Chapter III: Section III: Hindūstān
932 AH.—Oct. 18th 1525 to Oct. 8th 1526 AD.—Bābur starts on
his fifth expedition into Hindūstān—is attacked by illness at
Gandamak—Humāyūn is late in coming in from
Badakh-shān—Verse-making on the Kābul-river—Bābur makes a
satirical verse such as he had forsworn when writing the
_Mubīn_—attributes a relapse of illness to his breach of
vow—renews his oath—Fine spectacle of the lighted camp at
Alī-masjid—Hunting near Bīgrām—Preparations for ferrying the
Sind—Order to make a list of all with the army, and to count
them up—continuation of illness—Orders sent to the Lāhor begs
to delay engagement till Bābur arrived—The Sind ferried (for
the first time) and the army tale declared as 12,000 good and
bad—The eastward march—unexpected ice—Rendezvous made with the
Lāhor begs—Jat and Gūjūr thieves—a courier sent again to the
begs—News that `Ālam Khān had let Ibrāhīm _Lūdī_ defeat him
near Dihlī—particulars of the engagement—he takes refuge with
Bābur—The Lāhor begs announce their arrival close at
hand—Ibrāhīm's troops retire before Bābur's march—Daulat Khān
_Lūdī_ surrenders Milwat (Malot)—waits on Bābur and is
reproached—Ghāzī Khān's abandonment of his family
censured—Jaswān-valley—Ghāzī Khān pursued—Bābur advances
against Ibrāhīm _Lūdī_—his estimate of his adversary's
strength—`Ālam Khān's return destitute to Bābur—Bābur's march
leads towards Pānīpat—Humāyūn's first affair
succeeds—reiterated news of Ibrāhīm's approach—Bābur's success
in a minor encounter—he arrays and counts his effective
force—finds it under the estimate—orders that every man in the
army shall collect carts towards Rūmī defence—700 carts
brought in—account of the defences of the camp close to the
village of Pānīpat—Bābur on the futility of fear; his excuses
for the fearful in his army—his estimate of Ibrāhīm's army and
of its higher possible numbers—Author's Note on the Aūzbeg
chiefs in Ḥiṣār (918 AH. 1512 AD.)—Preliminary
encounters—Battle and victory of Pānīpat—Ibrāhīm's body
found—Dihlī and Āgra occupied by Bābur—he makes the circuit of
a Farghāna-born ruler in Dihlī—visits other tombs and sees
sights—halts opposite Tūghlūqābād—the _khuṯba_ read for him in
Dihlī—he goes to Āgra—Author's Note on rulers in Gūālīār—The
(Koh-i-nūr) diamond given by the Gūālīār family to
Humāyūn—Bābur's dealings with Ibrāhīm's mother and her
entourage—+Description of Hindūstān+ (pp. 478 to 521)—Revenues
of Hind (p. 521)—Āgra treasure distributed—local disaffection
to Bābur—discontent in his army at remaining in Hindūstān—he
sets the position forth to his Council—Khwāja Kalān decides to
leave—his and Bābur's verses on his desertion—Bābur's force
grows locally—action begun against rebels to Ibrāhīm in the
East—Gifts made to officers, and postings various—Bīban
_Jalwānī_ revolts and is beaten—The Mīr of Bīāna
warned—Mention of Rānā Sangā's failure in his promise to act
with Bābur—Sangā's present action—Decision in Council to leave
Sangā aside and to march to the East—Humāyūn leads out the
army—Bābur makes garden, well and mosque near Āgra—Progress of
Humāyūn's campaign—News of the Aūzbegs in Balkh and
Khurāsān—Affairs of Gujrāt 445-535
933 AH.—Oct. 8th 1526 to Sep. 27th 1527 AD.—Birth announced of
Bābur's son Fārūq—incomplete success in casting a large
mortar—_Varia_—Humāyūn summoned from the East to act against
Sangā—Plundering expedition towards Bīāna—Tahangar, Gūālīār
and Dūlpūr obtained—Ḥamīd Khān _Sārang-khānī_ defeated—Arrival
of a Persian embassy—Ibrāhīm's mother tries to poison
Bābur—+Copy of Bābur's letter detailing the affair+—his
dealings with the poisoner and her agents—Humāyūn's return to
Āgra—Khw. Dost-i-khawānd's arrival from Kābul—Reiterated news
of the approach of Rānā Sangā—Bābur sends an advance force to
Bīāna—Ḥasan Khān _Miwātī_—Tramontane matters disloyal to
Bābur—Trial-test of the large mortar (p. 536)—Bābur leaves
Āgra to oppose Sangā—adverse encounter with Sangā by Bīāna
garrison—Alarming reports of Rājpūt prowess—Spadesmen sent
ahead to dig wells in Madhākūr _pargana_—Bābur halts
there—arrays and moves to Sīkrī—various joinings and
scoutings—discomfiture of a party reconnoitring from Sīkrī—the
reinforcement also overcome—The enemy retires at sight of a
larger troop from Bābur—defence of the Sīkrī camp Rūmī
fashion, with ditch besides—Continued praise of Rājpūt
prowess—Further defence of the camp made to hearten Bābur's
men—20-25 days spent in the above preparations—arrival of 500
men from Kābul—also of Muḥ. Sharīf an astrologer who augurs
ill for Bābur's success—Archers collected and Mīwāt
over-run—Bābur reflects that he had always wished to cease
from the sin of wine—verses about his then position—resolves
to renounce wine—details of the destruction of wine and
precious vessels, and of the building of a commemorative well
and alms-house—his oath to remit a tax if victorious is
recalled to him—he remits the _tamghā_—Shaikh Zain writes the
_farmān_ announcing the two acts—Copy of the _farmān_—Great
fear in Bābur's army—he adjures the Ghāzī spirit in his men
who vow to stand fast—his perilous position—he moves forward
in considerable array—his camp is laid out and protected by
ditch and carts—An omen is taken and gives hope—Khalīfa
advising, the camp is moved—While tents were being set up, the
enemy appears—The battle and victory of Kānwa—described in a
copy of the Letter-of-victory—Bābur inserts this because of
its full particulars (pp. 559 to 574)—assumes the title of
Ghāzī—Chronograms of the victory and also of that in Dībalpūr
(930 AH.)—pursuit of the fugitive foe—escape of Sangā—the
falsely-auguring astrologer banished with a gift—a small
revolt crushed—a pillar of heads set up—Bābur visits
Bīāna—Little water and much heat set aside plan to invade
Sangā's territory—Bābur visits Mīwāt—give some historical
account of it—Commanders rewarded—Alwār visited—Humāyūn and
others allowed to leave Hindūstān—Despatch of the
Letter-of-victory—Various excursions—Humāyūn bidden
farewell—Chandwār and Rāprī recovered—Apportionment of
fiefs—Bīban flees before Bābur's men—Dispersion of troops for
the Rains—Misconduct of Humāyūn and Bābur's grief—Embassy to
`Irāq—Tardī Beg _khāksār_ allowed to return to the
darwesh-life—Bābur's lines to departing friends—The
Ramẓān-feast—Playing-cards—Bābur ill (seemingly with
fever)—visits Dūlpūr and orders a house excavated—visits Bārī
and sees the ebony-tree—has doubt of Bāyazīd _Farmūlī's_
loyalty—his remedial and metrical exercises—his Treatise on
Prosody composed—a relapse of illness—starts on an excursion
to Kūl and Saṃbal 536-586
934 AH.—Sep. 27th 1527 to Sep. 15th 1528 AD.—Bābur visits Kūl
and Saṃbal and returns to Āgra—has fever and ague
intermittently for 20-25 days—goes out to welcome kinswomen—a
large mortar bursts with fatal result—he visits Sīkrī—starts
for Holy War against Chandīrī—sends troops against Bāyazīd
_Farmūlī_—incidents of the march to Chandīrī—account of
Kachwa—account of Chandīrī—its siege—Meantime bad news arrives
from the East—Bābur keeping this quiet, accomplishes the work
in hand—Chandīrī taken—change of plans enforced by defeat in
the East—return northwards—Further losses in the East—Rebels
take post to dispute Bābur's passage of the Ganges—he orders a
pontoon-bridge—his artillery is used with effect, the bridge
finished and crossed and the Afghāns worsted—Tukhta-būghā
_Chaghatāī_ arrives from Kāshgar—Bābur visits Lakhnau—suffers
from ear-ache—reinforces Chīn-tīmūr against the
rebels—Chīn-tīmūr gets the better of Bāyazīd _Farmūlī_—Bābur
settles the affairs of Aūd (Oude) and plans to hunt near 587-602
+Translator's Note.+ (part of 934 AH.)—On the _cir._
half-year's missing matter—known events of the Gap:—Continued
campaign against Bīban and Bāyazīd—Bābur at Jūnpūr, Chausa and
Baksara—swims the Ganges—bestows Sarūn on a Farmūlī—orders a
Chār-bāgh made—is ill for 40 days—is inferred to have visited
Dūlpūr, recalled `Askarī from Multān, sent Khw. Dost-i-khāwand
to Kābul on family affairs which were causing him much
concern—Remarks on the Gap and, incidentally, on the Rāmpūr
Dīwān and verses in it suiting Bābur's illnesses of 934 AH.
[+End of Translator's Note.+]
935 AH. Sep. 15th 1528 to Sep. 5th 1529 AD.—`Askarī reaches
Āgra from Multān—Khwānd-amīr and others arrive from
Khurāsān—Bābur prepares to visit Gūālīār—bids farewell to
kinswomen who are returning to Kābul—marches out—is given an
unsavoury medicament—inspects construction-work in
Dūlpūr—reaches Gūālīār—+Description of Gūālīār+ (p. 607 to p.
614)—returns to Dūlpūr—suffers from ear-ache—inspects work in
Sīkrī and reaches Āgra—visit and welcomes to kinswomen—sends
an envoy to take charge of Rantanbhūr—makes a levy on
stipendiaries—sends letters to kinsfolk in Khurāsān—News
arrives of Kāmrān and Dost-i-khāwand in Kābul—of T̤ahmāsp
_Safawī's_ defeat at Jām of `Ubaidu'l-lāh _Aūzbeg_—of the
birth of a son to Humāyūn, and of a marriage by Kāmrān—he
rewards an artificer—is strongly attacked by fever—for his
healing translates Aḥrārī's _Wālidiyyah-risāla_—account of the
task—Troops warned for service—A long-detained messenger
returns from Humāyūn—Accredited messengers-of-good-tidings
bring the news of Humāyūn's son's birth—an instance of rapid
travel—Further particulars of the Battle of Jām—Letters
written and summarized—+Copy of one to Humāyūn inserted
here+—Plans for an eastern campaign under `Askarī—royal
insignia given to him—Orders for the measurement, stations and
up-keep of the Āgra-Kābul road—the _Mubīn_ quoted—A feast
described—`Askarī bids his Father farewell—Bābur visits Dūlpūr
and inspects his constructions—Persian account of the Battle
of Jām—Bābur decides contingently to go to the East—Balūchī
incursions—News reaches Dūlpūr of the loss of Bihār (town) and
decides Bābur to go East—News of Humāyūn's action in
Badakhshān—Bābur starts from Āgra—honoured arrivals in the
assembly-camp—incidents of the march—congratulations and
gifts sent to Kāmrān, Humāyūn and others—also specimens of the
Bāburī-script, and copies of the translation of the
_Wālidiyyah-risāla_ and the Hindūstān Poems—commends his
building-work to his workmen—makes a new ruler for the better
copying of the _Wālidiyyah-risāla_ translation—letters
written—+Copy of one to Khwāja Kalān inserted here+—Complaints
from Kītīn-qarā _Aūzbeg_ of Bābur's begs on the Balkh
frontier—Bābur shaves his head—Māhīm using his style, orders
her own escort from Kābul to Āgra—Bābur watches
wrestling—leaves the Jumna, disembarks his guns, and goes
across country to Dugdugī on the Ganges—travels by
litter—`Askarī and other Commanders meet him—News of Bīban,
Bāyazīd and other Afghāns—Letters despatched to meet Māhīm on
her road—Bābur sends a copy of his writings to
Samarkand—watches wrestling—hears news of the Afghāns—(here a
surmised survival of record displaced from 934 AH.)—fall of a
river-bank under his horse—swims the Ganges—crosses the Jumna
at Allahābād (Piag) and re-embarks his guns—wrestling
watched—the evil Tons—he is attacked by boils—a Rūmī remedy
applied—a futile attempt to hunt—he sends money-drafts to the
travellers from Kābul—visits places on the Ganges he had seen
last year—receives various letters below Ghāzīpūr—has news
that the Ladies are actually on their way from Kābul—last
year's eclipse recalled—Hindu dread of the Karmā-nāśā
river—wrestling watched—Rūmī remedy for boils used again with
much discomfort—fall of last year's landing-steps at
Baksara—wrestling—Negociations with an envoy of Naṣrat Shāh of
Bengal—Examination into Muḥammad-i-zāman's objections to a
Bihār appointment—despatch of troops to Bihār
(town)—Muḥammad-i-zamān submits requests which are granted—a
small success against Afghāns—Royal insignia given to
Muḥammad-i-zamān, with leave to start for Bihār—Bābur's
boats—News of the Bengal army—Muḥammad-i-zāman recalled
because fighting was probable—Dūdū Bībī and her son Jalāl
escape from Bengal to come to Bābur—Further discussions with
the Bengal envoy—Favourable news from Bihār—Bābur in
Arrah—Position of the Bengal army near the confluence of Gang
and Sārū (Ganges and Gogrā)—Bābur making further effort for
peace, sends an envoy to Naṣrat Shāh—gives Naṣrat's envoy
leave to go conveying an ultimatum—Arrival of a servant from
Māhīm west of the Bāgh-i-ṣafā—Bābur visits lotus-beds near
Arrah—also Munīr and the Son—Distance measured by counting a
horse's paces—care for tired horses—Bābur angered by Junaid
_Barlās'_ belated arrival—Consultation and plans made for the
coming battle—the Ganges crossed (by the Burh-ganga channel)
and move made to near the confluence—Bābur watches `Alī-qulī's
stone-discharge—his boat entered by night—Battle and victory
of the Gogrā—Bābur praises and thanks his Chaghatāī cousins
for their great services—crosses into the Nirhun _pargana_—his
favours to a Farmūlī—News of Bīban and Bāyazīd—and of the
strange deaths in Saṃbal—Chīn-tīmūr sends news from the west
of inconveniences caused by the Ladies' delay to leave
Kābul—and of success against the Balūchī—he is ordered to
Āgra—Settlement made with the Nuḥānī Afghāns—Peace made with
Naṣrat Shāh—Submissions and various guerdon—Bīban and Bāyazīd
pursued—Bābur's papers damaged in a storm—News of the rebel
pair as taking Luknūr(?)—Disposition of Bābur's boats—move
along the Sārū—(a surmised survival of the record of 934
AH.)—Account of the capture of Luknūr(?)—Dispositions against
the rebel pair—fish caught by help of a lamp—incidents of the
march to Adampūr on the Jumna—Bīban and Bāyazīd flee to
Mahūba—Eastern Campaign wound up—Bābur's rapid ride to Āgra
(p. 686)—visits kinswomen—is pleased with Indian-grown
fruits—Māhīm arrives—her gifts and Humāyūn's set before
Bābur—porters sent off for Kābul to fetch fruits—Account of
the deaths in Saṃbal brought in—sedition in Lāhor—wrestling
watched—sedition of Raḥīm-dād in Gūālīār—Mahdī Khwāja comes to
Āgra 605-689
936 AH.—Sep. 5th 1529 to Aug. 25th 1530 AD.—Shaikh Ghaus comes
from Gūālīār to intercede for Raḥīm-dād—Gūālīār taken over 690
+Translator's Note.+—936 and 937 AH.—1529 and 1530 AD.—Sources
from which to fill the Gap down to Bābur's death (December
26th 1530)—Humāyūn's proceedings in Badakhshān—Ḥaidar
_Dūghlāt's_ narrative of them—Humāyūn deserts his post, goes
to Kābul, and, arranging with Kāmrān, sends Hind-āl to
Badakhshān—goes on to Āgra and there arrives unexpected by his
Father—as he is unwilling to return, Sulaimān _Mīrān-shāhī_ is
appointed under Bābur's suzerainty—Sa`īd Khān is warned to
leave Sulaimān in possession—Bābur moves westward to support
him and visits Lāhor—waited on in Sihrind by the Rāja of
Kahlūr—received in Lāhor by Kāmrān and there visited from
Kābul by Hind-āl—leaves Lāhor (March 4th 1530 AD.)—from
Sihrind sends a punitive force against Mundāhir Rājpūts—hunts
near Dihlī—appears to have started off an expedition to
Kashmīr—family matters fill the rest of the year—Humāyūn falls
ill in Saṃbal and is brought to Āgra—his disease not yielding
to treatment, Bābur resolves to practise the rite of
intercession and self-surrender to save his life—is urged
rather to devote the great diamond (Koh-i-nūr) to pious
uses—refuses the substitution of the jewel for his own
life—performs the rite—Humāyūn recovers—Bābur falls ill and is
bedridden till death—his faith in the rite unquestionable,
belief in its efficacy general in the East—Plan to set Bābur's
sons aside from the succession—The _T̤abaqāt-i-akbarī_ story
discussed (p. 702 to 708)—suggested basis of the story (p.
705)—Bābur's death (Jūmāda I. 5th 937 AH.—Dec. 26th 1530 AD.)
and burial first, near Āgra, later near Kābul—Shāh-jahān's
epitaph inscribed on a tablet near the grave—Bābur's wives and
children—Mr. Erskine's estimate of his character 691-716
[+End of Translator's Note.+]
APPENDICES
A. Site and disappearance of old Akhsī.
B. The birds Qīl-qūyīrūgh and Bāghrī-qarā.
C. On the _gosha-gīr_.
D. The Rescue-passage.
E. Nagarahār and Nīng-nahār.
F. The name Dara-i-nūr.
G. On the names of two Dara-i-nūr wines.
H. On the counter-mark Bih-būd of coins.
I. The weeping-willows of f. 190_b_.
J. Bābur's excavated chamber at Qandahār.
K. An Afghān Legend.
L. Māhīm's adoption of Hind-āl.
M. On the term Bahrī-quṯās.
N. Notes on a few birds.
O. Notes by Humāyūn on some Hindūstān fruits.
P. Remarks on Bābur's Revenue List.
Q. On the Rāmpūr Dīwān.
R. Plans of Chandīrī and Gūālīār.
S. The Bābur-nāma dating of 935 AH.
T. On L:knū (Lakhnau) and L:knūr (Lakhnur _i.e._ Shahābād
in Rāmpūr).
U. The Inscriptions in Bābur's Mosque at Ajodhya (Oude).
V. Bābur's Gardens in and near Kābul.
Indices:—I. Personal, II. Geographical, III. General, p. 717
_et seq._
Omissions, Corrigenda, Additional Notes.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Plane-tree Avenue in Babur's (later)
Burial-garden[1] _facing_ p. xxvii
View from above his grave and Shah-jahan's
Mosque[1] _facing_ p. 367
His Grave[2] _facing_ p. 445
Babur in Prayer[3] _facing_ p. 702
His Signature App. Q, lxi
Plans of Chandiri and Gualiar App. R, lxvii
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The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)Chapter III: Section III: Hindūstān
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