March 12.

March 13.

gardens and parterres on the opposite side, with the grounds where the sugar-cane is cultivated, examined the buckets and wheels for irrigation, drew some water, inquired into the mode of their operation, and made them raise the water again and again, that I might observe their action. During our ride, I had taken a maajûn, and when we had seen everything, we returned to the boat. Manucheher Khan had also taken a maajûn, but so strong, that two people were obliged to take hold of his arms and support him along. We dropped the anchor, and for a while remained stationary in the midst of the river; we next went a good way down the river, and afterwards desired the boat to be worked up the stream. That night we slept in the boat, and towards morning returned to the camp.

On Saturday, the 10th of the first Rebi, the sun entered the Ram; that day I rode out about noon-day prayers, went on board of a vessel, and had a drinking party. The party was composed of Khwâjeh Dost Khâwend, Dost Beg, Miram Mirza Kûli, Muhammedi, Ahmedi, Yûnus Ali, Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng, Gedai, Toghâi, Mîr Khûrd Asâs. The musicians were Rûkh-dem, Bâba Jân, Kâsim Ali, Yûsef Ali, Tengri Kûli, Ramzân. Having got into a large branch of the stream, we went down it for some time, after which we landed considerably lower down than Behreh, and reached the camp late.

That same day Shah Hassan came back from Khûshâb. He had been sent as ambassador, to invite the countries that had formerly been held by the Tûrks to return to their allegiance, and had made a capitulation with them. Some of the money that had been settled for, had also been paid to us. The heats were now close at hand; I therefore appointed Shah Muhammed Moher-dâr,' his younger brother, Dost Moherdâr, with a number of the most efficient men, and of those who were best suited to the service, to remain to support Hindû Beg. I settled on each of them a stated allowance, suited to his rank and circumstances. On Lenger Khan, who was the prime cause and adviser of this expedition, I bestowed Khushâb, and gave him the Tûgh,2 or banner of mountain-cow's tail. I left him also behind to support Hindû Beg. With the same view, I placed under the orders of Hindû Beg a number of Tûrki soldiers and Zemîndârs, who were in Behreh, and increased their allowances. Among these was Manucheher Khan, who has been already mentioned; another was Sanger Khan Jenjûheh, who was Melek-hest of the Jenjûheh.

Having arranged the affairs of the country in such a way as to give a prospect of its being kept quiet, on Sunday, the 11th of the first Rebi, I marched from Behreh on my return to Kâbul. We halted at Kildeh-kehâr. That day also there was a most uncommon fall of rain. Those who had cloaks, and those who had none, were all in the same state. The rear of the camp continued dropping in till after bed-time prayers.

Some persons who were acquainted with the country, and with the political situa

1 The Keeper of the Signet.

2 The Tûgh standard, as already mentioned, is a pennon with a kitâs or mountain-cow's tail. It is only bestowed on officers of rank. It resembles the Turkish horsetail standard.

3 Kepek, a kind of mantle, covered with wool.

tion of the neighbouring territories, and particularly the Jenjûheh, who were the old enemies of the Gakers, represented to me that Hâti the Gaker had been guilty of many acts of violence, had infested the highways by his robberies, and harassed the inhabitants; that therefore it was necessary either to effect his expulsion from this quarter, or, at least, to inflict on him exemplary punishment.

For effecting this object, next morning, I left Khwâjeh Mîr Mirân and Mîram Nâ- March 14. sir in charge of the camp, and, about breakfast time, set out with a body of light troops, against PerExpedition to fall upon Hâti Gaker, who, a few days before, had killed Tâtâr, seized the coun- håleh. try of Perhâleh, and was now at Perhâleh, as has been mentioned. About afternoon prayers we halted, and baited our horses; and set off again about bed-time prayers. Our guide was a servant of the Malek-hest, by name Sûrpa. He was a Gujer. All night long we proceeded straight on in our course, but halted towards morning, and March 15. sent on Beg Muhammed Moghul towards their camp. When it was beginning to be light we again mounted; and, about luncheon time,' put on our armour, and increased our speed. About a kos from the place where we had made this halt, Perhâleh began to appear faintly in sight. The skirmishers were now pushed forward; the right wing proceeded to the east of Perhâleh. Kûch Beg, who belonged to that wing, was

directed to follow in their rear, by way of reserve. The left wing and centre poured

in straight towards Perhâleh. Dost Beg was appointed to command the party charged to support the left wing and centre, who made the direct attack on Perhâleh.

Perhâleh, which stands high in the midst of deep valleys and ravines, has two roads leading to it; one of them on the south-east, which was the road that we advanced by. This road runs along the edge of the ravines, and has ravines and precipices on both sides. Within half a kos of Perhâleh the road becomes extremely difficult, and continues so up to the very gates of the city; the ravine road, in four or five places, being so narrow and steep, that only one person can go along it at a time; and, for about a bowshot, it is necessary to proceed with the utmost circumspection. The other road is on the north-west. It advances towards Perhâleh through the midst of an open valley. Except these two roads there is no other on any side. Although the place has no breast-work nor battlement, yet it is so situated that it is not assailable. It is surrounded by a precipice seven or eight gez2 in perpendicular height. The troops of the left wing having passed along the narrows, went pouring on towards the gate. Hâti, with thirty or forty horsemen, all, both man and horse, in complete armour, accompanied by a number of foot soldiers, attacked and drove back the skirmishers. Dost Beg, who commanded the reserve, coming up, and falling on the enemy with great impetuosity, brought down a number of them, and routed the rest. Hâti Gaker, who distinguished himself by his courage and firmness in the action, in spite of all his exertions could not maintain his ground, and fled. He was unable to defend the narrows; and, on reaching the fort, found that it was equally out of his power to maintain himself there. The detachment, which followed close on his heels, having entered the fort along with him, Hâti was compelled to make his escape, nearly alone, by the north-west entrance.

1 Eleven o'clock.

2 Fourteen or sixteen feet.

Perhâleh taken.

A. D. 1519. Dost Beg, on this occasion, again greatly distinguished himself. I ordered an honorary gift1 to be given to him. At the same time I entered Perhâleh, and took up my abode at Tâtâr's palace. During these operations, some men, who had been ordered to remain with me, had joined the skirmishing party. Among these were Amîn Muhammed Karachi, and Terkhân Arghûn. In order to punish them for this offence, I gave them the Gujer Sûrpa for their guide, and turned them out disgracefully2 into the deserts and wilds, to find their way back to the camp.

March 16.

March 17.

Submission

ker.

Next morning, passing by the ravine on the north-west, we halted on the sown fields, when I gave Wali, the treasurer, a body of select troops, and sent him off to the camp.

On Thursday the 15th, we halted at Anderâbeh, which lies on the banks of the river Sûhân.3 This fort of Anderâbeh depended, from old times, on the father of Malek-hest. When Hâti Gaker slew Malek-hest's father, it had been destroyed, and had remained in ruins ever since. About bed-time prayers, the party that had been left with the camp at Keldeh-kehâr rejoined us.

Hâti, after despatching Tâtâr, had sent to me one Parbat, his relation, with a capaof Hâti Ga- risoned horse, and a peshkesh. He did not meet me, but fell in with that part of the army that had been left behind with the camp; and having arrived along with the division that accompanied the baggage, now presented his offerings and tribute, and tendered his submission. Lenger Khan, who was to be left behind in Behreh, but who had accompanied the camp in order to finish some business, also rejoined me; and, having brought everything to a conclusion, took leave on his return to Behreh, accomMarch 18. panied by some Zemindârs of that district. After this we marched on, crossed the river Sûhân, and encamped on a rising ground. I gave a dress of honour to Parbat, Hâti Khan's relation; and, having written letters to confirm Hâti in his good intentions, and to remove any apprehensions that he might entertain, despatched Parbat in company with a servant of Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng.

Submission of the Kar

ras.

Some of Hûmâiûn's servants had gone along with Bâba Dost and Hilâhil to Nilâb, lûki Haza- and to the Karlûki Hazâras, who had been given to Hûmaiûn, and submitted to receive Darôghas. Senger Karlûk, accompanied by Mirza Malvi Karlûk, and thirty or forty of the chief of the tribe, came to us, after sending on before them a horse fully caparisoned, and tendering their obedience. The army of the Dilazâk Afghans having March 19. also arrived, we next morning marched thence and halted, after advancing two kos. I here ascended a rising ground to survey the camp, and directed the camels of the army to be numbered. They amounted to five hundred and seventy camels. I had formerly heard the sumbal plant (spikenard) described; I now saw it at this station.

1 Jildu.

2 The original has, "I sent them out with Surpa without sir-o-pa." The sir-o-pa is a dress of honour; and the phrase means, that he sent them away to wander with no mark of honour. The pun is on the name of the guide.

3 Or Swân.

4 There is still a part of the country, on the east bank of the Indus, called Hazâra, probably after this tribe; for in all these countries, the name of a tribe is applied to its country, without any addition.

On the skirts of this hill there are a few sumbal plants scattered here and there. They are more abundant in the skirts of the hills of Hindustân, where the plant is both more plentiful and larger in size. When I describe the animals and forests of Hindustân, it will be more particularly mentioned.

2

crosses the

Marching hence at the time when the kettle-drum beats,' we halted about luncheon Baber retime at the foot of the pass of Sengdâki. About noon-day prayers we renewed our Sind. march, and ascended the pass, crossed the river, and halted on an eminence; we again March 20. set out at midnight. In going to examine the ford by which we had passed in our way March 21. to Behreh, we found a raft, loaded with grain, that had stuck fast in the mud and clay; the owners, with all their exertions, had not been able to extricate it. We seized this corn, and divided it among the men who were with us; the grain came very seasonably. Towards evening we halted lower down3 than the junction of the Sind and Kâbul rivers, and higher up than old Nilâb, between the two. We brought six boats from Nilâb, and divided them among the right and left wings and centre, who immediately began to exert themselves in crossing the river. On the Monday, being the March 21, day on which we arrived, and the night following, and on Tuesday and the night fol- 22, and 23. lowing, till Wednesday, they continued passing; on Thursday, also, a few passed.

March 24.

Parbat, Hâti's relation, who had been sent from the neighbourhood of Anderâbeh with the servant of Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng, returned to us, while we were on the banks of the river, bringing from Hâti a horse clad in armour, by way of tributary offering. The inhabitants of Nilâb brought an armed horse as a peshkesh, and tendered their submission. Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng having a wish to remain in Behreh, and Muhammed Behreh itself having been given to Hindû Beg, I bestowed on him the tract of Ali Jengcountry Jeng gets between Behreh and the Sind, with the Ils and Ulûses in the district, such as the Kar- the country lûk Hazâras, and Hâti, and Ghiâsdâl, and Kîb. Whoever submitted his neck was to Behreh and be treated with kindness; and as for such as were rebellious and refractory,

(Tûrki verse.)—"Whoever does not submit his head, must be subjected to punishment, and humbled by pillage."

After making these grants to Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng, I gave him one of my own black velvet Kilmâk corslets, and the tûgh (or banner) of mountain-cow's tail. I gave Hâti's relation leave to depart; presented him with a sword, and a dress of honour; and sent by him letters calculated to confirm Hâti in his duty.

between

the Sind.

On Thursday, at sun-rise, we moved from the banks of the river, and resumed our March 24. march. This day I eat a maajûn. While under its influence, I visited some beautiful gardens. In different beds, the ground was covered with purple and yellow arghwân1 flowers. On one hand were beds of yellow flowers, in bloom; on the other hand, red flowers were in blossom. In many places they sprung up in the same bed, mingled together as if they had been flung and scattered abroad. I took my seat on a rising ground near the camp, to enjoy the view of all the flower-plots. On the six sides of

A. D. 1519. this eminence they were formed as into regular beds. On one side were yellow flowers; on another the purple, laid out in triangular beds. On two other sides there were fewer flowers; but, as far as the eye could reach, there were flower-gardens of a similar kind. In the neighbourhood of Pershâwer, during the spring, the flower-plots are exquisitely beautiful.

Tiger hunt.

March 25.
Baber
reaches

Bekrâm.
Visits

Early in the morning we marched from our ground. Where the road separates from the river we heard a tiger howling, and it soon issued out. The moment the horses heard the tiger's cry they became unmanageable, and ran off with their riders, plunging down the steeps and precipices. The tiger retreated again into the jungle. I directed a buffalo to be brought, and put in the wood, for the purpose of luring him out. He soon issued out again howling: Arrows poured down on him from every side; I, too, shot my arrow. When Khalwa Piâdeh struck him with a spear, he twisted, and broke the point of the spear with his teeth, and tossed it away. The tiger had received many wounds, and had crept into a patch of brushwood, when Bâba Yesâwal, drawing his sword, approached, and struck him on the head, at the moment he was on the spring. After this, Ali Sistâni struck him on the loins, when he plunged into the river, where they killed him. After they had dragged the animal out of the water, I ordered him to be skinned.

Next morning, we continued our march, and halted at Bekrâm. We visited the Gûrh-katri. There are nowhere else in the whole world such narrow and dark hermits' cells as at this place. After entering the door-way, and descending one or two stairs, Gürh-katri. you must lie down, and proceed crawling along, stretched at full length. You cannot enter without a light. The quantities of hair, both of the head and beard, that are lying scattered round about and in the vicinity of this cave, are immense. On all the sides of this Gûrh-katri there are numerous cells, like those of a college or monastery.1 The number of apartments is very great. The first year that I came to Kâbul, when I plundered and laid waste Kohat, Bânu, and the Desht, I passed through Bekrâm and Berkelân, and was vexed at not having seen the subterraneous excavations; but there was no reason for so much regret.

March 26.

March 27.

This same day I lost my best hawk. Sheikhem, the chief huntsman, had the charge of it. It took herons and storks excellently. It had flown away twice or thrice before. It pounced so unfailingly on its quarry, as to make even one with so little skill as myself the most successful of fowlers.

On each of the six chief Dilazâk Afghâns, who accompanied Melek Terkhân and Melek Mûsa, I bestowed a hundred mishkals of silver, one vest, three bullocks, and one buffalo, out of the spoil of Hindustân. On the others, also, I bestowed money, cloth, bullocks, and buffaloes, according to the circumstances of each.

When we had reached our ground at Ali Mesjid, one Maarûf, a Yâkûb-khail Dilazâk, brought ten sheep, two loads of rice, and eight large cheeses, as tribute.

From Ali Mesjid, we halted at Yedeh Bîr. From Yedeh Bîr, we reached JûîMarch 28. Shâhi, at noon-day prayers, and halted. This same day, Dost Beg was seized with a

1 This description makes it probable that these excavations originally belonged to the Bouddhist sect; the huge gigantic statues at Bût-Bamiân have certainly the same origin. The hair found lying was what had been cut off and left by the pilgrims as a votive offering.