The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)
to say, each is 9 hand-breadths.
(_cc. A feast._)
(_Dec. 18th_) On Saturday the 6th of the month (Rabī` II.) there was a
feast[2379] at which were present Qīzīl-bāsh (Red-head), and Aūzbeg, and
Hindū envoys.[2380] The Qīzīl-bāsh envoys sat under an awning placed
some 70-80 _qārīs_[2381] on my right, of the begs Yūnas-i-`alī being
ordered to sit with them. On my left the Aūzbeg envoys sat in the same
way, of the begs `Abdu'l-lāh being ordered to sit with them. I sat on
the north side of a newly-erected octagonal pavilion (_tālār_) covered
in with _khas_[2382]. Five or six _qārīs_ on my right sat Tūkhtā-būgha
Sl. and `Askarī, with Khwāja `Abdu'sh-shahīd and Khwāja Kalān,
descendants of his Reverence the Khwāja,[2383] and Khwāja Chishtī (var.
Ḥusainī), and Khalīfa, together with the _ḥāfiẕes_ and _mullās_
dependent on the Khwājas who had come from Samarkand. Five or six
_qārīs_ on my left sat Muḥammad-i-zamān M. and Tāng-ātmīsh Sl.[2384]
[Sidenote: Fol. 352.] and Sayyid Rafī`, Sayyid Rūmī, Shaikh Abū'l-fatḥ,
Shaikh Jamālī, Shaikh Shihābu'd-dīn _`Arab_ and Sayyid Daknī (var.Zaknī,
Ruknī). Before food all the sulṯāns, khāns, grandees, and amīrs brought
gifts[2385] of red, of white, of black,[2386] of cloth and various other
goods. They poured the red and white on a carpet I had ordered spread,
and side by side with the gold and silver piled plenishing, white cotton
piece-cloth and purses (_badra_) of money. While the gifts were being
brought and before food, fierce camels and fierce elephants[2387] were
set to fight on an island opposite,[2388] so too a few rams; thereafter
wrestlers grappled. After the chief of the food had been set out,
Khwāja `Abdu'sh-shahīd and Khwāja Kalān were made to put on surtouts
(_jabbah_) of fine muslin,[2389] spotted with gold-embroidery, and
suitable dresses of honour, and those headed by Mullā Farrūkh and
_Ḥāfiẕ_[2390] had jackets put on them. On Kūchūm Khān's envoy[2391] and
on Ḥasan _Chalabi's_ younger brother[2392] were bestowed silken
head-wear (_bāshlīq_) and gold-embroidered surtouts of fine muslin, with
suitable dresses of honour. Gold-embroidered jackets and silk coats were
presented to the envoys of Abū-sa`īd Sl. (_Aūzbeg_), of Mihr-bān Khānīm
and her son Pulād Sl., and of Shāh Ḥasan [Sidenote: Fol. 352b.]
(_Arghūn_). The two Khwājas and the two chief envoys, that is to say
Kūchūm Khān's retainer and Ḥasan _Chalabī's_ younger brother, were
presented with a silver stone's weight of gold and a gold stone's weight
of silver.
(_Author's note on the Turkī stone-weight._) The gold stone
(_tāsh_) is 500 _mis̤qāls_, that is to say, one Kābul _sīr_;
the silver stone is 250 _mis̤qāls_, that is to say, half a
Kābul _sīr_.[2393]
To Khwāja Mīr Sulṯān and his sons, to Ḥāfiẕ of Tāshkīnt, to Mullā
Farrūkh at the head of the Khwājas' servants, and also to other envoys,
silver and gold were given with a quiver.[2394] Yādgār-i-nāṣir[2395] was
presented with a dagger and belt. On Mīr Muḥammad the raftsman who was
deserving of reward for the excellent bridge he had made over the river
Gang (Ganges),[2396] a dagger was bestowed, so too on the matchlockmen
Champion [_pahlawān_] Ḥājī Muḥammad and Champion Buhlūl and on Walī the
cheeta-keeper (_pārschī_); one was given to Ustād `Alī's son also. Gold
and silver were presented to Sayyid Daud _Garmsīrī_. Jackets having
buttons,[2397] and silk dresses of honour were presented to the servants
of my daughter Ma`ṣūma[2398] and my son Hind-āl. Again:—presents of
jackets and silk dresses of honour, of gold and silver, of plenishing
and various goods were given to those from Andijān, and to those who had
come from Sūkh and Hushīār, the places whither we had gone landless and
homeless.[2399] Gifts of the same kind were given to the servants of
Qurbān and Shaikhī and the peasants of Kāhmard.[2400] [Sidenote: Fol.
353.]
After food had been sent out, Hindūstānī players were ordered to come
and show their tricks. Lūlīs came.[2401] Hindūstānī performers shew
several feats not shewn by (Tramontane) ones. One is this:—They arrange
seven rings, one on the forehead, two on the knees, two of the remaining
four on fingers, two on toes, and in an instant set them turning
rapidly. Another is this:—Imitating the port of the peacock, they place
one hand on the ground, raise up the other and both legs, and then in an
instant make rings on the uplifted hand and feet revolve rapidly.
Another is this:—In those (Tramontane) countries two people grip one
another and turn two somersaults, but Hindūstānī _lūlīs_, clinging
together, go turning over three or four times. Another is this:—a _lūlī_
sets the end of a 12 or 14 foot pole on his middle and holds it upright
while another climbs up it and does his [Sidenote: Fol. 353b.] tricks up
there. Another is this:—A small _lūlī_ gets upon a big one's head, and
stands there upright while the big one moves quickly from side to side
shewing his tricks, the little one shewing his on the big one's head,
quite upright and without tottering. Many dancing-girls came also and
danced.
A mass of red, white, and black was scattered (_sāchīldī_) on which
followed amazing noise and pushing. Between the Evening and Bed-time
Prayers I made five or six special people sit in my presence for over
one watch. At the second watch of the day (9 a.m., _Sunday, Rabi` II.
7th_) having sat in a boat, I went to the Eight-Paradises.
(_dd. `Askarī starts eastwards._)
(_Dec. 20th_) On Monday (_8th_) `Askarī who had got (his army) out (of
Āgra) for the expedition, came to the Hot-bath, took leave of me and
marched for the East.
(_ee. A visit to Dhūlpūr._)
(_Dec. 21st_) On Tuesday (_Rabī` II. 9th_) I went to see the buildings
for a reservoir and well at Dūlpūr.[2402] I rode from the (Āgra) garden
at one watch (_pahr_) and one _garī_ (9.22 a.m.), and I entered the
Dūlpūr garden when 5 _garīs_ of the 1st night-watch (_pās_)[2403] had
gone (7.40 p.m.).[2404]
(_Dec. 23rd_) On Thursday the 11th day of the month the stone-well
(_sangīn-chāh_), the 26 rock-spouts (_tāsh-tār-nau_) and rock-pillars
(_tāsh-sitūn_), and the water-courses (_ārīqlār_) cut on the solid slope
(_yak pāra qīā_) were all ready.[2405] At the 3rd watch (_pahr_) of this
same day preparation for drawing water from the well was made. On
account of a smell (_aīd_) in the water, it was ordered, for prudence'
sake, that they should turn the well-wheel without rest for 15
days-and-nights, and so draw off the water. Gifts were made to the
stone-cutters, and labourers, [Sidenote: Fol. 354.] and the whole body
of workmen in the way customary for master-workmen and wage-earners of
Āgra.
(_Dec. 24th_) We rode from Dūlpūr while one _garī_ of the 1st watch
(_pahr_) of Friday remained (_cir._ 8.40 a.m.), and we crossed the river
(Jumna) before the Sun had set.
(_Here the record of 3 days is wanting._)[2406]
(_ff. A Persian account of the battle of Jām._)
(_Dec. 28th_) On Tuesday the 16th of the month (_Rabī` II._) came one of
Dīv Sl.'s[2407] servants, a man who had been in the fight between the
Qīzīl-bāsh and Aūzbeg, and who thus described it:—The battle between the
Aūzbegs and Turkmāns[2408] took place on `Āshūr-day (_Muḥ. 10th_) near
Jām-and-Khirgird.[2409] They fought from the first dawn till the Mid-day
Prayer. The Aūzbegs were 300,000; the Turkmāns may have been (as is
said?) 40 to 50,000; he said that he himself estimated their dark mass
at 100,000; on the other hand, the Aūzbegs said they themselves were
100,000. The Qīzīl-bāsh leader (_ādam_) fought after arraying cart,
culverin and matchlockmen in the Rūmī fashion, and after protecting
himself.[2410] Shāh-zāda[2411] and Jūha Sl. stood behind the carts with
20,000 good braves. The rest of the begs were posted right and left
beyond the carts. [Sidenote: Fol. 354b.] These the Aūzbeg beat at once
on coming up, dismounted and overcame many, making all scurry off. He
then wheeled to the (Qīzīl-bāsh) rear and took loot in camel and
baggage. At length those behind the carts loosed the chains and came
out. Here also the fight was hard. Thrice they flung the Aūzbeg back; by
God's grace they beat him. Nine sulṯāns, with Kūchūm Khān, `Ubaid Khān
and Abū-sa`īd Sl. at their head, were captured; one, Abū-sa`īd Sl. is
said to be alive; the rest have gone to death.[2412] `Ubaid Khān's body
was found, but not his head. Of Aūzbegs 50,000, and of Turkmāns 20,000
were slain.[2413]
(_Here matter seems to have been lost._)[2414]
(_gg. Plan of campaign._)
(_Dec. 30th_) On this same day (Thursday _Rabī` II. 18th_) came
Ghīāṣu'd-dīn the armourer[2415] who had gone to Jūna-pūr (Jūnpūr) with
tryst of 16 days,[2416] but, as Sl. Junaid and the rest had led out
their army for Kharīd,[2417] he (Ghīāṣu'd-dīn) was not able to be back
at the time fixed.[2418] Sl. Junaid said, by word-of-mouth, "Thank God!
through His grace, no work worth the Pādshāh's attention has shewn
itself in these parts; if the honoured Mīrzā (`Askarī) come, and if the
sulṯāns, khāns and amīrs here-abouts be ordered to move in his steps,
there is hope that everything in these parts will be arranged with
ease." Though such was Sl. [Sidenote: Fol. 355.] Junaid's answer,yet, as
people were saying that Mullā Muḥammad Maẕhab, who had been sent as
envoy to Bengal after the Holy-battle with Sangā the Pagan,[2419] would
arrive today or tomorrow, his news also was awaited.
(_Dec. 31st_) On Friday the 19th of the month I had eaten ma`jūn and was
sitting with a special few in the private house, when Mullā Maẕhab who
had arrived late, that is to say, in the night of Saturday,[2420] came
and waited on me. By asking one particular after another, we got to know
that the attitude of the Bengalī[2421] was understood to be loyal and
single-minded.
(_Jan. 2nd_) On Sunday (_Rabī` II. 21st_), I summoned the Turk and Hind
amīrs to the private house, when counsel was taken and the following
matters were brought forward:—As the Bengalī (Naṣrat Shāh) has sent us
an envoy[2422] and is said to be loyal and single-minded, to go to
Bengal itself would be improper; if the move be not on Bengal, no other
place on that side has treasure helpful for the army; several places to
the west are both rich and near,
(_Turkī_) Abounding wealth, a pagan people, a short road;
Far though the East lie, this is near.
At length the matter found settlement at this:—As our westward road is
short, it will be all one if we delay a few days, so that our minds may
be at ease about the East. Again Ghīāṣu'd-dīn [Sidenote: Fol. 355b.] the
armourer was made to gallop off, with tryst of 20 days,[2423] to convey
written orders to the eastern amīrs for all the sulṯāns, khāns, and
amīrs who had assembled in `Askarī's presence, to move against those
rebels.[2424] The orders delivered, he was to return by the trysted day
with what ever news there might be.
(_hh. Balūchī incursions._)
In these days Muḥammadī Kūkūldāsh made dutiful representation that again
Balūchīs had come and overrun several places. Chīn-tīmūr Sl. was
appointed for the business; he was to gather to his presence the amīrs
from beyond Sihrind and Samāna and with them, equipped for 6 months, to
proceed against the Balūchīs; namely, such amīrs as `Ādil Sulṯān, Sl.
Muḥ. _Dūldāī_, Khusrau Kūkūldāsh, Muḥammad `Alī _Jang-jang_,
`Abdu'l-`azīz the Master-of-the-horse, Sayyid `Alī, Walī Qīzil, Qarācha,
Halāhil, `Āshiq the House-steward, Shaikh `Alī, Kitta (_Beg Kuhbur_),
Gujūr Khān, Ḥasan `Alī _Sīwādī_. These were to present themselves at the
Sulṯān's call and muster and not to transgress his word by road or in
halt.[2425] The messenger[2426] appointed to carry these orders was
`Abdu'l-ghaffār; he was to deliver them first to Chīn-tīmūr Sl.,
[Sidenote: Fol. 356.] then to go on and shew them to the afore-named