Fortifies his front. April 12. Misconduct of the ene my. At this station I directed that, according to the custom of Rûm,1 the gun-carriages should be connected together with twisted bull-hides as with chains. Between every two gun-carriages were six or seven tûras2 or breast-works. The matchlock-men stood behind these guns and tûras, and discharged their matchlocks. I halted five or six days in this camp, for the purpose of getting this apparatus arranged. After every part of it was in order and ready, I called together all the Amîrs, and men of any experience and knowledge, and held a general council. It was settled, that as Panipat was a considerable city, it would cover one of our flanks by its buildings and houses, while we might fortify our front by tûras, or covered defences, and cannon, and that the matchlock-men and infantry should be placed in the rear of the guns and tûras. With this resolution we moved, and in two marches, on Thursday, the 30th of the last Jemâdi, reached Panipat. 3 On our right, were the town and suburbs. In my front I placed the guns and tûras which had been prepared. On the left, and in different other points, we drew ditches and made defences of the boughs of trees. At the distance of every bowshot, a space was left large enough for a hundred or a hundred and fifty men to issue forth. Many of the troops were in great terror and alarm. Trepidation and fear are always unbecoming. Whatsoever Almighty God has decreed from all eternity, cannot be reversed; though, at the same time, I cannot greatly blame them; they had some reason; for they had come two or three months' journey from their own country; we had to engage in arms a strange nation, whose language we did not understand, and who did not understand ours; (Persian). We are all in difficulty, all in distraction, The army of the enemy opposed to us was estimated at one hundred thousand men ; the elephants of the emperor and his officers were said to amount to nearly a thousand. He possessed the accumulated treasures of his father and grandfather, in current coin, ready for use. It is an usage in Hindustân, in situations similar to that in which the enemy now were, to expend sums of enemy in bringing together troops who engage to serve for hire. These men are called Bedhindi. Had he chosen to adopt this plan, he might have engaged one or two hundred thousand more troops. But God Almighty directed everything for the best. He had not the heart to satisfy even his own army; and would not part with any of his treasure. Indeed, how was it possible that he should satisfy his troops, when he was himself miserly to the last degree, and beyond measure avaricious in accumulating pelf? He was a young man of no experience. He was negligent in all his movements; he marched without order; retired or halted without plan, and engaged in battle without foresight. While the troops were 1 That is, of the Ottomans. 2 The meaning assigned to Tûra, here, and in several other places, is merely conjectural, founded on Petis de la Croix's explanation, and on the meaning given by Meninski to Tûr, viz. reticulatus. The Tûras may here have been formed of the branches of trees, interwoven like basketwork, so as to form defences; or they may have been covered defences from arrows and missiles, such as we have seen used in several sieges. 3 Panipat, which lies about fifty miles NW. from Delhi, is famous for several very important battles fought near it. In the last, in 1761, the Mahrattas were totally defeated by the Abdallahs, or Afghâns. under Ahmed Shah. or 20. fortifying their position in Panipat and its vicinity, with guns, branches of trees, and ditches, Derwish Muhammed Sarbân said to me, "You have fortified our ground in such a way that it is not possible he should ever think of coming here." I answered, "You judge of him by the Khans and Sultans of the Uzbeks. It is true that, the year in which we left Samarkand and came to Hissâr, a body of the Uzbek Khans and Sultans having collected and united together, set out from Derbend1 in order to fall upon us. I brought the families and property of all the Moghuls and soldiers into the town and suburbs, and closing up all the streets, put them in a defensible state. As these Khans and Sultans were perfectly versed in the proper times and seasons for attacking and retiring, they perceived that we were resolved to defend Hissâr to the last drop of our blood, and had fortified it under that idea; and seeing no hopes of succeeding in their enterprise, fell back by Bundak Cheghâniân. But you must not judge of our present enemies by those who were then opposed to us. They have not ability to discriminate when it is proper to advance and when to retreat." God brought everything to pass favourably. It happened as I foretold. During the seven or eight days April 19 that we remained in Panipat, a very small party of my men, advancing close up to their encampment and to their vastly superior force, discharged arrows upon them. They did not, however, move, or make any demonstration of sallying out. At length, induced by the persuasions of some Hindustâni Amîrs, in my interest, I sent Mehdi Baber haKhwâjeh, Muhammed Sultan Mirza, Abdal Sultan, Khosrou Shah, Mir Hûssain, Sultan Jûnîd Birlas, Abdal-azîz, the master of horse (Mir Akhûr), Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng, Kutlak Kedem, Wali Khâzin, Mohib Ali Khalîfeh, Muhammed Bakhshi, Jân Beg, and Karakuzi, with four or five thousand men, on a night attack. They did not assemble properly in the first instance, and as they marched out in confusion, did not get on well. The day dawned, yet they continued lingering near the enemy's camp till it was broad daylight, when the enemy, on their side, beat their kettle-drums, got ready their elephants, and marched out upon them. Although our people did not effect anything, yet, in spite of the multitude of troops that hung upon them in their retreat, they returned safe and sound, without the loss of a man. Muhammed Ali JengJeng was wounded with an arrow, and though the wound was not mortal, yet it disabled him from taking his place in the day of battle. On learning what had occurred, I immediately detached Hûmâiûn with his division a kos or a kos and a half2 in advance, to cover their retreat, while I myself, remaining with the army, drew it out, and got it in readiness for action. The party which had marched to surprise the enemy fell in with Hûmâiûn, and returned with him. As none of the enemy came near us, I drew off the army, and led it back to the camp. In the course of the night we had a false alarm; for nearly one Geri the call to arms and the uproar continued. Such of the troops as had never before witnessed an alarm of the kind, were in great confusion and dismay. In a short time, however, the alarm subsided. rasses the enemy. attacks By the time of early morning prayers, when the light was such that you could The enemy distinguish one object from another, notice was brought from the advanced patroles Baber, that the enemy were advancing, drawn up in order of battle. We too immediately April 21. 1 The celebrated pass of Kolugha, or Kohlugheh, in the hills between Hissar and Sheher Sebz. braced on our helmets and our armour, and mounted. The right division was led by Hûmâiûn, accompanied by Khwâjeh Kilân, Sultan Muhammed Duldai, Hindu Beg, Wali Khâzin, and Pir Kûli Sîstani; the left division was commanded by Muhammed Sultan Mirza, Mehdi Khwâjeh, Aadel Sultan, Shah Mir Hussain, Sultan Jûnid Birlâs, Kûtlek Kedem, Jân Beg, Muhammed Bakhshi, Shah Hussain Bargi, and Moghul Ghanchi. The right of the centre was commanded by Chin Taimûr Sultan, Muhammedi Gokultâsh, Shah Mansûr Birlâs, Yunis Ali, Derwish Muhammed Sârbân, and Abdalla Kitâbdâr; the left of the centre by Khalîfeh, Khwâjeh Mîr Miran, Ahmedi Perwânchi, Terdi Beg, Kûch Beg, Mohib Ali Khalîfeh, and Mirza Beg Terkhân. The advance was led by Khosrou Gokultâsh, and Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng. Abdal-azîz, master of horse, had the command of the reserve.1 On the flank of the right division I stationed Wali Kazîl, Malek Kâsim, Bâba Kûshkeh, with their Moghuls, to act as a Tulughmeh (or flanking party). On the extremity of the left division were stationed Kara-Kûzi, Abul Muhammed Nezeh-baz, Sheikh Ali, Sheikh Jemâl Barîn, Mehdi, Tengrî Kûli Moghul, to form the Tulughmeh (or flankers), with instructions, that as soon as the enemy approached sufficiently near, they should take a circuit and come round upon their rear. When the enemy first came in sight, they seemed to bend their force most against the right division. I therefore detached Abdal-azîz, who was stationed with the reserve, to reinforce the right. Sultan Ibrâhim's army, from the time it first appeared in sight, never made a halt, but advanced right upon us, at a quick pace. When they came closer, and, on getting a view of my troops, found them drawn up in the order and with the defences that have been mentioned, they were brought up and stood for a while, as if considering, "Shall we halt or not? shall we advance or not?" They could not halt, and they were unable to advance with the same speed as before. I sent orders to the troops stationed as flankers on the extremes of the right and left divisions, to wheel round the enemy's flank with all possible speed, and instantly to attack them in the rear; the right and left divisions were also ordered to charge the enemy. The flankers accordingly wheeled on the rear of the enemy, and began to make discharges of arrows on them. Mehdi Khwâjeh came up before the rest of the left wing. A body of men with one elephant advanced to meet him. My troops gave them some sharp discharges of arrows, and the enemy's division was at last driven back. I dispatched from the main body Ahmedi Perwânchi, Terdi Beg, Kûch Beg, and Mohib Ali Khalîfeh, to the assistance of the left division. The battle was likewise obstinate on the right. I ordered Muhammedi Gokultâsh, Shah Mansûr Birlas, Yunis Ali, and Abdalla, to advance in front of the centre and engage. Ustâd Ali Kuli also discharged his guns2 many times in front of the line to good purpose. Mûstafa, the cannoneer, on the left of the centre, managed his artillery with great effect. The right and left divisions, the centre and flankers having surrounded the enemy and taken them in rear, were now engaged in hot conflict, and busy pouring in discharges of arrows on them. 1 Terekh. 2 Feringiha. The size of these artillery at the time in question is very uncertain. The word is now used in the Dekkan for a swivel. In common usage, zerb-zin, at the present day, is a small species of swivel. Both words, in the time of Baber, appear to have been used for field cannon. defeated. They made one or two very poor charges on our right and left divisions. My troops making use of their bows, plied them with arrows, and drove them in upon their centre. The troops on the right and left of their centre, being huddled together in one place, such confusion ensued, that the enemy, while totally unable to advance, found also no road by which they could flee. The sun had mounted spear-high when the onset of battle began, and the combat lasted till mid-day, when the enemy were completely broken But are and routed, and my friends victorious and exulting. By the grace and mercy of Al- completely mighty God, this arduous undertaking was rendered easy for me, and this mighty army, in the space of half a day, laid in the dust. Five or six thousand men were discovered lying slain, in one spot, near Ibrâhim. We reckoned that the number lying slain, in different parts of this field of battle, amounted to fifteen or sixteen thousand men. On reaching Agra, we found, from the accounts of the natives of Hindustân, that forty or fifty thousand men had fallen in this field. After routing the enemy, we continued the pursuit, slaughtering, and making them prisoners. Those who were ahead, began to bring in the Amîrs and Afghâns as prisoners. They brought in a very great number of elephants with their drivers, and offered them to me as peshkesh. Having pursued the enemy to some distance, and supposing that Ibrâhim had escaped from the battle, I appointed Kismâi Mirza, Bâba Chihreh, and Bujkeh, with a party of my immediate adherents, to follow him in close pursuit down as far as Agra. Having passed through the middle of Ibrâhim's camp, and visited his pavilions and accommodations, we encamped on the banks of the Siâh-ab.1 It was now afternoon prayers when Tahir Taberi, the younger brother of Khalîfeh, Ibrahim having found Ibrâhim lying dead amidst a number of slain, cut off his head, and found brought it in. among the slain. a detach ment to oc and Delhi. That very day I directed Hûmâiûn Mirza, Khwâjeh Kilân, Muhammedi, Shah Baber sends Mansûr Birlâs, Yunis Ali, Abdalla, and Wali Khazin, to set out without baggage or encumbrances, and proceed with all possible expedition to occupy Agra, and take pos- cupy Agra session of the treasuries. I at the same time ordered Mehdi Khwâjeh, Muhammed Sultan Mirza, Aadel Sultan, Sultan Jûnid Birlâs, and Kutluk Kedem, to leave their baggage behind, to push on by forced marches, to enter the Fort of Delhi, and seize the treasuries. Next morning we marched, and having proceeded about a kos,2 halted on the banks of the Jumna in order to refresh our horses. April 22. After other two marches, on Tuesday I visited the mausoleum of Nizâm Aulîa,3 April 23, and at the end of the third march encamped near Delhi, on the banks of the Jumna. and 24. 3 The mausoleum of Nizâm ed-dîn Aulîa is within four or five miles of Delhi, on the south. It is surrounded by numerous remarkable buildings, chiefly tombs, among which are those of the Great Moghul Muhammed Shah, and of the famous poet Amîr Khosrou. The tomb of Khwâjeh Kûtbeddîn is about eleven miles south of Delhi. Near it is a famous minaret, built in honour of that saint by one of the Kings of Delhi, and probably noticed here under the name of Alâeddîn. It is a very handsome column of red stone, 260 feet high. It is formed into three divisions, separated from each other by projecting galleries. Each division is fluted, and ornamented with Arabic inscriptions, in a different manner from the rest. The whole was crowned by a cupola, now thrown down by an earthquake. Visits the mausoleum of Nizâm Aulia. A.D. 1526. That same night, being Wednesday, I circumambulated the tomb of Khwâjeh KûtbedApril 25. dîn, and visited the tomb and palaces of Sultan Ghîasêddîn Bilban, of Sultan Alâeddîn Kilji, and his minaret, the Shems tank, the royal tank, the tombs and gardens of Sultan Behlûl and Sultan Sekander; after which I returned into the camp, and went on board of a boat, where we drank arak. I bestowed the office of Shekdar (or military collector) of Delhi on Wali Kîzîl; I made Dost the Dîwân of Delhi, and directed the different treasuries to be sealed, and given into their charge. April 26. April 27. April 28. Arrives at On Thursday we moved thence, and halted hard by Toghlakâbâd,' on the banks of the Jumna. On Friday we continued to halt in the same station. Moulâna Mahmûd, Sheikh Zîn, and some others, went into Delhi, to Friday-prayers, read the khûtbeh in my name, distributed some money among the Fakîrs and beggars, and then returned back. On Saturday we marched from our ground, and proceeded, march after march, upon Agra. I went and saw Toghlakâbâd; after which I rejoined the camp. On Friday, the 22d of Rejeb, I halted in the suburbs of Agra, at the palace of Sulimân Fermuli. As this position was very far from the fort, I next morning moved and took up my quarters at the palace of Jilâl Khan Jighat. The people of the fort had put off Hûmâiûn, who arrived before me, with excuses; and he, on his part, considering that they were under no control, and wishing to prevent their plundering the treasure, had taken a position to shut up the issues from the place. Bikermâjit, a Hindu, who was Raja of Gualiâr, had governed that country for upwards of a hundred years. Sekander had remained several years in Agra, employed in an attempt to take Gualiâr. Afterwards, in the reign of Ibrâhim, Azim Hûmâiûn Sirwâni invested it for some time, made several attacks, and at length succeeded in gaining it by treaty, Shemsâbâd being given as an indemnification. In the battle in which Ibrâhim was defeated, Bikermâjit was sent to hell.2 Bikermâjit's family, and the heads of his clan, were at this moment in Agra. When Hûmâiûn arrived, Bikermâjit's people attempted to escape, but were taken by the parties which Hûmâiûn had placed upon the watch, and put in custody. Hûmâiûn did not permit them to be plundered. Of their own free will they presented to Hûmâiûn a peshkesh, consisting of a quantity of jewels and precious stones. Among these was one famous diamond, which had been acquired by Sultan Alâeddîn. It is so valuable, that a judge of diamonds valued it at half of the daily expense of the whole world. It is about eight mishkals. On my arrival, Hûmâiûn presented it to me as a peshkesh, and I gave it back to him as a present. 3 Among the officers of superior importance in the fort were Malek Dâd Kerâni, Milli Sûrdek, and Firoz Khan Miswâni, who, having been convicted of some frauds, were ordered for punishment. When Malek Dâd Kerâni was carried out, much intercession was made for him. Backwards and forwards, the matter was not settled for four or five days, when, according to the desire of his intercessors, I pardoned him, and 1 Toghlakâbâd stood to the south of Delhi, between the Kutb Minâr and the Jumna. Its massy fortifications still testify its former greatness, but it is now totally deserted. 2 The charitable mode in which a good Musulman signifies the death of an infidel. 3 Or 320 ratis. |