The Memoirs of Bābur 935.4.7

935.4.7

(_Dec. 17th_) On Thursday the 4th of the latter Rabī`, it was settled that Chīqmāq Beg with Shāhī _ṯamghāchī's_[2371] clerkship, should measure the road between Āgra and Kābul. At every 9th _kuroh_ (_cir._ 18m.), a tower was to be erected 12 _qārīs_ high[2372] and having a _chār-dara_[2373] on the top; at every 18th _kuroh_ (_cir._ 36m.),[2374] 6 post-horses were to be kept fastened; and arrangement was to be made for the payment of post-masters and grooms, and for horse-corn. The order was, "If the place where the horses are fastened up,[2375] be near a crown-domain, let those there provide for the matters mentioned; if not, let the cost be charged on the beg in whose _pargana_ the post-house may be." Chīqmāq Beg got out of Āgra with Shāhī on that same day. [Sidenote: Fol. 351b.] (_Author's note on the kuroh._) These _kurohs_ were established in relation to the _mīl_, in the way mentioned in the _Mubīn_:—[2376] (_Turkī_) Four thousand paces (_qadam_) are one _mīl_; Know that Hind people call this a _kuroh_; The pace (_qadam_) they say is a _qārī_ and a half (36 in.); Know that each _qārī_ (24 in.) is six hand-breadths (_tūtām_) That each _tūtām_ is four fingers (_aīlīk_), Each _aīlīk_, six barley-corns. Know this knowledge.[2377] The measuring-cord (_ṯanāb_)[2378] was fixed at 40 _qārī_, each being the one-and-a-half _qārī_ mentioned above, that is to say, each is 9 hand-breadths. (_cc. A feast._) (_Dec.