expedition that lasted more than a month, or two months at a time. Before the battle, they had been seized with a longing for home. I had made with them the agreement which has been mentioned. Besides, Kâbul was very imperfectly defended. On these accounts, I finally resolved to send off Hûmâiûn to Kâbul. Having come to this reApril 11. solution, I marched from Alwâr on Thursday the ninth of Rejeb, and having moved four or five kos, encamped on the banks of the Manisni. Mehdi Khwajeh appearing also to be very uncomfortable, I gave him liberty to return to Kâbul. The shekdâri1 of Biâna I conferred on Dost Ishek-agha. As Mehdi Khwâjeh held the nominal government of Etâwa, I now bestowed it on Jaafer Khwâjeh, the son of Kutb Khan, who had fled from Etâwa and joined me. I halted three or four days in this ground, previous to taking leave of Hûmâiûn. From this station, I despatched Momin Ali Tewâchi to Kâbul, with letters giving an account of the victory.

Visits the

Pirôzpûr

and the tank of Kotilah. April 14.

April 15.

3

I had heard much of the fountain of Pirôzpûr, and of the great tank of Kotifountain of lah. On Sunday, I mounted and rode out from the camp, for the double purpose of seeing the country, and of conducting Hûmâiûn to some distance on his way. That day I went to visit Pirôzpûr and its fountain, and took a maajûn. In the valley from which the water of the fountain flows, the Kanîr flowers were all in full bloom. It is very beautiful, though it will not support the high praises lavished upon it. Within this valley, where the stream widens, I directed a reservoir to be made of hewn stone, ten by ten. We halted that night in the valley, and next morning rode to visit the tank of Kôtilah. One of its banks is formed by the side of a hill, and the river Manisni flows into it. It is a very large tank, but does not look well from either of its sides. In the midst of the tank is a rising ground, around it are a number of small boats. The inhabitants of the towns on the banks of the tank, when any alarm or confusion occurs, embark in their boats, and make their escape. When I arrived there, a number of people got into their boats, and rowed into the middle of the lake. After riding to the tank, I returned to Hûmâiûn's camp, where I rested and dined, after which I invested the Mirza and his Begs with dresses of honour, and towards bed-time prayers, took leave of Hûmâiûn, mounted, and slept at a place on the road. I afterwards mounted again, and, towards dawn, passed the Perganna of Kuhri, where I took a little more rest, after which I continued my journey and reached the camp, which I found at Tudeh.

Hûmâiûn

takes leave. April 16.

Baber

visits the fountain near Besâwer.

Having marched from Tudeh, when we alighted at Somger, Hassan Khan's son, Nâhir Khan, who had been delivered into the custody of Abdal-rahîm, made his escape. Leaving this place, the second march brought us to the fountain which is in the face of the hill, between Besâwer and Khuseh, where we halted. I here erected an awning, and had a maajûn. When the camp passed this way, Terdi Beg Khaksâr had praised this fountain. We now went and visited it on horseback. It is a very beautiful fountain. In Hindustân there are scarcely any artificial water-courses, so that fountains for confining and conducting the water are not to be looked for. What few fountains there are ooze out, as if distilling from the ground; but do not burst forth like the

1 The shekdâr is a collector of the revenue.

3 Kotilah lies S. of Alwâr about thirty miles.

2 A tewâchi is a sort of special messenger.

4 Ten gez by ten, upwards of twenty feet square.

springs in our countries. The water of this fountain might be about half large enough
to drive a mill, and it issues bursting from the skirt of the hill. The ground all about
it is meadow pasture, and is very pleasant. I gave orders that an octagonal reservoir
of cut-stone should be built, where this spring issues out. While we were sitting by
the fountain, under the influence of our maajûn, Terdi Beg repeatedly proposed, with
some appearance of vanity, that, as we were pleased with the place, we ought to give
it a name. Abdalla proposed that it should be called the Royal Fountain, Terdi Beg's
delight. This proposal furnished us with great subject for merriment.
Dost Ishek-
Agha, who came from Biâna, waited on me at this fountain.

Biâna.

Setting out from this place, I again visited and surveyed Biâna, and went on to Proceeds to Sikri, where I halted two days, close by the garden which I had formerly directed to be laid out. After giving directions about the garden, on the morning of Thursday, April 25. the 23d of Rejeb, I pursued my way and reached Agra.

Arrives in

Agra. . I have mentioned that, during the late disturbances, the enemy had made them- Baber gets selves masters of Chandwâr and Râberi.' I now sent Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng, handpossession Terdi Beg, Kuch Beg, Abdalmulûk Korchi, Hussain Khan, with his Deria Khânis, wâr, against Chandwâr and Râberi. They no sooner reached Chandwâr, than the garrison in the place, who were Kutb-Khan's people, on getting notice of their arrival, deserted and joined them. After taking possession of Chandwâr, they proceeded against Râberi. Hussain Khân Lohâni's people advanced beyond the suburb-fence, intending to skirmish a little; but our men had no sooner come close upon them and begun the attack, than the enemy, unable to stand their ground, took to flight. Hussain Khan, mounted on an elephant, reached the river in company with some others, but was drowned in crossing the Jumna. On receiving intelligence of this, Kutb-Khan surrendered Etâweh, and joined me. As Etâweh had at first been given to Mehdi and EtiwaKhwâjeh, his son Jaafer Khwâjeh was now sent to take charge of it, in his father's

room.

2

Biban.

During the war with the Pagan Sanka, a number of Hindustânis and Afghâns had Baber's gedeserted, as has been mentioned; in consequence of which all their pergannas and nerals repel governments had been seized. Sultan Muhammed Duldâi, who had abandoned Kunauj and rejoined me, was now unwilling, whether from fear or from shame, to return thither, and, in exchange for the government of Kunauj, which was thirty laks, took that of Sirhend, which was only fifteen. Kunauj was bestowed on Muhammed Sultan Mirza, with the allowance of thirty laks.3 Bedâun1 was given to Kâsim Hussain Sultan, who was ordered to accompany Muhammed Sultan Mirza. Several others of the Tûrki Begs, Malek Kâsim, Bâba Kishkeh, with his brothers and Moghuls, Abul Muhammed Nezehbâz, Moayid, with his father's followers, Sultan Muhammed Duldi, and Hussain Khan, with his Deriakhânis; as well as several Amirs of Hind, Ali Khan Fermuli, Malek-Dad Kerâni, Sheikh Muhammed, Sheikh Behkehâri, Tâtâr Khan, and Khan Jehân, were ordered to accompany Muhammed Sultan Mirza against

A. D. 1527. Biban,1 who, during the confusion occasioned by the war against Sanka the Pagan, had besieged and taken Luknow. When this army passed the river Ganges, Biban, having information of its approach, packed up his baggage and fled. The army pursued him as far as Khairâbâd, halted there many days, and afterwards returned.

treasure at

The treasures had been divided, but I had not hitherto found leisure to make any arrangement as to the pergannas and provinces, the holy war against the Pagans having intervened to prevent me. Being now relieved from the war with the Infidels, I made a division of the different provinces and districts; and the rainy season being near at hand, I directed every person to repair to his own perganna, to prepare his accoutrements and arms, and be in readiness to join me again when the rains were

over.

At this time I received information that Hûmâiûn had repaired to Delhi, and had seizes some there opened several of the houses which contained the treasure, and taken possession by force of the contents. I certainly never expected such conduct from him, and, being extremely hurt, I wrote and sent him some letters containing the severest reprehension.

Deiti.

Baber sends

dor to Per

Khwájehgi Asad had formerly been sent by me as ambassador to Irák, and had rean ambassa- turned accompanied by Sulemân Turkomân. On Thursday the 15th of Shabân, I sent him back a second time, accompanied by Sulemân Turkomân, on an embassy to the Prince Tahmâsp, with some suitable rarities and curiosities as a present.

sia

May 16.

Sends Ter

di Beg to Kabul.

Baber's verses.

Terdi Beg Khâksâr, whom I had formerly withdrawn from the life of a Derwish, and induced to betake himself to arms, had remained several years in my service, but now felt a strong desire for returning to the state of a Derwish, and asked his discharge, which I gave him. I sent him on a sort of mission to Kâmrân, to whom I made him carry three laks3 of treasure. Last year I had written some Tûrki verses, with a view to those persons who had returned home. I now addressed them to Mûlla Ali Khan, and sent them to him by Terdi Beg. They are as follows :—

(Turki.)-O ye that have left this country of Hind,

From experience of its hardships and sufferings !

Filled with the remembrance of Kabul and its delicious climate,

You deserted the sultry Hind;

You went and now have seen and enjoyed your country,

In pleasure and delight, in enjoyment and jollity ;

Yet praise be to God, we have not perished,

Though exposed to many hardships and grief inexpressible;

You have escaped from pain of mind, and from bodily suffering,

Yet I too have passed this Ramzan in the garden of Hesht Behisht,*

And have purified myself, reciting all the stated prayers (of Ramzan).

From the eleventh year of my age till now, I had never spent two festivals of the
Ramzân in the same place. Last year's festival I had spent in Agra. In order to keep

1 Biban was an Afghân chief of great power.

2 Luknow, or Lucknow, is a large city on the Gumti or Goomty. Khairâbâd or Cairâbâd, stands higher up on the same river to the north.

3 About £750; yet it may be laks of rupees, which would be £30,000.

* Hesht Behisht signifies the Eight Heaven.

* This gives a lively idea of the unsettled life of Baber.

up the usage, on Sunday night the thirtieth, I proceeded to Sikri to keep the feast there. June 30. A stone platform was erected on the north-east of the Garden-of-Victory, on which a set of large tents was pitched, and in them I passed the festival. The night on which we left Agra, Mîr Ali Korchi was sent to Tatta, to Shah Hassan. He was extremely fond of cards,1 and had asked for some, which I sent him.

sick.

On Sunday, the 5th of Zilkadeh, I was taken very ill. My illness continued seven- He falls teen days. On Friday, the 24th of the same month, I set out to proceed to Dhûlpûr. August 4. That night I slept at a place about half way on the road. Next morning I rode as far His tour to Dhulpur, as Sultan Sekander's mound, where I alighted. Below the mound, where the hill ter- Bâri, Sîkri, minates, there is a huge mass of red stone. I sent for Ustâd Shah Muhammed, the &c. August 24. stone-cutter, and gave him directions, if he could make a house out of the solid stone, to do it. If the stone was too small for a house, to level it and make a reservoir in the solid rock. From Dhûlpûr I went and visited Bari.3 Next morning I mounted and August 25. August 26. left Bari, and passing a hill that lies between Bari and the Chambal, rode as far as the river Chambal, and returned. In this hill, between the Chambal and Bari, I saw the ebony tree. Its fruit is called Tîndo. A white species of ebony tree is also often met with; in this hill the ebony trees were chiefly white. Leaving Bari, I visited Sikri, and on Wednesday, the 29th of the same month, reached Agra.

August 28.

About this time I heard disagreeable accounts of Sheikh Bayezid's proceedings. I sent Sultan Ali Tûrk to arrange a truce of twenty days with him.

On Friday, the 2d of Zilhajeh, I began to read the texts, which were to be repeated August 30. forty-one times.5 At this same period I composed the verses,—

(Turki.)-Let me celebrate thine eyes, thine eyebrows, thy converse, thy love,
Let me celebrate thy cheeks, thy hair, and thy kindness to me—

in five hundred and four measures, and collected them in a book. At this time I again
fell sick, and was ill for nine days. On Thursday, the 29th of Zilhajeh, I set out on Sept. 26.
horseback to visit Koel and Sambal.6

EVENTS OF THE YEAR 934.

On Saturday, the first of Moharrem, we encamped at Koel.

Derwîsh and Ali Baber's

tour to Koel

Yûsef, who had been left by Hûmâiûn in Sambal," had defeated Kûtb Sirwâni, and se- and Sambal.

1 This is the earliest mention of playing cards that I recollect, in any eastern author.

2 The head people of the engineers, artificers, &c. get the name of Ustâd, which also means school

master.

3 Bâri lies between Biâna and Dhûlpûr.

▲ Tindu, the name of a fruit (Diospyros Ebenum).-Hunter's Hind. Dict.

5 These texts were to operate as a charm, to produce his entire recovery.

6 Koel is in the Doâb; Sambal to the east of the Ganges, in Rohilkand.

3 Sambal is higher up, on the left of the Ganges.

7 In the Doâb.

A.D. 1527.
Sept. 28.

A. D. 1527. veral Rajas, who had crossed a river and attacked them; had killed a number of the enemy, and sent me some of their heads and an elephant, which reached me while I was at Koel, where I spent two days in visiting the place. On the invitation of Sheikh Kûren I alighted at his house. After dinner he presented me with a Peshkesh.

October 2.

October 3.
October 5.

October 6.

October 7.

He is at

tacked with

a fever.

Setting out thence, I halted at Atrûli.1 On Wednesday, I crossed the Ganges, and encamped in the country of Sambal. On Thursday, I halted at Sambal, and having spent two days in surveying the neighbourhood, I left it on the morning of Saturday. On Sunday, I halted in Sekandera,2 at Rao Sirwâni's house, where he entertained and waited on me. Leaving that place before day-rise, I rode forward, and, separating from my people by a finesse, I gallopped on, and arrived alone within a kos of Agra, when some of my followers overtook and went on along with me. I dismounted at Agra about noon-day prayers.

On Sunday, the 16th of Moharrem, I was seized with a fever and ague. The fever continued on me, at intervals, for twenty-five or twenty-six days. I took medicine, and October 13. finally recovered. I suffered much from want of sleep and from thirst. During this illness, I composed three or four quatrains. One is the following,—

Nov. 23.

Nov. 24.

Dec. 2.

Sets out
against
Chanderi.
Dec. 9.

Dec. 12.

Dec. 23.
Dec. 26,

(Turki.)-Every day a severe fever hangs on my body,

And at night slumber flies from my eyelids;

These two are like my grief and my patience;

Till my last hour, the former goes on increasing, as the other diminishes.

On Saturday, the 28th of Sefer, Fakher Jehân Begum, and Khadîjeh Sultan Begum, my paternal aunts, arrived. I went in a boat, and waited on them above Sekanderâbâd.3

On Sunday, Ustâd Ali Kûli fired a large ball from a cannon; though the ball went far, the cannon burst in pieces, and every piece knocked down several men, of whom eight died.

On Monday, the 7th of the first Rebi, I mounted and rode to Sikri. The octagonal platform, which I had ordered to be built in the midst of the tank, being finished, we went over in a boat, raised an awning, and had a party, when we indulged in a maajûn.

Having returned from my visit to Sikri on Monday, the 14th of the first Rebi, I set out, in pursuance of a vow, on a holy war against Chanderi, and, marching three kos, halted at Jalisir, where, having staid two days, in order to accoutre and review my troops, on Thursday I marched forward, and halted at Anwâr. Leaving Anwâr in a boat, I passed Chandwâr,5 and landed. From thence we proceeded, march after march, and on Monday, the 28th of the month, halted at the ford of Kinâr. On Thursday, the 2d of the latter Rebi, I crossed the river. I remained four or five days, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, to get my army conveyed across.

1 Atrûli, Ataroly, or Atrawley, lies between the Kali-naddi and Ganges.

2 This Sekandera must be the Secundra, or Secundarout, south-east of Koel.

3 Probably some village above Agra, on the Jumna.

'Chanderi is a town and district in Malwa, to the west of Bundelkand. It lies on the Betwa river. 5 Chandwâr on the Jumna, below Agra.