Storia do Mogor 58.p2

58.p2

This was the last of the kings of Pathan race [68]. I will not note what I have seen in the chronicles, a task for which I should require many years. It is impossible to describe all the different events of their rule — the conquests that they made, or their political acts. All I shall say is that they were barbarous, avaricious, and harsh. They were the first Mahomedans to descend from the western frontier into Hindustan, their abode being up to the present day between the river Indus and Kabul.
Babar was much loved by his people, who saw he possessed good qualities, was a conqueror full of liberality and generosity, and fond of making large presents. Above all, they found that he observed the greatest care in seeing that strict justice was done. When a people is well ruled, the king must be very energetic. Still, the chief cause of the realm being in such good order was a highly-placed official at the court called Ranguildas (? Rangi Das). He was so wise that his mere word was as an oracle to the government, and of such good judgment that his counsels were ever most accurate. But as courts are usually productive of envy, there were never wanting those who were envious of this great man. These backbiters told so many idle tales about him that the king made up his mind to seize him and take his life. This principal official did not foresee that as the reward of his faithful service he should undergo such misfortunes, in order to satisfy the ill-will of his rivals. He was taken, and while the king was still hesitating whether he should be executed or not, he managed to escape from prison. Disguising himself, he took refuge in a little village, where, being content to pass his life in poverty, he was unlikely to be discovered.
It happened that after the removal of this great counsellor the people began to find that things did not continue as before, nor was the accustomed justice done. They began to speak against their king; they plotted treason, and he became very unpopular. Babar was astonished at this change, for he did not know the reason why such a quiet and submissive population should begin to plot a rebellion. Inquiring into the matter, he found out that the administration was not in good order, for his ministers were not acting with the justice that had been customary. He thus became anxious to find once more his faithful Ranguildas. He made every possible effort, but could not discover where he had gone. Being aware that the fugitive was a man of judgment, Babar came to the resolve to issue an order throughout his empire that all inhabitants of the villages should repair to Dihli. In this way he expected to discover the whereabouts of that great administrator of Hindustan, for the villagers would without fail search out the cleverest men to put forward objections against an impossibility. Thus through their excuses he might be able to attain his desire.
Thus it came to pass that the inhabitants of the village where dwelt Ranguildas, by reason of their experience of the clever and appropriate advice he had already given them, laid before him the command and will of the king. They could not think of what excuse to bring forward at court, for how could the whole population go? Ranguildas answered that they should go at once to court, and say to the king that his people had already decided to come to Dihli, but not knowing their way there, the inhabitants of that city must come forth to be their guides. When the king heard this excuse, he asked who was the inventor of such an answer. As they did not know the man's name, the king ordered them VI. BABAR. to produce him at court, and thus he recovered his counsellor, who in a brief space restored the kingdom to order. If only kings could know how all-important it is to find good counsellors, they would be more careful in the selection of their ministers, and more suspicious about crediting the slander which abounds in royal palaces.
This king, with the help of such a minister, continued to look after his people, and finding himself in Hindustan, and the possessor of great wealth and of an extensive empire, he paid little heed to his ancient country, from which Taimur-i-lang had sprung. Thus he left an opening for the descendants of the King of Cascar (Kashghar) to revolt, and crowning themselves kings of the territories they had lost, they soon made themselves masters of the villages originally owned by Taimur-i-lang. Nor up to this day do the Mogul kings take the trouble of acquiring again the lands referred to, which are very remote, and yield little revenue. This king, Babar, after governing for nineteen years, three months, and twelve days, came to the end of his life, leaving behind him to his descendants in Hindustan great renown as a conqueror and a just ruler, above all to his eldest-born son the Sultan Amayum (Humayun).