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. Bekrâm. 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, Garh-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. burning fever. Early in the morning, we marched from Jûî-Shâhi, and passed the March 29. mid-day at the Bagh-e-Vafâ.1 At noon-day prayers, we left the Bagh-e-Vafâ, and passed the Siah-âb of Gendmek. Evening prayers were over, when, after having given our horses, breath in a cultivated field, we mounted again in a geri2 or two, and, passing the Sûrkhâb, halted at Kerek, where we slept. Before dawn, we again mounted, March 30. and, at the separation of the Karatû road, I and five or six others went to view a garden which I had made in Karatû. I sent Khalîfeh, Shah Hassan Beg, and other persons, straight on to Kûrûk-Sai, where they were to wait for me. On reaching Karatû, one Kazîl, a Tewachi3 of Shah Beg Arghun's, brought me information that Shah Beg had taken and plundered Kâhan and retired. I issued orders that nobody should carry forward intelligence of my approach. I reached Kâbul at noon-day prayers; no one knew of my approach till I reached the bridge of Kutlak-Kadam.4 Baber After that, there was no time to put Hûmâiûn and Kâmrân on horseback. They Kabul. brought them forth in the arms of the nearest servants, between the gate of the fort and that of the citadel, to offer me their duty. About afternoon prayers, Kâsim Beg, with the Kazi of the city, and such of my court as had remained in Kâbul, waited on me. reaches On Friday, the first day of the second Rebi, I had a jovial party about afternoon April 1. prayers. I bestowed a dress of honour from my own wardrobe on Shah Hassan. At daybreak on Saturday morning, I went on board of a boat, and had a morning- April 2. party. At this entertainment, Nûr Beg played on the lute; he had not then adopted a rigid severity of life. At noonday prayers, we left the vessel, and amused ourselves in a garden which I had laid out between Kilkeneh and the hill. About afternoon prayers, we went to the Bagh-e-Binafsheh,7 and sat down to our wine. I returned from Kilkeneh over the ramparts into the citadel. Death of ter. On the night of Tuesday the 5th, Dost Beg, who had caught a severe fever on the April 5. road, was received into the mercy of God. I was extremely concerned and grieved at Dost Beg. this event. His body was carried to Ghazni, and buried in front of the entrance into the Sultan's Mausoleum. Dost Beg was an admirable man. He was rising to the highest rank in the order of nobility. Before he had reached the rank of Beg, His characwhile attending my court, and attached to my person, he performed several gallant actions. One of these was when Sultan Ahmed Tambol surprised us by night, within a farsang of andejân, at the Rebat of Zourak. With only ten or fifteen men, I stood my ground, charged him, and put his party to flight. By the time I came up with the main body of the enemy, where we found him standing with about a hundred men drawn up, I had only three men left with me, the rest having fallen behind; so that we were but four in number. One of the three was Dost Nâsir, another Mirza Kûli Gokultâsh, the third Kerîmdâd. I had on my corslet. Tambol, with another person, stood in front of his troops, about as far in advance as the outer vestibule of a 5 The expression sabâkhi occurs very frequently in the sequel. I presume that it means a morning house is from the door. I advanced right to Tambol, face to face, and struck him on the helmet with an arrow. I shot another arrow, which pierced his shield and platemail. They discharged an arrow at me, which passed close by my neck. Tambol let fall a heavy sword-blow on my head. It is a singular fact, that, though not a thread of my cap of mail was injured, yet my head was severely wounded. No one coming up to my succour, and finding myself alone, I was obliged to retreat full gallop. Dost Beg, who was somewhat behind me, interposed himself, and engaged him sword in hand, to favour my escape. On another occasion, at Akhsi, when we were retreating out of that place, he had a single combat with Bâki Khîz;2 though they called him Khîz (the effeminate), yet he was a stern and sturdy soldier, and wielded his sword right powerfully. When I retired from Akhsi, and had only eight persons left with me, he was one of them. The enemy, after dismounting other two, at last dismounted Dost Beg. After he was elevated to the rank of Beg, too, when Siûnjek Khan came with the Sultans to Tâshkend, and besieged Ahmed Kâsim, he broke their ranks, passed through the middle of their army, and entered the city. He likewise showed great self-devotion in defending the place.3 Ahmed Kâsim, without giving him notice, abandoned the city and fled. Under these circumstances, he manfully attacked the Khans and Sultans, forced his way out of Tâshkend, broke through the midst of their army, and bravely effected his escape. After this, when Shîrim Taghâi and Mazîd, with A. H. 914. their adherents, were in a state of rebellion, Dost Beg having been detached from Ghazni with a party of two or three hundred men on a plundering expedition, the Moghuls sent three or four hundred chosen men, to seek him out and chastise him. Dost Beg fell in with this force of the enemy in the neighbourhood of Shirûkân, where he completely beat them, dismounted and took a number of them prisoners, and brought back with him a quantity of heads which he had cut off. At the storm of the fort of Bajour, too, Dost Beg's people came up and mounted the ramparts before any of the others; and, at Perhâleh, Dost Beg defeated Hâti, put him to flight, and took the place. After Dost Beg's death, I gave his governments to his younger brother, Miram Nâsir. A. D. 1519. April 8. April 12. April 17. On Friday, the 8th of the latter Rebi, I left the fort, and went to the Chehar-Bagh. On Tuesday the 12th, Sultanim Begum, the eldest daughter of Sultan Mirza, who, during the late occurrences, had been in Khwârizm, where Isan Kuli Sultan, the younger brother of Yeli Pars* Sultan, had married her daughter, arrived with her in Kâbul. I assigned her the Baghe Khilwat for her residence. After she had taken up her abode there, I went and waited on them. As I visited them with the same ceremony as if they were my elder sisters, I bowed down as a mark of politeness and respect; they also bowed down. I then went up to them and we embraced each other; and we always afterwards observed the same usage. On Sunday the 17th, I released from custody that traitor Bâba Sheikh, who had 1 It is strange that Baber takes no notice of the wound which on this occasion he received in the thigh. 2 The effeminate. 3 This siege of Tâshkend is referred to nowhere else. He is before called Dilbars, which seems to be the correct name. long been in confinement; forgave his offences, and bestowed on him a dress of ho nour. On Tuesday the 19th, I went out about noon, to make a tour round Khwâjeh Syârân. April 19. That day I was fasting. Yûnis Ali and some others said with surprise, " What! Tuesday, and you fasting! This is a miracle." On reaching Behzâdi, we halted at the Kazi's house. That night we had made every preparation for a jolly party, when the Kazi came to me, and said, "Such a thing was never yet seen in my house; however, you are Emperor and the Master." Although the whole apparatus for our merrymaking was ready, yet, to please the Kazi, we gave up our intention of drinking wine. On Thursday the 21st, I directed that an inclosure or fence should be made on the April 21. hill, on the brow of which I had planned out a garden. On Friday, I embarked above the bridge on a raft. On coming opposite to the April 22. Khaneh Syadan (sportsman's house), a bird called Ding1 was caught and brought to me. I had never before seen a Ding. It has a singular appearance, and will be more particularly mentioned in the account of the animals of Hindustân. On Saturday the 23d, I planted shoots of the plane, and of the sycamore, within the April 23. inclosure. At noon-day prayers we had a drinking party. At day-break next morn- April 24. ing, we had an early drinking party within the new inclosed ground. After mid-day we mounted and returned towards Kâbul. Reaching Khwâjeh Hassan, completely drunk, we slept there. At midnight we mounted again, left Khwâjeh Hassan, and arrived at the Char-bagh. At Khwâjeh Hassan, Abdalla, being intoxicated, had leaped into the April 25. water, arrayed as he was in his robe and dress of honour. As it was late, he was affected with the cold, was unable to move, and staid all night at Kutluk Khwâjeh's estate. Next morning he came to me ashamed and penitent for his excesses, having formed a resolution to abstain from wine. I said to him, "Now, speak out: Is your repentance to be effectual and profitable for the future or not? You are not to abstain from wine in my presence, and go on drinking everywhere else." He adhered to his resolution for some months, but could not observe it longer. obliged to On Monday the 25th, Hindû Beg, who had been left in Behreh and the adjoining Hindu Beg proinces without sufficient means, in hopes of their remaining peaceable, rejoined me. abandon My back had no sooner been turned than the Afghans and Hindustânis, without list- Behreh. April 25. ening to any invitations to remain quiet, or paying the slightest attention to me or my orders, instantly assembled in great numbers, and marched against Hindû Beg in Behreh. The Zemindars also joined the party of the Afghans; so that Hindû Beg, being unable to defend himself in Behreh, retired by Khushâb, passed through the country of Dînkôt, and proceeding on by Nilâb, arrived in Kâbul. Deo Hindû, with the son of Sektu, and some other Hindûs, had been brought as prisoners from Behreh. We now settled with each of them for a certain contribution, on payment of which these Hindûstânis were all presented with horses and dresses of honour, and dismissed, with liberty to return home. On Friday the 29th, I felt some symptoms of an intermittent fever, and got myself April 29. let blood. At that time there was an interval sometimes of two days, sometimes of 1 The adjutant bird. A.D. 1519. May 16. May 23. May 30. June 1. June 7. san Beg's three days, between the return of its attacks. At each attack the fever continued till a perspiration arose, when I was relieved. After ten or twelve days, Mûlla Khwajka prescribed wine mixed with narcissus flowers. I took it once or twice, but it did me no good. On Sunday, the 15th of the first Jemâdi, Khwâjeh Muhammed Ali came from Khost. He brought a saddled horse as tribute, and also some money as an offering. Muhammed Sherîf Munejjim,2 and some sons of the Mirzas of Khost, accompanied Khwâjeh Muhammed Ali, and tendered their services. Next morning, being Monday, Mûlla Kabîr arrived from Kâshghar. He had gone from Andejân to Kâshghar, and had thence come on to Kâbul. On Monday the 23d, Malek Shah Mansûr Yûsef-zai, with five or six chiefs of the Yûsef-zais, came from Sewâd, and waited on me. On Monday, the first of the latter Jemâdi, I bestowed dresses of honour on the Afghân Yûsef-zai chiefs who had accompanied Shah Mansûr; I gave Shah Mansûr a silken robe with rich buttons; presented another with a robe of waved silk, and gave other six persons robes of silk, after which I dismissed them. It was settled that they should never enter the country of Sewâd higher up than Anûheh; and should strike out the contributions of the inhabitants from the rolls of their usual collections; and farther, that the Afghans who cultivate lands in Bajour and Sewâd should pay six thousand Kherwar3 or loads of rice to the government. On Wednesday the 3d, I took a julap. On Monday, the 8th of the month, they brought the wedding present of Khemzeh, the younger son of Kâsim Beg, who was married to the eldest daughter of Khalifeh. It consisted of a thousand shahrokhis,' with a saddled horse. 6 On Tuesday, Shah Hassan Beg sent to ask my permission to have a drinking party. He carried Muhammed Ali, and other Begs of my court, to his house. Yunis Ali and Gedâi Taghai were with me. I still abstained from the use of wine." I said, "I never in my life sat sober while my friends were getting merry, nor remained cool and observant while they were quaffing wine and getting jovial. Come, therefore, and drink near me, that I may observe for a while the different progress and effects of society on the sober and the drunk." On the south-east of the Picture-gallery, which was built at the gate of the Char-bagh, was a small set of tents, in which I sometimes sat. The party was held there. Ghiâs, the buffoon, made his appearance; they several times in sport turned him out of the party; but at last, after much wrangling in jest, he forced his way into the meeting. We sent for Terdi Muhammed Kipchâk and Mûlla Kitâbdar. I composed extempore, and sent to Shah Hassan and his party, the following verses : (Turki.)—My friends enjoy the rose-garden of beauty in this banquet, I breathe a hundred prayers that no evil may betide them. 1 Khost lies on the Kurram river, north of Dour, in the Afghan country. 2 The astrologer. 4 Nearly £50. Sûret-Khâneh, or Picture-palace. |
