The Memoirs of Bābur 935.9.4

935.9.4

The army had dismounted on the bank of the Karmā-nā['s]ā-river, about the water of which Hindūs are understood to be extremely scrupulous. They do not cross it, but go past its mouth by boat along the Gang (Ganges). They firmly believe that, if its water touch a person, the merit of his works is destroyed; with this belief its name accords.[2552] I went some way up it by [Sidenote: Fol. 366.] boat, turned back, went over to the north bank of Gang, and tied up. There the braves made a little fun, some wrestling. Muḥsin the cup-bearer challenged, saying, "I will grapple with four or five." The first he gripped, he threw; the second, who was Shādmān (Joyous), threw him, to Muḥsin's shame and vexation. The (professional) wrestlers came also and set to. (_April 2nd_) Next morning, Saturday (_23rd_) we moved, close to the 1st watch (6 a.m.), in order to get people off to look at the ford through the Karmā-nā['s]ā-water. I rode up it for not less than a _kuroh_ (2 m.), but the ford being still far on,[2553] took boat and went to the camp below Chausā. Today I used the pepper remedy again; it must have been somewhat hotter than before, for it blistered (_qāpārdī_) my body, giving me much pain. (_April 3rd_) We waited a day for a road to be managed across a smallish, swampy rivulet heard to be ahead.[2554] (_April 4th_) On the eve of Monday (_25th_),[2555] letters were written and sent off in answer to those brought by the Hindūstānī footman of `Abdu'l-`azīz.