The Memoirs of Bābur 1: First Invasion.

Túzak-i Bábarí (extracts, from Erskine's translation) 1

Language: English

First Invasion.

1.1

On the 14th Safar, 925 (February 15th, 1519), when we left Bajaur, we did it with the intention of attacking Bahrah before we returned to Kabul. We were always full of the idea of invading Hindustan. This was prevented by various circumstances. For three or four months that the army had been detained in Bajaur, it had got no plunder of value. As Bahrah is on the borders of Hindustan, and was near at hand, I conceived that, if I were now to push on without baggage, the soldiers might light upon some booty. Moving on under these impressions, and plundering the Afgháns in our progress, when I reached Makám, several of my principal adherents advised me, that if we were to enter Hindustan, we should do it on a proper footing, and with an adequate force. * * * * Though the advice was perfectly judicious, we made the inroad in spite of all these objections. Early next morning we marched towards the passage over the Sind. I despatched Mir Muhammad Jala-ban in advance, with his brothers and some troops to escort them, for the purpose of examining the banks of the river, both above and below. After sending on the army towards the river, I myself set off for Sawati, which they likewise call Kark-khana, to hunt the rhinoceros. We started many rhinoceroses, but as the country abounded in brushwood, we could not get at them. * * *

1.2

Next morning, being Thursday the 17th [16], we crossed the ford with our horses, camels, and baggage; the camp bazar and the infantry were floated across on rafts. The same day the inhabitants of Nilab waited on me, bringing an armed horse and 300 Shah-rukhis as a peshkash. As soon as we had got all our people across, that same day at noon-day prayers, we proceeded on our march, which we continued for one watch of the night, and halted at the river of Kachah-kot. Marching thence before day, we crossed the river of Kachah-kot, and the same evening surmounted the pass of Sangdaki, and halted. Saiyid Kasim, Ishak Agha, who brought up the rear-guard, took a few Gujars who followed the camp, cut off some of their heads and brought them in. Marching at the dawn from Sangdaki, and crossing the river Suhan about noon-day prayers, we encamped. Our stragglers continued to come in till midnight. It was an uncommonly long and severe march, and as it was made when our horses were lean and weak, it was peculiarly hard on them, so that many horses were worn out and fell down by the way. Seven kos from Bahrah to the north there is a hill. This hill, in the Zafar-ndma, and some other books, is called the hill of Jud. At first, I was ignorant of the origin of its name, but afterwards discovered that in this hill there were two races of men descended from the same father. One tribe is called Jud, the other Janjuhah. * * *

1.3

As I always had the conquest of Hindustan at heart, and as the conquest of Bahrah, Khushab, Chinab and Chaniut, among which I now was, had long been in the possession of the Turks, I regarded them as my own domains, and was resolved to acquire the possession of them either by war or peace. It was, therefore, right and necessary that the people of the hill should be well treated. I accordingly issued orders that no one should molest or trouble their flocks and herds, or take from them to the value of a bit of thread or a broken needle.

1.4

Marching thence rather late, about noon-day prayers, we reached Kaldah-kahar, where we halted. This Kaldah-kahar is a considerable place. * * * At dawn we set out from Kaldah-kahar. On the very top of the Pass of Hambatu we met in different places men who were coming bringing in peshhashes of small value, and tendering their submission. * * * About luncheon time we reached the bottom of the pass, where we halted. * * * Having cleared the pass, and emerged from the wooded ground, I formed the army in regular array, with right and left wing and centre, and marched towards Bahrah. When we had nearly reached that place, Deo Hindu, and the son of Saktu, who were servants of 'Ali Khan, the son of Daulat Khan Yusuf Khail, accompanied by the head men of Bahrah, met us, bringing each a horse and camel as peshkash, and tendered their submission and service. Noon-day prayers were over when we halted to the east of Bahrah, on the banks of the river Behat, on a green field of grass, without having done the people of Bahrah the least injury or damage. From the time that Timur Beg had invaded Hindustan and again left it, these countries of Bahrah, Khushab, Chinab, and Chaniut had remained in the possession of the family of Timur Beg, and of their dependents and adherents. Sultan Mas'ud Mirza, the grandson of Shah Rukh Mirza, and son of Siurghatmish Mirza, was, in those days, the ruler and chief of Kabul and Zabul, on which account he got the title of Sultan Mas'ud Kabuli. * * *

1.5

Next morning I sent out foraging parties in proper directions, and afterwards rode round Bahrah. * * * On Wednesday, the 22nd, I sent for the headmen and chaudharis of Bahrah, and agreed with them for the sum of 400,000 Shah-rukhis as the ransom of their property ; and collectors were appointed to receive the amount. * * * Having learned that the troops had exercised some severities towards the inhabitants of Bahrah, and were using them ill, I sent out a party, who having seized a few of the soldiers that had been guilty of excesses, I put some of them to death, and slit the noses of some others, and made them be led about the camp in that condition. As I reckoned the countries that had belonged to the Turks as my own territories, I therefore admitted of no plundering or pillage.

1.6

People were always saying, that if ambassadors were to be sent in a friendly and peaceable way into the countries that had been occupied by the Turks, it could do no harm. I therefore despatched Mulla Murshid to Sultán Ibráhim, whose father Sultan Iskandar had died five or six months before, and who had succeeded his father in the empire of Hindustan; and giving him the name and style of ambassador, sent him to demand that the countries which from old times had belonged to the Turks should be given up to me. Besides these letters for Sultan Ibrahim, I gave Mulla Murshid letters to Daulat Khán, and having also delivered to him verbal instructions, dismissed him on his mission. The people of Hindustan, and particularly the Afghans, are a strangely foolish and senseless race, possessed of little reflection, and less foresight. They can neither persist in and manfully support a war, nor can they continue in a state of amity and friendship. This person, who was sent by me, Daulat Khán detained some time in Lahore, neither seeing him himself, nor suffering him to proceed to Sultan Ibrahim; so that my envoy, five months after, returned to Kabul without having received any answer.

1.7

On Friday, letters of submission came from the people of Khushab. * * * We remained one day in the fort of Bahrah, which they call Jahán-numá, and on the morning of Tuesday we marched, and encamped on the rising grounds which skirt along Bahrah towards the north. * * * Next morning, after the Diwan was dismissed, when I had finished my ride, I went on board of a boat, and had a drinking party. * * *

1.8

In the hill country between Niláb and Bahrah, but apart from the tribes of Jud and Janjuhah, and adjoining to the hill country of Kashmir, are the Jats, Gujars, and many other men of similar tribes, who build villages, and settle on every hillock and in every valley. Their hakim was of the Gakkar race, and their government resembled that of the Jud and Janjuhah. The government of these tribes, which stretch along the skirt of the hills, was at that time held by Tatar Gakkar and Hati Gakkar, sons of the same family; they were cousins. Their places of strength were situated on ravines and steep precipices. The name of Tatar's stronghold was Parhalah. It was considerably lower than the snowy mountains. Hati's country is close adjoining to the hills. Hati had also brought over to his interest Bikh Khan, who held Kalinjar. Tatar Gakkar had waited on Daulat Khan, and was in a certain way subject to him. Hati had never visited him, but remained in an independent turbulent state. Tatar at the desire of the amirs of Hindustan, and in conjunction with them, had taken a position with his army several miles off, and in some sort kept Hati in a state of blockade. At the very time when we were in Bahrah, Hati had advanced upon Tatar by a stratagem, had surprised and slain him, and taken his country, his women, and all his property. * * *

1.9

Having arranged the affairs of the country in such a way as to give a prospect of its being kept quiet, on Sunday, the 11th of the first Rabi', I marched from Bahrah on my return to Kabul. * * * Some persons who were acquainted with the country, and with the political situation of the neighbouring territories, and particularly the Janjuhah, who were the old enemies of the Gakkars, represented to me that Hati the Gakkar had been guilty of many acts of violence, had infested the highways by his robberies, and harassed the inhabitants; that therefore it was necessary either to effect his expulsion from this quarter, or, at least, to inflict on him exemplary punishment.

1.10

For effecting this object, next morning I left Khwajah Mir Miran and Miram Nasir in charge of the camp, and about breakfast time, set out with a body of light troops, to fall upon Hati Gakkar, who, a few days before, had killed Tatar, seized the country of Parhalah, and was now at Parhalah, as has been mentioned. About afternoon prayers we halted and baited our horses; and set off again about bed-time prayers. Our guide was a servant of the Malik-hast, named Surpa. He was a Gujar. All night long we proceeded straight on in our course, but halted towards morning, and sent on Beg Muhammad Mughal towards their camp. When it was beginning to be light, we again mounted; and about luncheon time put on our armour and increased our speed. About a kos from the place where we had made this halt, Parhalah began to appear faintly in sight. The skirmishers were now pushed forward; the right wing proceeded to the east of Parhalah. Kuch Beg, who belonged to that wing, was directed to follow in their rear, by way of reserve. The left wing and centre poured in straight towards Parhalah. Dost Beg was appointed to command the party charged to support the left wing and centre, who made the direct attack on Parhalah. Parhalah, which stands high in the midst of deep valleys and ravines, has two roads leading to it; one of them on the south-east, which was the road that we advanced by. This road runs along the edge of the ravines, and has ravines and precipices on both sides.

1.11

Within half a kos of Parhalah, the road becomes extremely difficult, and continues so up to the very gates of the city; the ravine road, in four or five places, being so narrow and steep, that only one person can go along it at a time; and for about a bow-shot it is necessary to proceed with the utmost circumspection. The other road is on the north-west. It advances towards Parhalah through the midst of an open valley. Except these two roads, there is no other on any side. Although the place has no breastwork nor battlement, yet it is so situated that it is not assailable. It is surrounded by a precipice seven or eight gaz in perpendicular height. The troops of the left wing having passed along the narrows, went pouring on towards the gate. Hati, with thirty or forty horsemen, all, both man and horse, in complete armour, accompanied by a number of foot soldiers, attacked and drove back the skirmishers. Dost Beg, who commanded the reserve, coming up, and falling on the enemy with great impetuosity, brought down a number of them, and routed the rest. Hâti Gakkar, who distinguished himself by his courage and firmness in the action, in spite of all his exertions, could not maintain his ground, and fled. He was unable to defend the narrows; and on reaching the fort, found that it was equally out of his power to defend himself there.

1.12

The detachment which followed close on his heels having entered the fort along with him, Hâti was compelled to make his escape, nearly alone, by the north-west entrance. Dost Beg, on this occasion, again greatly distinguished himself. I ordered an honorary gift to be given to him. At the same time I entered Parhâlah, and took up my abode at Tâtâr's palace. During these operations, some men, who had been ordered to remain with me, had joined the skirmishing party. Among them were Amîn Muhammad Karâshi and Tarkhân Arghûn. In order to punish them for this offence, I gave them the Gûjar Sûrpâ for their guide, and turned them out disgracefully into the deserts and wilds to find their way back to the camp. * * *

1.13

On Thursday the 15th we halted at Andarâbah, which lies on the banks of the river Sûhân. This fort of Andarâbah depended from old times on the father of Malik-hast. When Hâti Gakkar slew Malik-hast's father, it had been destroyed, and had remained in ruins ever since. * * * Hâti, after despatching Tâtâr, had sent to me one Parbat, his relation, with a caparisoned horse and peshkash. He did not meet me, but fell in with that part of the army that had been left behind with the camp; and having arrived along with the division that accompanied the baggage, now presented his offerings and tribute, and tendered his submission. Langar Khân, who was to be left behind in Bahrah, but who had accompanied the camp in order to finish some business, also rejoined me; and having brought everything to a conclusion, took leave on his return to Bahrah, accompanied by some zamíndárs of that district. After this we marched on, crossed the river Suhán, and encamped on a rising ground. I gave a dress of honour to Parbat, Hátí Khán's relation; and having written letters to confirm Hátí in his good intentions, and to remove any misapprehensions he might entertain, despatched Parbat in company with a servant of Muhammad 'Alí Jang-jang. * * *

1.14

Marching at the time when the kettle-drum beats, we halted about luncheon time at the foot of the pass of Sangdakí. About noon-day prayers we renewed our march, and ascended the pass, crossed the river, and halted on an eminence; we again set out at midnight. In going to examine the ford by which we had passed on our way to Bahrah, we found a raft loaded with grain, that had stuck fast in the mud and clay; the owners with all their exertions had not been able to extricate it. We seized this corn, and divided it among the men who were with us; the grain came very seasonably. Towards evening we halted lower down than the junction of the Sind and Kábul rivers, and higher up than the old Níláb, between the two. We brought six boats from Níláb, and divided them among the right and left wings and centre, who immediately began to exert themselves in crossing the river. On the Monday, being the day on which we arrived, and the night following, and on Tuesday and the night following till Wednesday, they continued passing; on Thursday, also, a few passed.

1.15

Parbat, Hátí's relation, who had been sent from the neighbourhood of Andarábah with the servant of Muhammad 'Alí Jang-jang, returned to us, while we were on the banks of the river, bringing from Hátí a horse clad in armour, by way of tributary offering. The inhabitants of Níláb brought an armed horse as a peshkash, and tendered their submission. Muhammad 'Alí Jang-jang having a wish to remain in Bahrah, and Bahrah itself having been given to Hindu Beg, I bestowed on him the tract of country between Bahrah and the Sind, with the ils and uluses in the district, such as the Karluk Hazaras, and Hati and Ghiyasdal and Kib. * * * On Thursday, at sunrise (March 24th, 1519), we moved from the banks of the river, and resumed our march. * * * [and on the 30th March] I reached Kabul.