The Memoirs of Bābur 935.5
The Bābur-nāma in English (A. S. Beveridge) 935.5
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- English
935.5.1
(_Author's note on the Turkī stone-weight._) The gold stone (_tāsh_) is 500 _mis̤qāls_, that is to say, one Kābul _sīr_; the silver stone is 250 _mis̤qāls_, that is to say, half a Kābul _sīr_.[2393] To Khwāja Mīr Sulṯān and his sons, to Ḥāfiẕ of Tāshkīnt, to Mullā Farrūkh at the head of the Khwājas' servants, and also to other envoys, silver and gold were given with a quiver.[2394] Yādgār-i-nāṣir[2395] was presented with a dagger and belt. On Mīr Muḥammad the raftsman who was deserving of reward for the excellent bridge he had made over the river Gang (Ganges),[2396] a dagger was bestowed, so too on the matchlockmen Champion [_pahlawān_] Ḥājī Muḥammad and Champion Buhlūl and on Walī the cheeta-keeper (_pārschī_); one was given to Ustād `Alī's son also. Gold and silver were presented to Sayyid Daud _Garmsīrī_. Jackets having buttons,[2397] and silk dresses of honour were presented to the servants of my daughter Ma`ṣūma[2398] and my son Hind-āl. Again:—presents of jackets and silk dresses of honour, of gold and silver, of plenishing and various goods were given to those from Andijān, and to those who had come from Sūkh and Hushīār, the places whither we had gone landless and homeless.[2399] Gifts of the same kind were given to the servants of Qurbān and Shaikhī and the peasants of Kāhmard.[2400] [Sidenote: Fol. 353.]
935.5.2
After food had been sent out, Hindūstānī players were ordered to come and show their tricks. Lūlīs came.[2401] Hindūstānī performers shew several feats not shewn by (Tramontane) ones. One is this:—They arrange seven rings, one on the forehead, two on the knees, two of the remaining four on fingers, two on toes, and in an instant set them turning rapidly. Another is this:—Imitating the port of the peacock, they place one hand on the ground, raise up the other and both legs, and then in an instant make rings on the uplifted hand and feet revolve rapidly. Another is this:—In those (Tramontane) countries two people grip one another and turn two somersaults, but Hindūstānī _lūlīs_, clinging together, go turning over three or four times. Another is this:—a _lūlī_ sets the end of a 12 or 14 foot pole on his middle and holds it upright while another climbs up it and does his [Sidenote: Fol. 353b.] tricks up there. Another is this:—A small _lūlī_ gets upon a big one's head, and stands there upright while the big one moves quickly from side to side shewing his tricks, the little one shewing his on the big one's head, quite upright and without tottering. Many dancing-girls came also and danced.
935.5.3
A mass of red, white, and black was scattered (_sāchīldī_) on which followed amazing noise and pushing. Between the Evening and Bed-time Prayers I made five or six special people sit in my presence for over one watch. At the second watch of the day (9 a.m., _Sunday, Rabi` II. 7th_) having sat in a boat, I went to the Eight-Paradises. (_dd. `Askarī starts eastwards._) (_Dec. 20th_) On Monday (_8th_) `Askarī who had got (his army) out (of Āgra) for the expedition, came to the Hot-bath, took leave of me and marched for the East. (_ee. A visit to Dhūlpūr._) (_Dec. 21st_) On Tuesday (_Rabī` II. 9th_) I went to see the buildings for a reservoir and well at Dūlpūr.[2402] I rode from the (Āgra) garden at one watch (_pahr_) and one _garī_ (9.22 a.m.), and I entered the Dūlpūr garden when 5 _garīs_ of the 1st night-watch (_pās_)[2403] had gone (7.40 p.m.).[2404]
935.5.4
(_Dec. 23rd_) On Thursday the 11th day of the month the stone-well (_sangīn-chāh_), the 26 rock-spouts (_tāsh-tār-nau_) and rock-pillars (_tāsh-sitūn_), and the water-courses (_ārīqlār_) cut on the solid slope (_yak pāra qīā_) were all ready.[2405] At the 3rd watch (_pahr_) of this same day preparation for drawing water from the well was made. On account of a smell (_aīd_) in the water, it was ordered, for prudence' sake, that they should turn the well-wheel without rest for 15 days-and-nights, and so draw off the water. Gifts were made to the stone-cutters, and labourers, [Sidenote: Fol. 354.] and the whole body of workmen in the way customary for master-workmen and wage-earners of Āgra. (_Dec. 24th_) We rode from Dūlpūr while one _garī_ of the 1st watch (_pahr_) of Friday remained (_cir._ 8.40 a.m.), and we crossed the river (Jumna) before the Sun had set. (_Here the record of 3 days is wanting._)[2406] (_ff. A Persian account of the battle of Jām._)
935.5.5
(_Dec. 28th_) On Tuesday the 16th of the month (_Rabī` II._) came one of Dīv Sl.'s[2407] servants, a man who had been in the fight between the Qīzīl-bāsh and Aūzbeg, and who thus described it:—The battle between the Aūzbegs and Turkmāns[2408] took place on `Āshūr-day (_Muḥ. 10th_) near Jām-and-Khirgird.[2409] They fought from the first dawn till the Mid-day Prayer. The Aūzbegs were 300,000; the Turkmāns may have been (as is said?) 40 to 50,000; he said that he himself estimated their dark mass at 100,000; on the other hand, the Aūzbegs said they themselves were 100,000. The Qīzīl-bāsh leader (_ādam_) fought after arraying cart, culverin and matchlockmen in the Rūmī fashion, and after protecting himself.[2410] Shāh-zāda[2411] and Jūha Sl. stood behind the carts with 20,000 good braves. The rest of the begs were posted right and left beyond the carts. [Sidenote: Fol. 354b.] These the Aūzbeg beat at once on coming up, dismounted and overcame many, making all scurry off. He then wheeled to the (Qīzīl-bāsh) rear and took loot in camel and baggage. At length those behind the carts loosed the chains and came out. Here also the fight was hard. Thrice they flung the Aūzbeg back; by God's grace they beat him. Nine sulṯāns, with Kūchūm Khān, `Ubaid Khān and Abū-sa`īd Sl. at their head, were captured; one, Abū-sa`īd Sl. is said to be alive; the rest have gone to death.[2412] `Ubaid Khān's body was found, but not his head. Of Aūzbegs 50,000, and of Turkmāns 20,000 were slain.[2413]
935.5.6
(_Here matter seems to have been lost._)[2414] (_gg. Plan of campaign._) (_Dec. 30th_) On this same day (Thursday _Rabī` II. 18th_) came Ghīāṣu'd-dīn the armourer[2415] who had gone to Jūna-pūr (Jūnpūr) with tryst of 16 days,[2416] but, as Sl. Junaid and the rest had led out their army for Kharīd,[2417] he (Ghīāṣu'd-dīn) was not able to be back at the time fixed.[2418] Sl. Junaid said, by word-of-mouth, "Thank God! through His grace, no work worth the Pādshāh's attention has shewn itself in these parts; if the honoured Mīrzā (`Askarī) come, and if the sulṯāns, khāns and amīrs here-abouts be ordered to move in his steps, there is hope that everything in these parts will be arranged with ease." Though such was Sl. [Sidenote: Fol. 355.] Junaid's answer,yet, as people were saying that Mullā Muḥammad Maẕhab, who had been sent as envoy to Bengal after the Holy-battle with Sangā the Pagan,[2419] would arrive today or tomorrow, his news also was awaited. (_Dec. 31st_) On Friday the 19th of the month I had eaten ma`jūn and was sitting with a special few in the private house, when Mullā Maẕhab who had arrived late, that is to say, in the night of Saturday,[2420] came and waited on me. By asking one particular after another, we got to know that the attitude of the Bengalī[2421] was understood to be loyal and single-minded.
935.5.7
(_Jan. 2nd_) On Sunday (_Rabī` II. 21st_), I summoned the Turk and Hind amīrs to the private house, when counsel was taken and the following matters were brought forward:—As the Bengalī (Naṣrat Shāh) has sent us an envoy[2422] and is said to be loyal and single-minded, to go to Bengal itself would be improper; if the move be not on Bengal, no other place on that side has treasure helpful for the army; several places to the west are both rich and near, (_Turkī_) Abounding wealth, a pagan people, a short road; Far though the East lie, this is near. At length the matter found settlement at this:—As our westward road is short, it will be all one if we delay a few days, so that our minds may be at ease about the East. Again Ghīāṣu'd-dīn [Sidenote: Fol. 355b.] the armourer was made to gallop off, with tryst of 20 days,[2423] to convey written orders to the eastern amīrs for all the sulṯāns, khāns, and amīrs who had assembled in `Askarī's presence, to move against those rebels.[2424] The orders delivered, he was to return by the trysted day with what ever news there might be. (_hh. Balūchī incursions._)
935.5.8
In these days Muḥammadī Kūkūldāsh made dutiful representation that again Balūchīs had come and overrun several places. Chīn-tīmūr Sl. was appointed for the business; he was to gather to his presence the amīrs from beyond Sihrind and Samāna and with them, equipped for 6 months, to proceed against the Balūchīs; namely, such amīrs as `Ādil Sulṯān, Sl. Muḥ. _Dūldāī_, Khusrau Kūkūldāsh, Muḥammad `Alī _Jang-jang_, `Abdu'l-`azīz the Master-of-the-horse, Sayyid `Alī, Walī Qīzil, Qarācha, Halāhil, `Āshiq the House-steward, Shaikh `Alī, Kitta (_Beg Kuhbur_), Gujūr Khān, Ḥasan `Alī _Sīwādī_. These were to present themselves at the Sulṯān's call and muster and not to transgress his word by road or in halt.[2425] The messenger[2426] appointed to carry these orders was `Abdu'l-ghaffār; he was to deliver them first to Chīn-tīmūr Sl., [Sidenote: Fol. 356.] then to go on and shew them to the afore-named begs who were to present themselves with their troops at whatever place the Sulṯān gave rendezvous (_būljār_);[2427] `Abdu'l-ghaffār himself was to remain with the army and was to make dutiful representation of slackness or carelessness if shewn by any person soever; this done, we should remove the offender from the circle of the approved (_muwajjah-jīrgāsī_) and from his country or _pargana_. These orders having been entrusted to `Abdu'l-ghaffār, words-of-mouth were made known to him and he was given leave to go.