The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)
(_May 3rd_) On Tuesday (_Sha`bān 24th_) we marched from where the river
had been crossed, went on for nearly one _kuroh_ (2 m.) and dismounted
on the fighting-ground at the confluence.[2603] I myself went to enjoy
Ūstād `Alī-qulī's firing of culverin and _firingī_; he hit two boats
today with _firingī_-stones, broke them and sank them. Muṣṯafa did the
same from his side. I had the large mortar[2604] taken to the
fighting-ground, left Mullā Ghulām to superintend the making of its
position, appointed a body of _vasāwals_[2605] and active braves to help
him, went to an island facing the camp and there ate _ma`jūn_.
Whilst still under the influence of the confection[2606] I had the boat
taken to near the tents and there slept. A strange thing happened in the
night, a noise and disturbance arising about the 3rd watch (midnight)
and the pages and others snatching up pieces of wood from the boat, and
shouting "Strike! strike!" [Sidenote: Fol. 372.] What was said to have
led to the disturbance was that a night-guard who was in the Farmāīsh
along-side the Asāīsh in which I was sleeping,[2607] opening his eyes
from slumber, sees a man with his hand on the Asāīsh as if meaning to
climb into her. They fall on him;[2608] he dives, comes up again, cuts
at the night-guard's head, wounding it a little, then runs off at once
towards the river.[2609] Once before, on the night we returned from
Munīr, one or two night-guards had chased several Hindūstānīs from near
the boats, and had brought in two swords and a dagger of theirs. The
Most High had me in His Keeping!
(_Persian_) Were the sword of the world to leap forth,
It would cut not a vein till God will.[2610]
(_May 4th_) At the dawn of Wednesday (_25th_), I went in the boat
Gunjāīsh to near the stone-firing ground (_tāsh-ātār-yīr_) and there
posted each soever to his work.
(_bbb. Details of the engagement._)
Aūghān-bīrdī _Mughūl_, leading not less than 1,000 men, had been sent to
get, in some way or other, across the river (Sarū) one, two, three
_kurohs_ (2, 4, 6m.) higher up. A mass of foot-soldiers, crossing from
opposite `Askarī's camp,[2611] landed from 20-30 boats on his road,
presumably thinking to show their superiority, but Aūghān-bīrdī and his
men charged them, put them to flight, took a few and cut their heads
off, shot many with arrows, and got possession of 7 or 8 boats. Today
also Bengalīs crossed in a few boats to Muḥammad-i-zamān Mīrzā's side,
there landed and [Sidenote: Fol. 372b.] provoked to fight. When attacked
they fled, and three boat-loads of them were drowned. One boat was
captured and brought to me. In this affair Bābā the Brave went forward
and exerted himself excellently.
Orders were given that in the darkness of night the boats Aūghān-bīrdī
had captured should be drawn[2612] up-stream, and that in them there
should cross Muḥammad Sl. Mīrzā, Yakka Khwāja, Yūnas-i-`alī,
Aūghān-bīrdī and those previously assigned to go with them.
Today came a man from `Askarī to say that he had crossed the
[Sarū]-water, leaving none behind, and that he would come down on the
enemy at next day's dawn, that is to say, on Thursday's. Here-upon those
already ordered to cross over were told to join `Askarī and to advance
upon the enemy with him.
At the Mid-day Prayer a person came from Ūstā, saying "The stone is
ready; what is the order?" The order was, "Fire this stone off; keep the
next till I come." Going at the Other Prayer in a very small Bengalī
skiff to where shelter (_muljār_) had been raised, I saw Ūstā fire off
one large stone and several small _firingī_ ones. Bengalīs have a
reputation for fire-working;[2613] we tested it now; they do not fire
counting to hit a particular spot, but fire at random.
At this same Other Prayer orders were given to draw a few boats
up-stream along the enemy's front. A few were got past without a "God
forbid!"[2614] from those who, all unprotected, drew [Sidenote: Fol.
373.] them up. Aīsān-tīmūr Sl. and Tūkhta-būghā Sl. were ordered to stay
at the place those boats reached, and to keep watch over them. I got
back to camp in the 1st night-watch of Thursday.[2615]
Near midnight came news from (Aūghān-bīrdī's) boats which were being
drawn up-stream, "The force appointed had gone somewhat ahead; we were
following, drawing the boats, when the Bengalīs got to know where we
were drawing them and attacked. A stone hit a boatman in the leg and
broke it, we could not pass on."
(_May 5th_) At dawn on Thursday (_Sha`bān 26th_) came the news from
those at the shelter, "All the boats have come from above.[2616] The
enemy's horse has ridden to meet our approaching army." On this, I got
our men mounted quickly and rode out to above those boats[2617] that had
been drawn up in the night. A galloper was sent off with an order for
Muḥammad Sl. M. and those appointed to cross with him, to do it at once
and join `Askarī. The order for Aīsān-tīmūr Sl. and Tūkhta-būghā Sl. who
were above these boats,[2618] was that they should busy themselves to
cross. Bābā Sl. was not at his post.[2619]
Aīsān-tīmūr Sl. at once crosses, in one boat with 30-40 of his retainers
who hold their horses by the mane at the boat-side. [Sidenote: Fol.
373b.] A second boat follows. The Bengalīs see them crossing and start
off a mass of foot-soldiers for them. To meet these go 7 or 8 of
Aīsān-tīmūr Sl.'s retainers, keeping together, shooting off arrows,
drawing those foot-soldiers towards the Sulṯān who meantime is getting
his men mounted; meantime also the second boat is moving (_rawān_). When
his 30-35 horsemen charge those foot-soldiers, they put them well to
flight. Aīsān-tīmūr did distinguished work, first in crossing before the
rest, swift, steady, and without a "God forbid!", secondly in his
excellent advance, with so few men, on such a mass of foot, and by
putting these to flight. Tūkhta-būghā Sl. also crossed. Then boats
followed one after another. Lāhorīs and Hindūstānīs began to cross from
their usual posts[2620] by swimming or on bundles of reeds.[2621] Seeing
how matters were going, the Bengalīs of the boats opposite the shelter
(Muṣṯafa's), set their faces for flight down-stream.
Darwīsh-i-muḥammad _Sārbān_, Dost Lord-of-the-gate, Nūr Beg and several
braves also went across the river. I made a man gallop off to the
Sulṯāns to say, "Gather well together those who [Sidenote: Fol. 374.]
cross, go close to the opposing army, take it in the flank, and get to
grips." Accordingly the Sulṯāns collected those who crossed, formed up
into 3 or 4 divisions, and started for the foe. As they draw near, the
enemy-commander, without breaking his array, flings his foot-soldiers to
the front and so comes on. Kūkī comes up with a troop from `Askarī's
force and gets to grips on his side; the Sulṯāns get to grips on theirs;
they get the upper hand, unhorse man after man, and make the enemy
scurry off. Kūkī's men bring down a Pagan of repute named Basant Rāō
and cut off his head; 10 or 15 of his people fall on Kūkī's, and are
instantly cut to pieces. Tūkhta-būghā Sl. gallops along the enemy's
front and gets his sword well in. Mughūl `Abdu'l-wahhāb and his younger
brother gets theirs in well too. Mughūl though he did not know how to
swim, had crossed the river holding to his horse's mane.
I sent for my own boats which were behind;[2622] the Farmāīsh coming up
first, I went over in it to visit the Bengalīs' encamping-grounds. I
then went into the Gunjāīsh. "Is there a crossing-place higher up?" I
asked. Mīr Muḥammad the raftsman represented that the Sarū was better to
cross higher up;[2623] accordingly the army-folk[2624] were ordered to
cross at the higher place he named.
While those led by Muḥammad Sl. Mīrzā were crossing the [Sidenote: Fol.
374b.] river,[2625] the boat in which Yakka Khwāja was, sank and he went
to God's mercy. His retainers and lands were bestowed on his younger
brother Qāsim Khwāja.
The Sulṯāns arrived while I was making ablution for the Mid-day Prayer;
I praised and thanked them and led them to expect guerdon and kindness.
`Askarī also came; this was the first affair he had seen; one
well-omened for him!
As the camp had not yet crossed the river, I took my rest in the boat
Gunjāīsh, near an island.
(_ccc. Various incidents of the days following the battle._)
(_May 6th_) During the day of Friday (_Sha`bān 27th_) we landed at a
village named Kūndīh[2626] in the Nirhun _pargana_ of Kharīd on the
north side of the Sarū.[2627]
(_May 8th_) On Sunday (_29th_) Kūkī was sent to Ḥājīpūr for news.
Shāh Muḥammad (son) of Ma`rūf to whom in last year's campaign (934 AH.)
I had shown great favour and had given the Sāran-country, had done well
on several occasions, twice fighting and overcoming his father
Ma`rūf.[2628] At the time when Sl. Maḥmūd _Lūdī_ perfidiously took
possession of Bihār and was opposed by Shaikh Bāyazīd and Bīban, Shāh
Muḥammad had no help for it, he had to join them; but even then, when
people were saying wild words about him, he had written dutifully to me.
When `Askarī crossed at the Haldī-passage, Shāh [Sidenote: Fol. 375.]
Muḥammad had come at once with a troop, seen him and with him gone
against the Bengalīs. He now came to this ground and waited on me.
During these days news came repeatedly that Bīban and Shaikh Bāyazīd
were meaning to cross the Sarū-river.
In these days of respite came the surprising news from Sanbal (Saṃbhal)
where `Alī-i-yūsuf had stayed in order to bring the place into some sort
of order, that he and a physician who was by way of being a friend of
his, had gone to God's mercy on one and the same day. `Abdu'l-lāh
(_kitābdār_) was ordered to go and maintain order in Sanbal.
(_May 13th_) On Friday the 5th of the month Ramẓān, `Abdu'l-lāh was
given leave for Sanbal.[2629]
(_ddd. News from the westward._)
In these same days came a dutiful letter from Chīn-tīmūr Sl. saying that
on account of the journey of the family from Kābul, several of the begs
who had been appointed to reinforce him, had not been able to join
him;[2630] also that he had gone out with Muḥammadī and other begs and
braves, not less than 100 _kurohs_ (200m.), attacked the Balūchīs and
given them a good beating.[2631] Orders were sent through `Abdu'l-lāh
(_kitābdār_) for the Sulṯān that he and Sl. Muḥammad _Dūldāī_,
Muḥammadī, and some of the begs and braves of that country-side should
assemble in Āgra and there remain ready to move to wherever an enemy
appeared.
(_eee. Settlement with the Nūḥānī Afghāns._)
(_May 16th_) On Monday the 8th of the month, Daryā Khān's [Sidenote:
Fol. 375b.] grandson Jalāl Khān to whom Shaikh Jamālī had gone, came in
with his chief amīrs and waited on me.[2632] Yaḥyā _Nūḥānī_ also came,
who had already sent his younger brother in sign of submission and had
received a royal letter accepting his service. Not to make vain the hope
with which some 7 or 8,000 _Nūḥānī_ Afghāns had come in to me, I
bestowed 50 _laks_ from Bīhār on Maḥmūd Khān _Nūḥānī_, after reserving
one _krūr_ for Government uses (_khalṣa_), and gave the remainder of the
Bihār revenues in trust for the above-mentioned Jalāl Khān who for his
part agreed to pay one _krūr_ of tribute. Mullā Ghulām _yasāwal_ was
sent to collect this tribute.[2633] Muḥammad-i-zamān Mīrzā received the
Jūnapūr-country.[2634]
(_fff. Peace made with Naṣrat Shāh._)
(_May 19th_) On the eve of Thursday (_11th_) that retainer of Khalīfa's,
Ghulām-i-`alī by name, who in company with a retainer of the Shāh-zāda
of Mungīr named Abū'l-fatḥ,[2635] had gone earlier than Ismā`īl Mītā, to
convey those three articles (_faṣl soz_), now returned, again in company
with Abū'l-fatḥ, bringing letters for Khalīfa written by the Shāh-zāda
and by Ḥusain Khān _Laskar_(?) _Wazīr_, who, in these letters, gave