The Memoirs of Bābur 4.7

4.7

On Sunday, the 11th of the first Jumada, I set out on my expedition. * * * On Saturday, the 24th, having halted at the passage of Kinar, I ordered the troops to lose no time in crossing with all possible speed. At this time I received intelligence that the detachment which I had sent forward, after abandoning Kanauj, had fallen back to Rabri, and that a strong force had advanced and stormed the fort of Shamsabad, which had been garrisoned by the troops of Abu-l Muhammad Niza-baz. We were detained three or four days on the two banks of the river, while the army was passing. Having transported the whole army across, I proceeded, march after march, for Kanauj, and sent on a party of light troops before us, in order to gain intelligence of the enemy. We were still two or three marches from Kanauj, when they returned with information that, instantly on discovering from a distance the troops who had advanced to reconnoitre, the son of M'aruf had fled from Kanauj and abandoned it, and that Biban and Bayazid, as well as M'aruf, on hearing of my motions, had recrossed the Ganges, and occupied the east side of the river opposite to Kanauj, hoping that they would be able to prevent my passage.