The Memoirs of Bābur 3.2
Túzak-i Bábarí (extracts, from Erskine's translation) 3.2
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- English
3.2.1
Master and servant, small and great, all, with emulation, seizing the blessed Kuran in their hands, swore in the form that I had given. My plan succeeded to admiration, and its effects were instantly visible, far and near, on friend and foe. The danger and confusion on all sides were particularly alarming at this very moment. Husain Khan Lohani had advanced and taken Rabri. Kutb Khan's people had taken Chandwar. A man of the name of Rustam Khan, having assembled a body of Doab bowmen, had come and taken Koel, and made Kachak 'Ali prisoner. Zahid had been compelled to evacuate Sambal, and had rejoined me. Sultan Muhammad Duldai had retired from Kanauj, and joined my army. The Pagans of the surrounding country came and blockaded Gwalior. 'Alim Khan, who had been sent to the succour of Gwalior, instead of proceeding to that place, had marched off to his own country. Every day some unpleasant news reached us from one place or another. Many Hindustanis began to desert from the army. Haibat Khan Garg-andaz fled to Sambal. Hasan Khan Bariwal fled and joined the Pagans. Without minding the Pagans, we continued to mind only our own force. On Tuesday, the 9th of the latter Jumada, on the day of the Nauroz, I advanced my guns and tripods that moved on wheels, with all the apparatus and machines which I had prepared, and marched forward with my army, regularly drawn up and divided into right and left wing and centre, in battle order.
3.2.2
I sent forward in front the guns and tripods placed on wheel carriages. Behind them was placed Ustad 'Ali Kuli, with a body of his matchlockmen, to prevent the communication between the artillery and infantry, who were behind, from being cut off, and to enable them to advance and form into line. After the ranks were formed, and every man stationed in his place, I galloped along the line, animating the begs and troops of the centre, right and left, giving each division special instructions how they were to act, and to every man orders how to conduct himself, and in what manner he was to engage; and, having made these arrangements, I ordered the army to move on in order of battle for about a kos, when we halted to encamp. The Pagans, on getting notice of our motions, were on the alert, and several parties drew out to face us, and advanced close up to our guns and ditch. After our army had encamped, and when we had strengthened and fortified our position in front, as I did not intend fighting that day, I pushed on a few of our troops to skirmish with a party of the enemy, by way of taking an omen. They took a number of Pagans and cut off their heads, which they brought away. Malik Kásim also cut off and brought in some heads. He behaved extremely well. This incident raised the spirits of our army excessively, and had a wonderful effect in giving them confidence in themselves.
3.2.3
Next morning I marched from that station, with the intention of offering battle, when Khalifa and some of my advisers represented to me that as the ground on which we had fixed for halting was near at hand, it would be proper, in the first place, to throw up a ditch and to fortify it, after which we might march forward and occupy the position. Khalifa accordingly mounted to give directions about the ditch, and rejoined us, after having set pioneers to work on the different parts of it, and appointed proper persons to superintend their progress. On Saturday, the 13th of the latter Jumáda, having dragged forward our guns, and advanced our right, left, and centre in battle array for nearly a kos, we reached the ground that had been prepared for us. Many tents were already pitched, and they were engaged in pitching others, when news was brought that the enemy's army was in sight. I immediately mounted, and gave orders that every man should, without delay, repair to his post, and that the guns and lines should be properly strengthened. As the letter announcing my subsequent victory contains a clear detailed account of the circumstances of the Army of the Faith, the number of the Pagan bands, the order of battle and arrangements of both the Musulman and Pagan armies, I shall therefore subjoin the official despatch announcing the victory, as composed by Shaikh Zain, without adding or taking away.
3.2.4
[This is a long and elaborate document in the grand style. Bábar gained a complete victory; Hasan Mewáttí and many Hindu chiefs were slain, and great numbers of the enemy's men were killed, wounded, or made prisoners.] After this victory, I used the epithet of Gházi in the imperial titles. Having defeated the enemy, we pursued them with great slaughter. Their camp might be two kos distant from ours. On reaching it, I sent on Muhammadi and some other officers, with orders to follow them in close pursuit, slaying and cutting them off, so that they should not have time to re-assemble. In this instance I was guilty of neglect ; I should myself have gone on, and urged the pursuit, and ought not to have intrusted that business to another. * * * Next day we continued on the same ground. I despatched Muhammad 'Alí Jang-Jang and * * * with a large force against Ilyás Khán, who had made an insurrection in the Doab, surprised Koil, and taken Kíchik 'Alí prisoner. On the arrival of my detachment, the enemy, finding that they could not cope with them, fled in all directions in confusion and dismay. Some days after my return to Ágra, Ilyás was taken and brought in ; I ordered him to be flayed alive. The battle was fought within view of a small hill, near our camp. On this hillock I directed a tower of the skulls of the infidels to be constructed. From this encampment the third march brought us to Bayána.
3.2.5
Immense numbers of the dead bodies of the Pagans and apostates had fallen in their flight, all the way to Bayána, and even as far as Alwar and Mewát. * * The country of Mewát lies not far from Dehli, and yields a revenue of three or four krors. Hasan Khán Mewátti had received the government of that country from his ancestors, who had governed it, in uninterrupted succession, for nearly 200 years. They had yielded an imperfect kind of submission to the Sultáns of Dehli. The Sultans of Hind, whether from the extent of their territories, from want of opportunity, or from obstacles opposed by the mountainous nature of the country, had never subdued Mewát. They had never been able to reduce it to order, and were content to receive such a degree of obedience as was tendered to them. After my conquest of Hind, following the example of former Sultans, I also had shown Hasan Khan distinguished marks of favour. Yet this ungrateful man, whose affections lay all on the side of the Pagans, this infidel, regardless of my favours, and without any sense of the kindness and distinction with which he had been treated, was the grand promoter and leader of all the commotions and rebellions that ensued, as has been related. The plan for marching into the country of the Pagans having been abandoned, I resolved on the reduction of Mewát. I advanced four marches, and after the fifth, encamped six kos from the fort of Alwar, which was the seat of government, on the banks of the river Manisni.
3.2.6
Hasan Khán's ancestors had made their capital at Tijára. * * * A person named Karm Chand, one of Hasan Khan's head men, who had come to visit Hasan Khán's son while he was a prisoner in Ágra, now arrived from the son, commissioned to ask a pardon. I sent him back, accompanied by 'Abdu-l Rahím Shagháwal, with letters to quiet his apprehensions, and promising him personal safety; and they returned along with Náhir Khan, Hasan Khán's son. I again received him into favour, and bestowed on him a pargana of several lacs for his support. * * * I bestowed on Chín Tímúr Sultán the city of Tijára, which was the capital of Mewat, granting him at the same time a settled provision of fifty lacs. To Tardika, who in the battle with Rånå Sanka commanded the tulughma (or flanking division) on the right, and had distinguished himself more than any other, I gave an appointment of fifteen lacs, with the charge of the fort of Alwár. I bestowed the treasure of Alwár, with everything in the fort, on Humáyún. I marched from this station on Wednesday, the 1st of Rajab, and having come within two kos of Alwar, went and examined the fort, where I stayed all night, and returned back to the camp in the morning.