs_ (200m.), attacked the Balūchīs and given them a good beating.[2631] Orders were sent through `Abdu'l-lāh (_kitābdār_) for the Sulṯān that he and Sl. Muḥammad _Dūldāī_, Muḥammadī, and some of the begs and braves of that country-side should assemble in Āgra and there remain ready to move to wherever an enemy appeared. (_eee. Settlement with the Nūḥānī Afghāns._)
935.12.3
(_May 16th_) On Monday the 8th of the month, Daryā Khān's [Sidenote: Fol. 375b.] grandson Jalāl Khān to whom Shaikh Jamālī had gone, came in with his chief amīrs and waited on me.[2632] Yaḥyā _Nūḥānī_ also came, who had already sent his younger brother in sign of submission and had received a royal letter accepting his service. Not to make vain the hope with which some 7 or 8,000 _Nūḥānī_ Afghāns had come in to me, I bestowed 50 _laks_ from Bīhār on Maḥmūd Khān _Nūḥānī_, after reserving one _krūr_ for Government uses (_khalṣa_), and gave the remainder of the Bihār revenues in trust for the above-mentioned Jalāl Khān who for his part agreed to pay one _krūr_ of tribute. Mullā Ghulām _yasāwal_ was sent to collect this tribute.[2633] Muḥammad-i-zamān Mīrzā received the Jūnapūr-country.[2634] (_fff. Peace made with Naṣrat Shāh._)
935.12.4
(_May 19th_) On the eve of Thursday (_11th_) that retainer of Khalīfa's, Ghulām-i-`alī by name, who in company with a retainer of the Shāh-zāda of Mungīr named Abū'l-fatḥ,[2635] had gone earlier than Ismā`īl Mītā, to convey those three articles (_faṣl soz_), now returned, again in company with Abū'l-fatḥ, bringing letters for Khalīfa written by the Shāh-zāda and by Ḥusain Khān _Laskar_(?) _Wazīr_, who, in these letters, gave assent to those three conditions, took upon themselves to act for Naṣrat Shāh and interjected a word for peace. As the object of this campaign was to put down the rebel Afghāns of whom some had taken their heads and gone off, some had come in submissive and accepting my service, and the remaining few were in the hands of the Bengalī [Sidenote: Fol. 376.] (Naṣrat Shāh) who had taken them in charge, and as, moreover, the Rains were near, we in our turn wrote and despatched words for peace on the conditions mentioned. (_ggg_. _Submissions and guerdon._) (_May 21st_) On Saturday (_13th_) Ismā`īl _Jālwānī_, `Alāūl Khān _Nūḥānī_, Auliya Khān _Ashrāqī_(?) and 5 and 6 amīrs came in and waited on me. Today guerdon was bestowed on Aīsān-tīmūr Sl. and Tūkhta-būghā Sl., of swords and daggers with belts, cuirasses, dresses of honour, and _tīpūchāq_ horses; also they were made to kneel, Aīsān-tīmūr Sl. for the grant of 36 _laks_ from the Nārnūl _pargana_, Tūkhta-bughā Sl. for 30 _laks_ from that of Shamsābād. (_hhh_. _Pursuit of Bāyazīd and Bīban._)
935.12.5
(_May 23rd_) On Monday the 15th of the month (_Ramẓān_), we marched from our ground belonging to Kūndbah (or Kūndīh) on the Sarū-river, with easy mind about Bihār and Bengal, and resolute to crush the traitors Bīban and Shaikh Bāyazīd. (_May 25th_) On Wednesday (_17th_) after making two night-halts by the way, we dismounted at a passage across the Sarū, called Chaupāra-Chaturmūk of Sikandarpūr.[2636] From today people were busy in crossing the river. As news began to come again and again that the traitors, after crossing Sarū and Gogar,[2637] were going toward Luknū,[2638] the following leaders were appointed to bar (their) crossing[2639]:—The Turk and Hind amīrs Jalālu'd-dīn _Sharqī_, `Alī Khān _Farmūlī_; Tardīka (or, Tardī _yakka_), Nizām Khān of Bīāna, together with Tūlmīsh _Aūzbeg_, Qurbān of Chīrk and Daryā Khān (of Bhīra's [Sidenote: Fol. 376b.] son) Ḥasan Khān. They were given leave to go on the night of Thursday.[2640] (_iii. Damage done to the Bābur-nāma writings._)
935.12.6
That same night when 1 watch (_pās_), 5 _garīs_ had passed (_cir._ 10.55 p.m.) and the _tarāwīḥ_-prayers were over,[2641] such a storm burst, in the inside of a moment, from the up-piled clouds of the Rainy-season, and such a stiff gale rose, that few tents were left standing. I was in the Audience-tent, about to write (_kitābat qīlā dūr aīdīm_); before I could collect papers and sections,[2642] the tent came down, with its porch, right on my head. The _tūnglūq_ went to pieces.[2643] God preserved me! no harm befell me! Sections and book[2644] were drenched under water and gathered together with much difficulty. We laid them in the folds of a woollen throne-carpet,[2645] put this on the throne and on it piled blankets. The storm quieted down in about 2 _garīs_ (45m.); the bedding-tent was set up, a lamp lighted, and, after much trouble, a fire kindled. We, without sleep, were busy till shoot of day drying folios and sections. (_jjj. Pursuit of Bīban and Bāyazīd resumed._) (_May 26th_) I crossed the water on Thursday morning (_Ramān 18th_). (_May 27th_) On Friday (_19th_) I rode out to visit Sikandarpūr and Kharīd.[2646] Today came matters written by `Abdu`l-lāh (_kitābdār_) and Bāqī about the taking of Luknūr.[2647] (_May 28th_) On Saturday (_20th_) Kūkī was sent ahead, with a troop, to join Bāqī.[2648]
935.12.7
(_May 29th_) That nothing falling to be done before my arrival might be neglected, leave to join Bāqī was given on Sunday (_21st_) to Sl. Junaid _Barlās_, Khalīfa's (son) Ḥasan, Mullā Apāq's [Sidenote: Fol. 377.] retainers, and the elder and younger brethren of Mumin Ātāka. Today at the Other Prayer a special dress of honour and a _tīpūchāq_ horse were bestowed on Shāh Muḥammad (son) of Ma`rūf _Farmūlī_, and leave to go was given. As had been done last year (934 AH.), an allowance from Sāran and Kūndla[2649] was bestowed on him for the maintenance of quiver-wearers. Today too an allowance of 72 _laks_[2650] from Sarwār and a _tīpūchāq_ horse were bestowed on Ismā`īl _Jalwānī_, and his leave was given. About the boats Gunjāīsh and Arāīsh it was settled with Bengalīs that they should take them to Ghāzīpūr by way of Tīr-mūhānī.[2651] The boats Asāīsh and Farmāīsh were ordered taken up the Sarū with the camp. (_May 30th_) On Monday (_Ramẓān 22nd_) we marched from the Chaupāra-Chaturmūk passage along the Sarū, with mind at ease about Bihār and Sarwār,[2652] and after doing as much as 10 _kurohs_ [Sidenote: Fol. 377b.] (20m.) dismounted on the Sarū in a village called Kilirah (?) dependent on Fatḥpūr.[2653] (_kkk. A surmised survival of the record of 934. A.H._[2654])
935.12.8
*After spending several days pleasantly in that place where there are gardens, running-waters, well-designed buildings, trees, particularly mango-trees, and various birds of coloured plumage, I ordered the march to be towards Ghāzīpūr. Ismā`īl Khān _Jalwānī_ and `Alāūl Khān _Nūḥānī_ had it represented to me that they would come to Āgra after seeing their native land (_watn_). On this the command was, "I will give an order in a month."*[2655] (_lll. The westward march resumed._) (_May 31st_) Those who marched early (_Tuesday, Ramẓān 23rd_), having lost their way, went to the great lake of Fatḥpūr (?).[2656] People were sent galloping off to fetch back such as were near and Kīchīk Khwāja was ordered to spend the night on the lakeshore and to bring the rest on next morning to join the camp. We marched at dawn; I got into the Asāīsh half-way and had it towed to our ground higher up.