The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)
assent to those three conditions, took upon themselves to act for Naṣrat
Shāh and interjected a word for peace. As the object of this campaign
was to put down the rebel Afghāns of whom some had taken their heads
and gone off, some had come in submissive and accepting my service, and
the remaining few were in the hands of the Bengalī [Sidenote: Fol. 376.]
(Naṣrat Shāh) who had taken them in charge, and as, moreover, the Rains
were near, we in our turn wrote and despatched words for peace on the
conditions mentioned.
(_ggg_. _Submissions and guerdon._)
(_May 21st_) On Saturday (_13th_) Ismā`īl _Jālwānī_, `Alāūl Khān
_Nūḥānī_, Auliya Khān _Ashrāqī_(?) and 5 and 6 amīrs came in and waited
on me.
Today guerdon was bestowed on Aīsān-tīmūr Sl. and Tūkhta-būghā Sl., of
swords and daggers with belts, cuirasses, dresses of honour, and
_tīpūchāq_ horses; also they were made to kneel, Aīsān-tīmūr Sl. for the
grant of 36 _laks_ from the Nārnūl _pargana_, Tūkhta-bughā Sl. for 30
_laks_ from that of Shamsābād.
(_hhh_. _Pursuit of Bāyazīd and Bīban._)
(_May 23rd_) On Monday the 15th of the month (_Ramẓān_), we marched from
our ground belonging to Kūndbah (or Kūndīh) on the Sarū-river, with easy
mind about Bihār and Bengal, and resolute to crush the traitors Bīban
and Shaikh Bāyazīd.
(_May 25th_) On Wednesday (_17th_) after making two night-halts by the
way, we dismounted at a passage across the Sarū, called
Chaupāra-Chaturmūk of Sikandarpūr.[2636] From today people were busy in
crossing the river.
As news began to come again and again that the traitors, after crossing
Sarū and Gogar,[2637] were going toward Luknū,[2638] the following
leaders were appointed to bar (their) crossing[2639]:—The Turk and Hind
amīrs Jalālu'd-dīn _Sharqī_, `Alī Khān _Farmūlī_; Tardīka (or, Tardī
_yakka_), Nizām Khān of Bīāna, together with Tūlmīsh _Aūzbeg_, Qurbān of
Chīrk and Daryā Khān (of Bhīra's [Sidenote: Fol. 376b.] son) Ḥasan Khān.
They were given leave to go on the night of Thursday.[2640]
(_iii. Damage done to the Bābur-nāma writings._)
That same night when 1 watch (_pās_), 5 _garīs_ had passed (_cir._ 10.55
p.m.) and the _tarāwīḥ_-prayers were over,[2641] such a storm burst, in
the inside of a moment, from the up-piled clouds of the Rainy-season,
and such a stiff gale rose, that few tents were left standing. I was in
the Audience-tent, about to write (_kitābat qīlā dūr aīdīm_); before I
could collect papers and sections,[2642] the tent came down, with its
porch, right on my head. The _tūnglūq_ went to pieces.[2643] God
preserved me! no harm befell me! Sections and book[2644] were drenched
under water and gathered together with much difficulty. We laid them in
the folds of a woollen throne-carpet,[2645] put this on the throne and
on it piled blankets. The storm quieted down in about 2 _garīs_ (45m.);
the bedding-tent was set up, a lamp lighted, and, after much trouble, a
fire kindled. We, without sleep, were busy till shoot of day drying
folios and sections.
(_jjj. Pursuit of Bīban and Bāyazīd resumed._)
(_May 26th_) I crossed the water on Thursday morning (_Ramān 18th_).
(_May 27th_) On Friday (_19th_) I rode out to visit Sikandarpūr and
Kharīd.[2646] Today came matters written by `Abdu`l-lāh (_kitābdār_) and
Bāqī about the taking of Luknūr.[2647]
(_May 28th_) On Saturday (_20th_) Kūkī was sent ahead, with a troop, to
join Bāqī.[2648]
(_May 29th_) That nothing falling to be done before my arrival might be
neglected, leave to join Bāqī was given on Sunday (_21st_) to Sl. Junaid
_Barlās_, Khalīfa's (son) Ḥasan, Mullā Apāq's [Sidenote: Fol. 377.]
retainers, and the elder and younger brethren of Mumin Ātāka.
Today at the Other Prayer a special dress of honour and a _tīpūchāq_
horse were bestowed on Shāh Muḥammad (son) of Ma`rūf _Farmūlī_, and
leave to go was given. As had been done last year (934 AH.), an
allowance from Sāran and Kūndla[2649] was bestowed on him for the
maintenance of quiver-wearers. Today too an allowance of 72 _laks_[2650]
from Sarwār and a _tīpūchāq_ horse were bestowed on Ismā`īl _Jalwānī_,
and his leave was given.
About the boats Gunjāīsh and Arāīsh it was settled with Bengalīs that
they should take them to Ghāzīpūr by way of Tīr-mūhānī.[2651] The boats
Asāīsh and Farmāīsh were ordered taken up the Sarū with the camp.
(_May 30th_) On Monday (_Ramẓān 22nd_) we marched from the
Chaupāra-Chaturmūk passage along the Sarū, with mind at ease about Bihār
and Sarwār,[2652] and after doing as much as 10 _kurohs_
[Sidenote: Fol. 377b.] (20m.) dismounted on the Sarū in a village
called Kilirah (?) dependent on Fatḥpūr.[2653]
(_kkk. A surmised survival of the record of 934. A.H._[2654])
*After spending several days pleasantly in that place where there are
gardens, running-waters, well-designed buildings, trees, particularly
mango-trees, and various birds of coloured plumage, I ordered the march
to be towards Ghāzīpūr.
Ismā`īl Khān _Jalwānī_ and `Alāūl Khān _Nūḥānī_ had it represented to me
that they would come to Āgra after seeing their native land (_watn_). On
this the command was, "I will give an order in a month."*[2655]
(_lll. The westward march resumed._)
(_May 31st_) Those who marched early (_Tuesday, Ramẓān 23rd_), having
lost their way, went to the great lake of Fatḥpūr (?).[2656] People were
sent galloping off to fetch back such as were near and Kīchīk Khwāja was
ordered to spend the night on the lakeshore and to bring the rest on
next morning to join the camp. We marched at dawn; I got into the Asāīsh
half-way and had it towed to our ground higher up.
(_mmm. Details of the capture of a fort by Bīban and Bāyazīd._)
On the way up, Khalīfa brought Shāh Muḥammad _dīwāna's_ son who had come
from Bāqī bringing this reliable news about Luknūr[2657]:—They (_i.e._
Bīban and Bāyazīd) hurled their assault on Saturday the 13th of the
month Ramẓān (_May 21st_) but could do nothing by fighting; while the
fighting was going on, a collection of wood-chips, hay, and thorns in
the fort took fire, so that inside the walls it became as hot as an oven
(_tanūrdīk tafsān_); the garrison could not move round the rampart; the
fort was lost. When the enemy heard, two or three days later, of our
return (westwards), he fled towards Dalmau.[2658]
Today after doing as much as 10 _kurohs_ (20m.), we dismounted beside a
village called Jalisir,[2659] on the Sarū-bank, in the Sagrī _pargāna_.
(_June 1st_) We stayed on the same ground through Wednesday (_24th_), in
order to rest our cattle.
(_nnn. Dispositions against Bīban and Bāyazīd._)
Some said they had heard that Bīban and Bāyazīd had crossed Gang, and
thought of withdrawing themselves to their kinsfolk [Sidenote: Fol.
378.]
(_nisbahsīlār_) by way of....[2660] Here-upon the begs were summoned
for a consultation and it was settled that Muḥammad-i-zamān Mīrzā and
Sl. Junaid _Barlās_ who in place of Jūnpūr had been given Chunār with
several _parganas_, Maḥmud Khān _Nūḥānī_, Qāẓī Jīā, and Tāj Khān
_Sarāng-khānī_ should block the enemy's road at Chunār.[2661]
(_June 2nd_) Marching early in the morning of Thursday (_25th_), we left
the Sarū-river, did 11 _kurohs_ (22 m.), crossed the Parsarū (Sarjū) and
dismounted on its bank.
Here the begs were summoned, discussion was had, and the leaders named
below were appointed to go detached from the army, in rapid pursuit of
Bīban and Bāyazīd towards Dalmūṯ (Dalmau):—Aīsān-tīmūr Sl., Muḥammad Sl.
M., Tūkhta-būghā Sl., Qāsim-i-ḥusain Sl., Bī-khūb (Nī-khūb) Sl.,
Muz̤affar-i-ḥusain Sl., Qāsim Khwāja, Ja`far Khwāja, Zahid Khwāja, Jānī
Beg, `Askarī's retainer Kīchīk Khwāja, and, of Hind amīrs, `Ālam Khān of
Kālpī, Malik-dād _Kararānī_, and Rāo (Rāwūī) _Sarwāni_.
(_ooo. The march continued._)
When I went at night to make ablution in the Parsarū, people were
catching a mass of fish that had gathered round a lamp on the surface of
the water. I like others took fish in my hands.[2662]
(_June 3rd_) On Friday (_26th_) we dismounted on a very slender stream,
the head-water of a branch of the Parsarū. In order not to be disturbed
by the comings and goings of the army-folk, [Sidenote: Fol. 378b.] I had
it dammed higher up and had a place, 10 by 10, made for ablution. The
night of the 27th[2663] was spent on this ground.
(_June 4th_) At the dawn of the same day (_Saturday 27th_) we left that
water, crossed the Tūs and dismounted on its bank.[2664]
(_June 5th_) On Sunday (_28th_) we dismounted on the bank of the same
water.
(_June 6th_) On Monday the 29th of the month (_Ramẓān_), our station was
on the bank of the same Tūs-water. Though tonight the sky was not quite
clear, a few people saw the Moon, and so testifying to the Qāẓī, fixed
the end of the month (_Ramẓān_).
(_June 7th_) On Tuesday (_Shawwāl 1st_) we made the Prayer of the
Festival, at dawn rode on, did 10 _kurohs_ (20 m.), and dismounted on
the bank of the Gūī (Gūmtī), a _kuroh_ (2 m.) from Māīng.[2665] The sin
of _ma`jūn_ was committed (_irtikāb qīlīldī_) near the Mid-day Prayer; I
had sent this little couplet of invitation to Shaikh Zain, Mullā Shihāb
and Khwānd-amīr:—
(_Turkī_) Shaikh and Mullā Shihāb and Khwānd-amir,
Come all three, or two, or one.
Darwīsh-i-muḥammad (_Sārbān_), Yūnas-i-`alī and `Abdu'l-lāh
(_`asas_)[2666] were also there. At the Other Prayer the wrestlers set
to.
(_June 8th_) On Wednesday (_2nd_) we stayed on the same ground. Near
breakfast-time _ma`jūn_ was eaten. Today Malik Sharq came in who had
been to get Tāj Khān out of Chunār.[2667] When the wrestlers set to
today, the Champion of Aūd who had come earlier, grappled with and threw
a Hindūstānī wrestler who had [Sidenote: Fol. 379.] come in the
interval.
Today Yaḥyā _Nuḥāni_ was granted an allowance of 15 _laks_ from
Parsarūr,[2668] made to put on a dress of honour, and given his leave.
(_June 9th_) Next day (_Thursday 3rd_) we did 11 _kurohs_ (22 m.),
crossed the Gūī-water (Gūmtī), and dismounted on its bank.
(_ppp. Concerning the pursuit of Bīban and Bāyazīd._)
News came in about the sulṯāns and begs of the advance that they had
reached Dalmūd (Dalmau), but were said not yet to have crossed the water
(Ganges). Angered by this (delay), I sent orders, "Cross the water at
once; follow the track of the rebels; cross Jūn (Jumna) also; join `Ālam
Khān to yourselves; be energetic and get to grips with the adversary."
(_qqq. The march continued._)
(_June 10th_) After leaving this water (_Gūmtī_, _Friday 4th_) we made
two night-halts and reached Dalmūd (Dalmau), where most of the army-folk
crossed Gang, there and then, by a ford. While the camp was being got
over, _ma`jūn_ was eaten on an island (_ārāl_) below the ford.
(_June 13th_) After crossing, we waited one day (_Monday 7th_) for all
the army-folk to get across. Today Bāqī _Tāshkīndī_ came in with the
army of Aūd (Ajodhya) and waited on me.
(_June 14th_) Leaving the Gang-water (Ganges, _Tuesday 8th_), we made
one night-halt, then dismounted (_June 15th-Shawwāl 9th_) beside Kūrarah
(Kūra Khāṣ) on the Arind-water. The distance from Dalmūd (Dalmau) to
Kūrarah came out at 22 _kurohs_ (44 m.).[2669]
(_June 16th_) On Thursday (_10th_) we marched early from that ground and
dismounted opposite the Ādampūr _pargana_.[2670]
To enable us to cross (Jūn) in pursuit of our adversaries, a few
[Sidenote: Fol. 379b.] raftsmen had been sent forward to collect at
Kālpī what boats were to be had; some boats arrived the night we
dismounted, moreover a ford was found through the Jūn-river.
As the encamping-place was full of dust, we settled ourselves on an
island and there stayed the several days we were on that ground.
(_rrr. Concerning Bīban and Bāyazīd._)
Not getting reliable news about the enemy, we sent Bāqī _shaghāwal_ with