necessary that the people of the hill should be well treated. I accordingly issued orders that no one should molest or trouble their flocks or herds, or take from them to the value of a bit of thread or a broken needle.

Marching thence rather late, about noon-day prayers we reached Keldeh-Kehâr, where we halted. On every side there were many corn-fields, where the grain was still green. This Keldeh-Kehâr is a considerable place. Ten kos1 from Behreh, in the middle of the hill of Jûd, there is a level plot of ground, in the centre of which is a large reservoir or lake, which receives the water from the surrounding hills, as well as the rain water, by which it is swelled to about a circumference of three kos.2 On the north is the valley of Khûbi; on the west, on the skirts of the hill, is a spring of water, which rises in the high grounds that overhang the lake. As the place suggested itself as suitable for such a purpose, I formed a garden on it, called the Bagh-e-Sefa (or Garden of Purity). It has an extremely agreeable climate, is a very beautiful place, and will be mentioned hereafter.

tu 3

20.

At dawn we set out from Keldeh-Kehâr. On the very top of the Pass of Hambâ- A. D. 1519. we met, in different places, men who were coming bringing in Peshkeshes of small February value, and tendering their submission. These men I sent forward along with AbdalRahim Shaghawal to Behreh, in order to re-assure the people of the place; to tell them that these countries, from remote times, had belonged to the Tûrks, and that they must be on their guard not to permit any commotions, which would inevitably terminate in the plunder and ruin of the country, of its inhabitants, and of the property and wealth, which for years they had been accumulating.

reaches

About luncheon-time we reached the bottom of the pass, where we halted and sent Baber on Kurbân Cherkhi and Abdal Malûk Khosti, with seven or eight others, to recon- Behren. noitre and bring in intelligence. Mîr Muhammed Mehdi Khwâjeh, one of the persons who was so sent in advance, brought in one man. At this time some chiefs of the' Afghans came with Peshkeshes and tendered their submission. I sent them on with Lenger Khan, for the purpose of inspiring the inhabitants of Behreh with confidence. Having cleared the pass, and emerged from the wooded ground, I formed the army in regular array, with right and left wing and centre, and marched towards Behreh. When we had nearly reached that place, Deweh Hindu, and the son of Sektu, who were servants of Ali Khan, the son of Doulet Khan Yûsef-Khail, accompanied by the head men of Behreh, met us, bringing each a horse and camel as a Peshkesh, and tendered their submission and service. Noon-day prayers were over when we halted to the east of Behreh, on the banks of the river Behat, on a green field of grass, without having done the people of Behreh the least injury or damage.

Behreh

From the time that Taimur Beg had invaded Hindustân, and again left it, these History of countries of Behreh, Khushâb, Chanâb, and Chaniût, had remained in the possession from the of the family of Taimur Beg, and of their dependents and adherents. Sultan Masaûd time of Ta

3 The Kotal or Hill-pass of Hambâtu appears to lie in the Salt Range.

* The town of Behreh or Bhirâ must, at this time, have lain to the north of the Jelam or Behat. It

is a common name in that tract.

merlane.

1504.5.

A. D. 1519.

February 21.

February 23.

February 24.

Mirza, the grandson of Shahrokh Mirza and son of Siûrghnamsh Mirza,1 was, in those days, the ruler and chief of Kâbul and Zâbul, on which account he got the name of Sultan Masaûd Kâbuli. After his death, and that of his son Ali Asgher Mirza, some of the persons whom he had brought forward and patronised, such as the sons of Mîr Ali Beg, Bâba Kâbuli, Deria Khan, and Apâk Khan, who was afterwards called Ghazi Khan, having a commanding influence, took possession of Kâbul, Zâbul, and those countries of Hindustân which have been mentioned, and usurped the government. In the year 910, which was the date of my first coming to Kâbul, I passed through Kheiber and advanced to Pershâwer, with the intention of invading Hindustân; but, by the persuasion of Bâki Cheghâniâni, was diverted towards the Lower Bangash, which is called Kohat, and after having pillaged and ravaged a great part of Afghanistân, and plundered and laid waste the Desht (or low country), I returned by way of Duki. At that time the government of Behreh, Khushâb, and Chanâb, was held by Syed Ali Khan, the son of Ghazi Khan, and grandson of Mir Ali Beg. He read the Khutbeh in the name of Iskander Behlûl, and was subject to him. Being alarmed at my inroad, he abandoned the town of Behreh, crossed the river Behat,3 and made Shîrkot, a place in the district of Behreh, his capital. After a year or two, the Afghans having conceived suspicions against Syed Ali on my account, he became alarmed at their hostility, and surrendered his country to Doulet Khan Tâtâr Khan YûsefKhail, who at that time was Hâkim1 of Lahore. Doulet Khan gave Behreh to his eldest son Ali Khan, by whom it was now held. Tâtâr Khan, the father of Doulet Khan, was one of the six or seven chiefs who invaded and conquered Hindustân, and made Behlûl Emperor. This Tâtâr Khan possessed Sirhend and all the country to the north of the Satlej. The revenue of these territories was upwards of three krors.5 After Tâtâr Khan's death, Sultan Sekander, the reigning Emperor, had taken these countries from his family. Two years before my coming to Kâbul, the same prince had given Lahore alone to Doulet Khan.

2

Next morning, I sent out several foraging parties in proper directions, and afterwards rode round Behreh. The same day Sanger Khan Jenjûheh came with a horse, which he presented to me with tenders of service.

On Wednesday the 22d, I sent for the head men and Chouderis" of Behreh, and agreed with them for the sum of four hundred thousand Shahrokhis7 as the ransom of their property; and collectors were appointed to receive the amount. I then rode out to see the country, embarked in a boat, and eat a maajûn. I had sent Haider Alemdâr (the standard-bearer), to the Baluches, who were settled in the country of Behreh and Khushâb. Next morning, being Thursday, they came in with a bay Tipchak horse as a Peshkesh, and made their submission. Having learned that the troops had exercised

ed.

1 Siûrghnamsh Mirza died A. H. 830—A. D. 1426. The date of Masaûd's death I have not discover3 The Behat is the Jelam or Hydaspes.

2 Iskander Behlûl was Emperor of Delhi.

4 The Hâkim is a chief or governor.

5 Three krors or crores of dams, at forty to the rupee, would make this 750,000 rupees, or about £75,000 sterling.

6 Chouderi in some districts signifies the head man of a trade, in others a landholder.

7 Nearly L.20,000 Sterling.

some severities towards the inhabitants of Behreh, and were using them ill, I sent out a party, who having seized a few of the soldiers that had been guilty of excesses, I put some of them to death, and slit the noses of some others, and made them be led about the camp in that condition. As I reckoned the countries that had belonged to the Tûrks as my own territories, I therefore admitted of no plundering or pillage.

Sultan Ibrahim.

People were always saying, that if ambassadors were to be sent in a friendly and peace- Embassy to able way into the countries that had been occupied by the Tûrks, it could do no harm. I therefore despatched Mûlla Murshid to Sultan Ibrâhim, whose father Sultan Iskander had died five or six months before, and who had succeeded his father in the empire of Hindustân; and, giving him the name and style of ambassador, sent him to demand, that the countries which from old times had belonged to the Tûrks, should be given up to me. Besides these letters for Sultan Ibrâhim, I gave Mûlla Murshid letters to Doulet Khan, and having also delivered to him verbal instructions, dismissed him on his mission. The people of Hindustân, and particularly the Afghâns, are a strangely foolish and senseless race, possessed of little reflection, and less foresight. They can neither persist in, and manfully support a war, nor can they continue in a state of amity and friendship. This person, who was sent by me, Doulet Khan detained some time in Lahore, neither seeing him himself, nor suffering him to proceed to Sultan Ibrâhîm; so that my envoy, five months after, returned to Kâbul without having received any answer.

On Friday, letters of submission came from the people of Khushâb. Shah Hassan,' February the son of Shah Shujaâ Arghûn, was appointed to proceed to that district.

25.

26.

On Saturday the 25th, I directed Shah Hassan to set out for Khushab. There was Inundation such a fall of rain, that the whole plain was covered with water. Between Behreh in Behrch. and the hills where we were encamped, there was a little stream. By the time of February noon-day prayers, it was equal in breadth to a considerable lake. Near Behreh, for upwards a bowshot, there was no footing in the ford, and it was necessary to pass paddling and swimming. Between afternoon and evening prayers, I rode out for the purpose of surveying these waters. The rain and wind were so violent, that, in our return, we were afraid we should not have been able to rejoin the camp. I passed the stream that was in flood by swimming; the troops were extremely terrified. Many of them leaving behind their tents and heavy baggage, and taking their coats of mail, horse furniture, and arms on their shoulders, after stripping their horses of all their harness, swam them across. The whole plain was covered with water. In the morn- February ing, many of the troops carried their tents and baggage across the inundation, in boats 27. which they brought from the river. Toward evening prayers, Kuch Beg's men having gone about a kos higher up, discovered a ford, by which all the rest of the army passed. We remained one day in the fort of Behreh, which they call Jehân-numâ,3 and on the February morning of Tuesday we marched, and encamped on the rising grounds which skirt 28.

1 This Shah Hassan afterwards made a distinguished figure in the history of Sind, on the throne of which he succeeded his father Shah Beg.

? This rain is too early for the south-west Monsoon. It was probably a severe fall of the spring rain, which prevails at this season, or rather earlier, and which extends all over the west of Asia.

3 World-exhibiting, or miniature of the world.

March 1.

A. D. 1519. along Behreh towards the north, in order to escape the inconveniences of the rain and inundation. The inhabitants now began to contrive delays in paying the money which they had consented to give. Having divided the country into four districts, I ordered the Begs to use all diligence in collecting the whole contribution. One district I gave in charge to Khalifeh, another to Kûch-Beg, a third to Dost Nâsir, the fourth to Syed Kasim and Mohib Ali.

Birth of
Hindil
March 4.

A drink

March 5.

On Friday, the second of the month, Sheibâk Piâdeh and Derwish Ali Piâdeh, who are now matchlock-men,1 brought me letters from Kâbul, containing news of the birth of Hindal. As this news came when I was on an expedition against Hind, taking it as a good omen, I named him Hindâl.

Kember Beg, at the same time, brought letters from Balkh, from Muhammed Zemán Mirza.2

Next morning, after the Diwân was dismissed, when I had finished my ride, I went on board of a boat, and had a drinking party with Khwâjeh Dost Khâwend, Khosrou Miram, Mirza Kûli, Muhammedi Ahmedi, Gedai, Naaman, Lenger Khan, Rukh-dem, Kâsim Ali Teriaki, Yûsef Ali, and Tengri Kûli. Towards the bow of the vessel a space was roofed in. It had a level platform above, and I and some others sat on the top of it. A few others sat below the scaffolding. Towards the stern of the ship, too, there was a place for sitting. Muhammedi, with Gedai and Naaman, sat there. We continued drinking spirits till after noon-prayers. Disliking the spirits, we then took to maajûn. Those who were at the other end of the vessel, did not know that we were taking maajûn, and continued to drink spirits. About night-prayers we left the vessel, and mounting our horses, returned late to the camp. Muhammedi and Gedai, thinking that I had been taking nothing but spirits, and imagining that they were doing an acceptable service, brought me a pitcher of liquor, carrying it by turns on their horses. They were extremely drunk and jovial when they brought it in." Here it is," they said; "dark as the night is, we have brought a pitcher. We carried it by turns." They were informed that we had been using a different thing. The maajûn-takers and spirit-drinkers, as they have different tastes, are very apt to take offence with each other. I said, “Don't spoil the cordiality of the party; whoever wishes to drink spirits, let him drink spirits; and let him that prefers maajûn, take maajûn; and let not the one party give any idle or provoking language to the other." Some sat down to spirits, some to maajûn. The party went on for some time tolerably well. Bâba Jân Kabûzi3 had not been in the boat; we had sent for him when we reached the royal tents. He chose to drink spirits. Terdi Muhammed Kipchâk, too, was sent for and joined the spirit-drinkers. As the spirit-drinkers and maajûn-takers never can agree in one party, the spirit-bibing party began to indulge in foolish and idle conversation, and to make provoking remarks on maajûn and maajûn-takers. Bâba Jân, too, getting drunk, talked very absurdly. The tipplers filling up glass after glass for Terdi Muhammed, made him drink them off, so that in a very short time he was mad drunk.

1 The Matchlock-men seem to have been considered as a superior service.

2 Muhammed Zemân Mirza, who is often mentioned in the sequel of these Memoirs, was a son of
Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza, the late King of Khorasân.
3 Kabûzi, one who plays on the Kabûz.

4 Khaneh Sefid.

Whatever exertions I could make to preserve peace, were all unavailing; there was much uproar and wrangling. The party became quite burdensome and unpleasant, and soon broke up.

On Monday the 5th, I gave the country of Behreh to Hindû Beg, and the country March 7 of Chanâb to Hussein Ikzak; when Hussein Ikzak, and the men of Chanâb, took leave.

At this time Manucheher Khan, the son of Syed Ali Khan, who had given me notice of his intention to wait on me, but who, as he was coming from Hindustân by the upper road, was intercepted by Tâtâr Khan Gaker, (who would not suffer him to depart, carefully watched him, and made him his son-in-law, by giving him his own daughter in marriage,) after having been detained a considerable time, at length came and tendered me his services.

surprises

Gaker.

In the hill-country between Nilâb and Behreh, but apart from the tribes of Jûd and Hâti Gaker Jenjûheh, and adjoining to the hill-country of Kashmîr, are the Jats, Gûjers, and and puts to many other men of similar tribes, who build villages, and settle on every hillock and death Tâtâr in every valley. Their Hâkim was of the Gaker race, and their government resembles that of the Jûds and Jenjûheh. The government of these tribes, which stretch along the skirt of the hills, was at that time held by Tâtâr Gaker and Hâti Gaker, sons of the same family; they were cousins. Their places of strength were situated on ravines and steep precipices. The name of Tâtâr's strong-hold was Perhâleh. It was considerably lower than the snowy mountains. Hâti's country is close adjoining to the hills. Hâti had also brought over to his interest Baba Khan, who held Kalinjer. Tâtâr Gaker had waited on Doulet Khan, and was in a certain way subject to him. Hâti had never visited him, but remained in an independent, turbulent state. Tâtâr, at the desire of the Amîrs of Hindustân, and in conjunction with them, had taken a position with his army a considerable way off, and in some sort kept Hâti in a state of blockade. At the very time when we were in Behreh, Hâti had advanced upon Tâtâr by a stratagem, had surprised and slain him, and taken his country, his women, and all his property.

party.

About the time of noon-day prayers, I mounted to take a ride, and afterwards going Drinking on board of a boat, we had a drinking bout. The party consisted of Dost Beg, Mirza Kuli, Ahmedi, Gedai, Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng, Hassan Aughân, and Berdi Moghul. The musicians were Rûkh-dem, Bâba Jân, Kâsim Ali, Yûsef Ali, Tengri Kûli, Abul Kâsim, and Ramzân Lûli. We continued drinking spirits in the boat till bed-time prayers, when, being completely drunk, we mounted, and taking torches in our hands, came at full gallop back to the camp from the river-side, falling sometimes on one side of the horse, and sometimes on the other. I was miserably drunk, and next morning, when they told me of our having galloped into the camp with lighted torches in our hands, I had not the slightest recollection of the circumstance. After coming home, I vomited plentifully.

On Friday I mounted to ride out, and crossed the river in a boat, went round the March 11.

1 Ingerak.-Pers.