Tārīḫ-i Firištah - The History of the Rise of Mohammedan Power in India, Volume 2

To face page 1. Vol. II.]

>genealogy<

Babur's origin — his pretensions to succeed to his father's dominions opposed by his uncles. — Babur occupies Furghana. — Peace concluded with his uncles. — He takes Samarkand. — his troops mutiny, and support the claims of his brother Jehangeer in Indijan. — Babur is reconciled to Jehangeer. — Sheebany Khan Oozbuk takes Samarkand, but is eventually expelled from it by Babur — he continues the war with Shee-bany Khan, but is defeated, and driven from Trausoxania. — Babur occupies Kabul, and establishes himself in that kingdom — he conquers Seewustan. — The King of Persia unites with Babur in an attack on Sheebany Khan, who is slain. — Babur recovers Samarkand, but is eventually compelled to quit it for ever — projects the invasion of India, on the invitation of Dowlut Khan Lody. — Babur sends an army with Alla-ood-Deen Lody. — Alla-ood-Deen unsuccessful. — Babur invades India, and defeats Ibrahim Lody, who is killed. — Babur ascends the throne of Dehly. — Difficulties occur in securing the conquest. — Confederacy of the Indians, both Mahomedans and Hindoos, to expel Babur. — The confederates are defeated. — Babur falls sick — his death.

AT the time when Aboo Syeed Mirza suffered martyrdom in Eerak, he had eleven sons: Ahmud, Mahmood, Mahomed, Sharokh, Alugh Beg, Oomr Sheikh, Aba Bukr, Moorad, Khuleel, Sooltan, and Oomr. Four of these attained the dignity of kings. Alugh Beg Mirza succeeded to the throne of Kabul; Ahmud Mirza reigned over the kingdom of Samarkand; Oomr Sheikh Mirza ruled over the united provinces of Indijan and Furghana; and Mahmood Mirza over those of Koondooz and Budukhshan. Yoonoos Khan, King of Mogulistan, gave to each of those Kings, excepting Alugh Mirza, one of his daughters in marriage.

At the time when Oomr Sheikh Mirza ascended the throne of Furghana in the year 888, he had a son by Kootloogh Nigar Khanum, the daughter of Yoonoos Khan, whom he named Babur. The relationship between Teimoor (Tamerlane) and Babur is as follows: Sooltan Aboo Syeed Mirza, the son of Mahommed Mirza, the son of Meeran Shah Mirza, was the son of Ameer Teimoor Korkan. Mowlana Hissamy Kurragoozly composed the following couplet, after the death of Babur, to commemorate his memory, which seems worth recording:

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This benevolent Prince was born on the sixth of Mohurrum, on which day also he died; and in the words “sixth of Mohurrum” will be found the date of the year of his birth.

Babur, when as yet but 12 years old, discovered a capacity so uncommon, that his father gave him the management of the kingdom of Indijan. Oomr Sheikh Mirza, ^3a on Monday the 4th of Rum-zan, in the 890th year of the Hijra, fell, by an accident, from the roof of a pigeon-house, and being killed, Babur was advanced to the throne by his nobles, and assumed the title of Zeheer-ood-Deen.

Sooltan Ahmud Mirza, and Mahmood Khan the son of Yoonoos Khan, the former his paternal and the latter his maternal uncle, led their armies against the young Prince, to take revenge on him, on account of the war waged by his father against them; hoping also, by the advantage which the accession of a child afforded, to appropriate his kingdoms to themselves.

In this dilemma, Ameer Sheerum, who was married to a sister of Babur's mother, wanted to convey away the youth into the mountains of Uzkund, in order to protect him, in case the nobles of his court should be disposed to unite with his uncle, Sooltan Ahmud Mirza; but he was dissuaded from taking this step by Mowlana Kazy, a descendant from Sheikh Boorhan-ood-Deen Bulkhy, and who at that time was an ameer of Indijan.

Babur accordingly employed himself in preparing for a siege; and Hoossein Yakoot and Ameer Nasir Kocheen, who had been detached to Furghana, being recalled, were indefatigable in their exertions on this occasion. Sooltan Ah-mud Mirza, Babur's paternal uncle, having first occupied Furghana and Khoojund, encamped within four fursukhs of Indijan. During this time, one Mahomed Dervish, who was discovered intriguing with the enemy, was brought before Babur, and suffered death from his own hand. Babur then deputed Mowlana Kazy, Zow-zun Hussun, and Khwaja Hoossein as ambassadors to his uncle's camp; and conceiving it quite certain, that he would not think of relinquishing Samar-kand as his capital, requested that he might be allowed to reside at Furghana, under a promise not to dispute the rest of the kingdom. Sooltan Ahmud Mirza, it is said, repenting of his severity towards his nephew, was himself disposed to agree to these terms; but he was overruled by his chiefs, who insisted on persevering in the siege of the fort of Indijan. Fortune, however, favoured Babur; for a raging pestilence suddenly broke out among the enemy's cavalry, so that their horses died off in great numbers daily, which compelled Sooltan Ahmud Mirza to raise the siege, and to leave the conduct of the negotiation (which was again opened) in the hands of Ameer Dervish Mahomed; who, in concert with Hussun Yakoot, on the part of Babur, had several conferences, and concluded a peace, which was never ratified, Sooltan Ahmud Mirza having died on his march to Samarkand. Sooltan Mahmood Khan, the son of Yoonoos Khan, the maternal uncle of Babur, had now reached Akhsy, on his route to Furghana, where Jehangeer Mirza, a younger brother of Babur, to whom the defence of that place was intrusted, conceiving himself unable to cope with the enemy, fled, accompanied by Dervish Ally, Mirza Koolly Gokultash, Mahomed Bakur, Sheikh Abdoolla Sheebuk, Aka Veis, and Meer Gheias-ood-Deen Toghay, towards Kasan, the birth-place of Aka Veis, where Nasir Mirza, the youngest brother of Babur, now resided; but Sooltan Mahmood Khan pursuing them thither, that place was given up without resistance; after which, proceeding towards Akhsy, and finding he could not succeed in his enterprise, Sooltan Mahmood Khan retired to his own country.

At this time also the khans of Kashghar and Khootun led their armies towards the borders of Uzkund, against Babur; but they also, eventually, made peace. Babur now having gone to Furghana, appointed Hussun Yakoot his vizier, making him also governor of Indijan; but soon after Yakoot rebelled, in the year 900, and Babur attacked and compelled him to fly towards Samarkand, whither he was pursued, and afterwards killed near Akhsy.

In the same year also Ibrahim Sar, the governor of the fort of Asheera, having rebelled, caused the khootba to be read in the name of Baesanghar Mirza, the son of Sooltan Mahmood Mirza, who had succeeded to the throne of Samarkand. Ba-bur marched against him, and besieged Asheera, which he reduced in the space of forty days, and the rebel was obliged to come forth with a sword suspended round his neck, and a shroud hung over his shoulders. Babur, however, forgave him, and marched first to Khoojund, and from thence to Sharokhia, where he met his maternal uncle, Mah-mood Khan, to whom he now became reconciled; in a few days after which, he returned to Indijan.

Baesanghar Mirza, king of Samarkand, having possessed himself of Aratiba, one of the provinces belonging to Oomr Sheikh Mirza, the father of Babur, the latter resolved to retake it, and marched accordingly with his army against it the very next season. Sheikh Zoolnoon, who held it on the part of Baesanghar Mirza, made a resolute defence, till the approach of winter obliging Babur to raise the siege, he returned to Indijan, both on that account, as well as to obtain supplies.

Babur, in the year following, led his army towards Samarkand, and formed an alliance with Sooltan Ally Mirza (the brother of Baesanghar Mirza), king of Bokhara, and who was also struggling for power. The confederates, however, unable to reduce Samarkand that year, returned home for the winter, having agreed to make great preparations for another campaign. Both Kings accordingly, in the year 902, in the beginning of the spring, took the route of Samarkand. Sooltan Ally Mirza having reached Samarkand first, Bae-sanghar advanced, and encamped without the city walls, but upon Babur's arrival, he retreated within the town. In the night, Altoon Khwaja, who was going the rounds of Babur's camp, having discovered the retreat of Baesanghar Mirza, fell upon his rear, and put a great number of his people to the sword. Meanwhile Babur captured the fort of Asheera, situated at a small distance from the city, and invested Samarkand: this town was defended with bravery till the autumn, when the allies were compelled to raise the siege, and retire; Sooltan Ally Mirza returning to Bokhara, and Ba-bur to Khwaja-Deedar, to pass the winter. In this state of affairs, Baesanghar Mirza sought an alliance, and requested assistance from Sheebany Khan, ruler of Toorkistan, who, avoiding Khwaja-Deedar, the winter-quarters of Babur, proceeded direct to Samarkand. Sheebany Khan and Bae-sanghar Mirza having quarrelled soon after, the former returned to his own country. This circumstance so much embarrassed the affairs of Baesang-har Mirza, that proceeding with a small retinue of 300 horse, he went in person to solicit the assistance of Khoosrow Shah, ruler of Koondooz.

Babur availed himself of this opportunity to hasten to Samarkand; and in the end of the year 903, having been admitted into the city, ascended the throne, and was acknowledged King by the greatest part of the nobles. Babur having taken the place by capitulation, forbade all plunder; but his troops became discontented and began to disperse. The Moguls, who were commanded by one Ibrahim Chuk, ^8a went off in a body, and were followed by Yar-Ally and several other nobles, with their followers, to Akhsy, where having joined Jehangeer Mirza, the brother of Babur, they required the latter to confer on Jehangeer the province of Indijan.

Babur, on receiving this message, gave vent to his indignation; and, in speaking of the perfidy of those chiefs who had deserted him, imprudently threw out reflections on those who remained. These resented this language by abandoning him, and joined his brother at Indijan. Babur, in the utmost distress, sent Altoon Khwaja to endeavour to conciliate his officers; but they sent a party to way-lay the ambassador, and cut him in pieces.

Ally Dost Toghay and Mowlana Kazy, the two chieftains in possession of Indijan, however, sent assurances of their fidelity to Babur, and resisted his brother's party; but unfortunately at this time Babur, being taken dangerously ill, was unable to avail himself of their attachment. His own life was saved with difficulty, by conveying sustenance through moistened cotton applied to his lips. When he recovered, he found the situation of his affairs most embarrassing; but he determined to incur even the risk of losing Samarkand, rather than sacrifice his paternal dominions. He accordingly directed his march towards Indijan; but Ally Dost Toghay and his party having heard that Babur was actually dead, had already capitulated, and given up the place to Jehangeer Mirza, who having cruelly caused the execution of Mowlana Kazy, ascended the throne, and caused the khootba to be read in his name. This intelligence, together with the reflection that he had also lost Samarkand, occasioned Babur the utmost distress.

In this dilemma, as his last resource, he deputed Ameer Kasim Kocheen to Tashkund, to entreat the assistance of his maternal uncle, Sooltan Mah-mood Khan, the son of Yoonoos Khan, who hastened to Chilka Ahungiran, where he and Babur met: an emissary came at the same time to Sooltan Mahmood Khan from Jehangeer Mirza, on which he resolved to allow his two nephews to settle their own differences, himself returning to Tashkund. This unexpected defection had such an effect upon Babur's troops, that of all his army, in a few days, only two hundred horsemen remained with him. In this forlorn condition, he retreated to Khoojund: from thence he applied to Mahmood Hoossein Korkan, at Doghlat, acquainting him, that the place in which he then was could not protect him from his enemies; he therefore earnestly solicited him to permit him to pass the winter at Saghir. Mahmood Hoossein consented, and Babur accordingly took up his quarters there, and began to recruit a new army.

After having collected a few soldiers round his standard, and reflecting that his future success depended entirely on the reputation of his arms, he resolved to employ himself in active operations. He therefore returned to Eelak, where he took some forts by assault, and some by stratagem; but these petty exploits were of little service to him, for his affairs bore still a very gloomy aspect. He received in the mean time a message from Ally Dost Toghay, begging his forgiveness. He informed him that he was in possession of the garrison of Furghunian, ^10a and promised, if Babur would take possession of it, he would again devote himself to his service. Babur did not hesitate to avail himself of this overture, and arriving at Furghunian, he was met by Ally Dost at the gate, who surrendered the fort into his hands. Babur having recruited his finances, sent Ameer Kasim Kocheen towards the mountains of Indijan, and Ibrahim Sar and Veis† ^10b Laghiry towards Akhsy to gain partisans. This measure had the desired effect, for the mountaineers of Indijan at once espoused his cause; while Ibrahim Sar and Veis Laghiry having accommodated matters with the governors of Bab, and two or three other forts, declared in favour of Babur. At the same time also, he procured assistance from his uncle Sooltan Mah-mood Khan, of Bokhara.

Zowzun Hussun, and Sooltan Ahmud Tumbole, having heard of the loss of Furghunian, proceeded with Jehangeer Mirza to attack that place. This they effected, and marched towards Akhsy; but on the road, falling in with Sooltan Mahmood Khan, Jehangeer Mirza's army was defeated with great slaughter, and both he and Zowzun Hussun fled precipitately to Indijan, attended only by four or five followers. Nasir Beg, a relative of Zowzun Hussun, who held the government of Indijan, perceiving the favourable aspect of Babur's affairs, opposed Jehangeer Mirza, and having sent a messenger to Babur, offered to surrender the place into his hands. These events ruined the affairs of Jehangeer Mirza, who now took the route of Oosh, and Zowzun Hussun that of Akhsy.

Babur having occupied Indijan, conferred honours upon Nasir Beg and his followers. Thus the capital of Furghana, in the month of Zeekad, in the year 904, was restored to its former master. On the fourth day after his arrival, Babur proceeded to Akhsy, and expelled Zowzun Hussun, who fled to Khoozar. Kasim Ajeeb was appointed governor of Akhsy, and Babur returned to In-dijan, accompanied by most of the followers of Zowzun Hussun. On this occasion, some of Ba-bur's officers representing that these troops were the same who had formerly plundered several chiefs then in his army, and had put Mowlana Kazy to death, orders were issued permitting all those who had suffered to recover from them what they had lost. The Moguls gaining timely information mounted their horses, and to a man proceeded to Uzkund, where they related the cause of their coming to Sooltan Ahmud Tumbole, who in conjunction with Jehangeer Mirza now marched against Indijan. Babur sent Ameer Kasim Ko-cheen to oppose them; but he was defeated with great slaughter, and many of the King's principal officers were slain, and several taken prisoners.

The enemy now advanced and laid siege to In-dijan for the space of thirty days; but as they could

A. H. 905.
A.D. 1499.

effect nothing against it, they turned their arms against Oosh. Babur having recruited his army, marched, in the year 905, to its relief; but the enemy, hearing of his approach, suddenly decamped, and made a forced march to Indijan, the suburbs of which they plundered. Babur, however, relying on the garrison and on the strength of the place, proceeded to Badawurd, a strong fort in possession of Khuleel, brother to Sooltan Ahmud Tumbole. Khuleel defended the place with great obstinacy; but was at length forced to capitulate, and he together with eighty other persons, being taken, were detained as prisoners, and sent to Indijan, in reprisal for an equal number of his own officers, who had fallen into the enemy's hands.

Sooltan Ahmud Tumbole, in the mean time, made an unsuccessful attempt to scale the walls of Indijan in the night. On obtaining this information, Babur returned to its support, and took up a strong position on the banks of the river in sight of the enemy, where he remained for the space of forty days. At length he attacked their camp, situated at Deh Khooban, three fursukhs ^12a distant from Indijan. After an obstinate resistance, the enemy was defeated, and Sooltan Ahmud Tum-bole and Jehangeer Mirza sought safety in flight. The King after the victory entered Indijan in triumph; but he shortly after received information that six thousand horse from Sooltan Mahmood Khan, ruler of Bokhara, had, in aid of Jehangeer Mirza, appeared before the fort of Kasan. Though it was now the depth of winter, and the frost and snow severe, Babur marched to attack this party, which, without making resistance, retreated to its own country. Sooltan Ahmud Tumbole, who was on his march to reinforce it, fell in accidentally with Babur's troops, in a situation where the former could not have escaped had not the night favoured his flight, owing to which he retreated with little loss. Babur pursued him to the walls of Booskar, near to which he encamped.

On the fourth day, Ally Dost Toghay and Kumbur Ally prevailed upon the King to make overtures for peace, proposing that Jehangeer Mirza should retain possession of all the country between the river of Khoojund and Akhsy, and that Indijan and the district of Uzkund should remain in possession of Babur; but it was agreed that if the latter should ever recover the kingdom of Samarkand, he should give up Indijan to Je-hangeer Mirza. These terms being solemnly ratified by mutual oaths, the brothers had an interview, and the prisoners on both sides were released. Babur returned to Indijan, where he found that Ally Dost Toghay, who possessed considerable wealth and power, had ventured to exert unlicensed authority; that he had banished Ameer Khuleefa, had imposed fines on Ibraham Sar and Veis Laghiry, without the King's permission, and had encouraged his son Mahomed Dost to assume the ensigns of royalty. Babur, however, found it convenient to restrain his resentment for the present, owing to the great influence of Ally Dost, and to the numerous formidable enemies by whom he was himself surrounded. At this time, also, Ma-homed Moorad Turkhan, an officer of Sooltan Ally Mirza, ruler of Samarkand, being discontented with his master, connected himself with Khan Mirza, one of the sons of Sooltan Mahmood Mirza, and attacked Samarkand; but being repulsed with loss, they made overtures to Babur to induce him to engage in the same enterprize. Babur, embracing the proposal, proceeded direct towards Samarkand, and Ma-homed Moorad Turkhan, having joined him on the march, they resolved to depute a person to gain over Khwaja Kootb-ood-Deen Yehya, a holy man, who had vast influence over the inhabitants. Kootb-ood-Deen, entering into their views, assured them they might march on the city, and rely on success.

In the mean time, Sooltan Mahmood Doldy, one of Babur's officers, having deserted to Samarkand, informed the enemy of the correspondence with Khwaja Kootb-ood-Deen Yehya, which completely disconcerted Babur's measures, and he was compelled to relinquish his enterprise. Meanwhile the troops of Ally Dost Toghay, disgusted with their chief, crowded to the King's camp with complaints against that chief, and he finding his importance shaken, abandoned the service of Babur, and, with his son, went over to Sooltan Ahmud Tum-bole, in whose camp he arrived a short time after.

At this period, news arrived that Sheebany Khan had taken Bokhara, and was on full march to attack Samarkand, which Sooltan Ally Mirza, at the instance of his mother, surrendered without opposition. Babur accordingly fell back on Kish, and from thence to Khoozar, where Mahomed Moorad Turkhan, and the officers who had invited him to attack Samarkand, left him, and joined Khoosrow Shah. Babur, after this defection, was obliged to retreat by the route of Sirtak to Eelak, over rocks, stones, and rugged paths, by which his army suffered exceedingly, having lost most of his camels and horses on the march. This circumstance dispirited his troops to such a degree, that they all deserted him before he reached Eelak, excepting two hundred and forty men.

In this state of affairs, Babur called together his officers, and consulted them as to his future operations. It was resolved, that as Sheebany Khan had only lately got possession of Samarkand, and the inhabitants had not yet probably become reconciled to the Oozbuks, that he should make an attempt to take the place; and that as it was part of the hereditary dominions of Babur, it seemed likely, although the people might not actually aid him, they would not be very active in opposing him; and it was thought that the possession of the city would retrieve his affairs. Babur accordingly marched, and reached Yoonoos Khan in the dusk of the evening; but understanding the garrison was on the alert, he refrained from making the attempt at that time. After having got clear of the city, he says, in his Memoirs, he looked back, and repented of his precipitate flight; and being wearied with the fatigue of the day, he laid himself down in a grove to sleep, as did the greatest part of his retinue. He states that in about an hour after, he awoke from a dream, in which he imagined he saw Abdoolla, a Dervish of great repute, coming towards his house; that Babur, inviting him to sit down, caused his steward to spread a table-cloth before him, on which the holy man, apparently offended, rose to go away. Babur begged of him to stay; but the Dervish, holding him by the arm, raised him up towards the sky. Babur, awaking, called his attendants, and related his dream, which was considered a fortunate omen, and he determined to persevere in his attempt on Samarkand.^16a

Babur's small party, mounting their horses, accordingly returned, and reached the bridge of Moghat about midnight; from whence he detached eighty men before him, to a low part of the wall near the Lover's Cave, which was scaled by the help of a hook-rope; and, coming round to the Feroza gate, his party fell upon the guard commanded by Kasid† ^16b Turkhan, and either killed or dispersed the whole. The gate being opened, admitted Babur with two hundred and forty men. Babur's party proclaimed his name as they passed through the street, and gave an opportunity to all his friends within the place to join him; while his enemies, not knowing his strength, ran confusedly from place to place looking for their leaders. The alarm soon reached the house of Khwaja Kootb-ood-Deen Yehya, where Khan Wufa Mirza, governor of the city, and several Oozbuk chiefs had taken up their quarters. On hearing the noise, they all joined Sheebany Khan, who, with 7000 men, occupied the fort of Khwaja Deedar. Sheebany Khan selected a party of 150 men (commanding the rest to wait for orders), and proceeded to the iron gate; but finding that Babur had gained some thousand partisans, who rent the sky with acclamations, and being unable either by words or example to make the Oozbuks stand their ground, he passed through the opposite gate, and fled towards Bokhara, while Samarkand quietly submitted to Babur's authority.

It was on this occasion, that Mowlana Sunayee, the poet, and Khwaja Abool Burkat of Samarkand, were first introduced to Babur, and subsequently accompanied his court. The following is a translation from the Commentaries of Babur, written by himself in Toorky, giving an account of the taking of Samarkand: —“Sooltan Hoossein Mirza took the fort of Hirat in a manner similar to that of my own successful attack on Samarkand; but there was a great difference in the circumstances under which we acted. In the first place, Sooltan Hoossein Mirza was an old and experienced soldier; while, on the contrary, his enemy, Yadgar Mahomed Mirza, was a youth of seventeen, without experience either in war or politics. In the second place, he was invited to take possession of Hirat by Ameer Ally Meer Akhoor, one of the most powerful of the enemy's officers. In the third place, his enemy, Yadgar Mahomed Mirza, was at the time he entered the town in a state of intoxication in one of his gardens, and the soldiery were off their guard. Thus situated, he easily succeeded in securing his person, and was immediately joined by the party of Ameer Ally Mirza, who had planned the whole enterprise.

“My situation at the capture of Samarkand was very different. I was then only nineteen, and had seen but little service; my enemy, Sheebany Khan, was an old and experienced chieftain, who had many friends, was constantly on the alert within, and was prepared to combat either in attack or intrigue, so that no one had an opportunity of inviting me, or making arrangements to favour my plans; and although I had many well-wishers in the place, yet, such was Sheebany Khan's vigilance and precaution, that they were prevented from communicating with me. Besides which, his general, Khan Wufa Mirza, in command of 600 Oozbuks, (the most choice men of his army, and the faithful personal guard of Sheebany Khan) had the patrole of the night; notwithstanding all which disadvantages, I took the city, put the King to flight, and routed his army; and although my first effort failed, I did not despair, but succeeded in a second attempt, a very few hours afterwards. I do not intend by this account to extol my own actions; but in writing a history of my military career, it is proper I should state things as they really occurred.”

Let it not be concealed from my readers, that this exploit of Babur very much resembles that of his ancestor, Ameer Teimoor Korkan, who with two hundred and forty-three men attacked and carried the fort of Koorshy by assault; but Babur seems not to have alluded to this circumstance, from the apprehension of being thought presumptuous in comparing his actions with those of that great captain. At that time there was no governor nor ruler in Koorshy. The two chieftains, Meer Hoossein and Meer Moosa, were encamped outside of the fort, while Mahomed Beg, a child, the son of Meer Moosa, was left in the fort. Sa-markand, on the other hand, the residence of a king, was a large and well-fortified city, which no one ever conceived was to be taken by force. It is consequently denominated in all historical works, Samarkand, “the abode of safety.” Koorshy, on the contrary, is a small town, governed by a darogha; so that the difference is as great as the distance of the poles!

But to return to our history: Samarkand being occupied by Babur, Sheebany Khan retired to Bokhara; and Mahomed Moorad Turkhan took this opportunity of wresting the forts of Koorshy and Khoozar ^19a from the Oozbuks, while Abool Hoossein Mirza, from Mura and Kish, came and took Kurra-Kole.† ^19b Babur sent ambassadors to Sooltan Hoossein Mirza and other neighbouring princes, his relations, to request their aid in expelling Sheebany Khan out of Mavur-ool-Nehr; but they either paid no regard to his representations, or rendered such insufficient assistance as to be of little use. Sheebany Khan by this means recovered strength during the winter, and took Karakole and other districts.

Shuval,
A. H. 906.
March,
A. D. 1499. In the month of Shuval, 906, Babur collected his whole force, together with the reinforcements which had joined him, and marched out of Samarkand to attack Sheebany Khan, whom he engaged in the neighbourhood of Karwan. On this occasion Babur evinced the qualities both of a general and a brave soldier; but being deserted by the troops of Sooltan Mahmood Khan, by Jehangeer Mirza, and by other princes who had been sent to his aid, as well as by his own troops, and left with only fifteen men, he found it in vain to contend any longer. He accordingly made good his retreat to Samarkand; having lost several officers of distinction, such as Ibrahim Turkhan, Ibrahim Sar, Abool Kasim Koh, Hydur Kasim, Ameer Kasim Kocheen, Fidayee Roomy, and Khuleel, the brother of Ah-mud Tumbole, besides many others, all of whom fell in the action. Sheebany Khan now laid siege to Samarkand; and Babur took up his quarters at the college of Alugh Beg Mirza, as being the most central situation for sending orders or reinforcements. The siege was continued with great obstinacy and loss on both sides; during which time Kooch Beg Toorkoman, Gokultash Beg, and Gool Nuzr Toghay, gave extraordinary proofs of their valour. Four months passed in the attack and defence, when a famine began to rage in the city. The inhabitants subsisted on horse-flesh, and even ate dogs and cats, while those who could not procure other provisions were constrained to feed on the bark of trees.

Though Babur at the commencement of the siege had sent ambassadors to the Kings of Kho-rassan, Koondooz, Boklan, and Mogulistan for succours, he received no hopes of aid from them, and he was therefore under the necessity of abandoning his capital and kingdom, with about a hundred

A. H. 907.
A. D. 1501.

friends, in a dark night in the beginning of the year 907. He escaped to Tash-kund, whither his brother, Jehangeer Mirza, came to pay his respects. His maternal uncle, Sooltan Mahmood Khan, also comforted him in his distress, entertaining him in a princely manner, and giving him the town of Aratiba to reside in during the winter. In the beginning of the spring, Babur was again attacked by Sheebany Khan, who being unable to take Aratiba, plundered the country, and retreated to Samarkand. In this condition, Babur, unable to raise his head from his misfortunes, resided for some time with his uncle, Sooltan Mahmood Khan, at Tashkund, till at length that chief and his brother, Ahmud Khan, known by the name of Olcha Khan, furnished troops to enable him to recover the country wrested out of his hands by Sooltan Ahmud Tum-bole. When the confederates had reached the boundaries of Ferghana, Sooltan Ahmud Tumbole marched out to oppose them. It was resolved that Babur with a small detachment of Moguls should march towards Oosh, whilst his uncles attacked Ahmud Tumbole. Babur accordingly took Oosh, and was joined by some of the inhabitants of Uzkund and Furghinian, who expelled the garrisons of Sooltan Ahmud Tumbole. Babur now proceeded towards Indijan, when Ahmud Tum-bole, decamping from before the confederate princes, hastened back to its relief.

Ahmud Tumbole, having by accident fallen in with Babur's camp while he was on a foraging party, was defeated, and escaped wounded to Oosh, when, throwing himself into Indijan, he prepared for its defence. The next day, the allied army of Sooltan Mahmood Khan, and Sooltan Ahmud Khan, appearing in sight, sat down before the place, where they were soon joined by Babur. Some time after this, the inhabitants of Akhsy having invited Babur, put him in possession of that place; but the allied troops, unable to reduce Indijan, were compelled to raise the siege.

In the mean time, Sheebany Khan, resolving to check the progress of Babur, advanced with an army towards Akhsy. Babur and his brother immediately joined the allies, and prepared to receive the enemy; but in the action which ensued, and which was obstinately contested, Sheebany Khan prevailed, and both the uncles of Babur were taken prisoners. Babur, escaping to Mogulistan, abandoned the kingdom of Tashkund, which fell into the hands of Sheebany Khan. Sheebany Khan, however, some time after, released Babur's two uncles. Sooltan Mahmood Khan retired from the field, and became afflicted with a complication of diseases. It is related, that when one of his friends hinted that Sheebany Khan had poisoned him, and offered to supply him with some famous tiriak ^23a of Khutta as a powerful antidote, the Prince replied. “Yes,” “Sheebany Khan has poisoned me indeed! He “has taken away my kingdom, which it is not in “the power of your teriak of Khutta to restore.”

Babur, leaving Mogulistan, proceeded to Khoo-zar and Shadman, and from thence to Toor-mooz, where Ameer Mahomed Bakir, uneasy at the ascendancy of the Oozbuks, availed himself of Babur's alliance. Babur still retained the command of some troops, and was received by him with great kindness. Ameer Mahomed Khan assisted him also with money. Babur, who had long been the football of fortune, and, like a king of a chess-board, moved from place to place, and buffeted about like the pebble on the sea-shore, begged the friendly advice of his host as to his future operations. Ameer Mahomed Bakir replied, that as Sheebany Khan was now in full possession of Babur's kingdom, and of many others, which rendered him extremely powerful, it seemed advisable for him to pursue his fortune elsewhere, and directed his attention to Kabul, which was now in a state of anarchy.

A. H. 910.
A. D. 1504. Babur, adopting this advice, in the year 910 marched towards Kabul, and passing through the dominions of Khoosrow Shah, ruler of Koondooz, he was entertained by him with hospitality, as some reparation for the injuries he had formerly sustained from him. While at Koondooz, Babur induced seven thousand of Khoosrow Shah's troops to join him in his march to the southward; and Khoosrow Shah, apprehensive of Babur, fled with a few servants, and took protection with Budee-ool-Zeman. ^24a On this occasion, three or four thousand Mogul families, together with part of the treasure of Khoosrow Shah, fell into the hands of Babur, who availing himself of these advantages, proceeded direct to the south.

Kabul had been long in the hands of Alugh Beg Mirza, one of the sons of Sooltan Aboo Syeed Mirza, who dying in the year 907, (A.D. 1501.) and leaving an infant son, Abdool Ruzak Mirza, the whole management of his affairs fell into the hands of one Zuky Beg, who having disgusted the other nobles, was assassinated in the month Zeehuj. This circumstance occasioned great convulsions in the kingdom; for Mahomed Mokeem, the youngest son of Ameer Zoolnoon, prince of Gurmseer, taking advantage of the intestine divisions of the Kabulies, invaded their country with an army of Huzaras, and forcing Abdool Ruzak Mirza to take shelter among the Afghans, took quiet possession of Kabul, and married the daughter of Alugh Beg Mirza. Affairs were in this state when Babur, arriving on the borders of Kabul, drove Mahomed Mokeem from the field, and forced him to take refuge in the city, which Babur besieged and took. He then applied himself to regulate and improve the country, as belonging to himself.

A. H. 912.
A. D. 1506. In the year 912, Babur marched towards Khorassan to join Sooltan Hoos-sein Mirza, who, ashamed of his former behaviour, and irritated by fresh injuries from Sheebany Khan, now proposed to Babur, that they should unite in alliance against the Oozbuks. On the road, however, he was induced to return, to take measures against Jehangeer Mirza. The officers of Jehangeer, perceiving the intention of Babur, deserted the Prince, who thought fit to come to his brother Babur's camp, where he procured pardon, and went with the army towards Khorassan. But no sooner had Babur reached Murv than he heard of Sooltan Hoossein Mirza's death. It is stated in the Wakaya Babury (Commentaries of Babur), that out of respect alone for the family of the Mirza, Babur proceeded to Khorassan, and endeavoured to induce the princes and nobles to act against the Oozbuks. Babur was not wholly without motives for this conduct, for he was naturally desirous of bringing the Oozbuks to action, and consequently pushed on till he reached Moorghab, where the Khoras-

Jumad-ool-
Akhir 8.
A. H. 912.
Sept. 24.
A. D. 1506.

sanies were encamped. On the 8th of Jumad-ool-Akhir, Moozuffur Hoossein Mirza and Abool Hussun Mirza were directed by Buddee-ool-Zuman Mirza to meet and congratulate him on his arrival, and to escort him to the camp of Buddee-ool-Zuman Mirza; but the princes and officers of Khorassan, little inclined to face the Oozbuks in battle, proposed that, as the weather was extremely hot, they should retire to their cool summer retreats. Babur proceeded in the first place to Hirat, where having remained some time with Buddee-ool-Zuman Mirza, he returned in the autumn to Kabul. The snow falling heavily at this season, he with difficulty reached the country of the Huzaras, with whom he was compelled to fight, and force his passage to his capital.

While Babur was engaged with the Huza-ras, Mahomed Hoossein Korkan, Sunjur Birlas, and other Mogul officers in Kabul, promoted the pretensions of Khan Mirza to the throne, by fabricating false intelligence of the King's death. He was both uncle and cousin of Babur. But when the news of Babur's return reached the people, they rebelled against the new government; and, as soon as the season permitted his approach, flocking to his standard, they put all the garrisons into his hands except the capital, where Khan Mirza and his adherents sustained a short siege, but eventually fled, and took protection with the descendants of Ameer Zoolnoon, while Mahomed Hoossein Khan fled in the direction of Furrah and Seestan. At this time, Nasir Mirza, Babur's youngest brother, who held the government of Budukhshan, being defeated by one of the generals of Sheebany Khan, came to Kabul; and as Jehangeer Mirza, about the same period, died from excess of drinking, the government of Ghizny was conferred on Nasir Mirza.

A. H. 913.
A. D. 1507. In the year 913, Babur marched against the Khiljies, a race which infested his country; and having taken from them 100,000 sheep, and some thousands of other cattle, returned to his capital. The nobles of the house of Arghoon, being greatly oppressed by the Oozbuks, now wrote to Babur, that if he would send troops for the purpose, they would put him in possession of Kandahar. Babur instantly proceeded in that direction, and on reaching Kilat, Khan Mirza begged permission to be admitted into his presence, and receiving his pardon, accompanied him on the expedition. Having reached the borders of Kandahar, Babur wrote to Shah Beg Arghoon and to Mahomed Mokeem, that he was so far on his way according to their desire, and that, therefore, he expected to see them in his camp. Since the time of their inviting Babur, however, some alteration in their politics had taken place, aud they repented of the application they had made: so that instead of receiving the King in a friendly manner, they prepared to oppose him.

Babur engaged his treacherous allies at the village of Khuttuk, near the city of Kandahar; and having defeated them with great slaughter, cut off their retreat from the city. Shah Beg fled to Yesawul, and Mahomed Mokeem towards Zumeen-Dawur. Babur laid siege to Kandahar, and took it, with all the wealth of the family of Ameer Zoolnoon, which he divided by weight amongst his officers and troops according to their rank; after which, leaving Nasir Mirza, his brother, in the government of Kandahar and Zumeen Dawur, Babur returned in triumph to Kabul.

Mahomed Mokeem joined Sheebany Khan, and prevailed on him to march against Nasir Mirza; who, on receiving this intelligence, shut himself up in Kandahar, and sent expresses to his brother for assistance. Babur enjoined him to defend the place till the last; but, if he should be driven to extremity, to capitulate, and join him at Kabul. Babur stated, at the same time, that he was in no condition to dispute the field with Shee-bany Khan, whose resources were so greatly superior to his own; besides, that a defeat might ruin him for ever, and overset the design he had formed of establishing himself in Hindoostan.

Some of his nobles advised him to endeavour to occupy Budukhshan in preference, while others approved of the attack on Hindoostan. Babur adopted the latter plan, and began his march towards India. He was detained for some time among the mountains, and finding his means deficient, he, for the present, gave up his intention, and returned to Kabul. Nasir Mirza, according to his instructions, finding he could hold out no longer with propriety in Kandahar, capitulated, and joined the King at Kabul. Sheebany Khan, after taking the town of Kandahar, ordered Abdoolla Sooltan, one of his chiefs, to persevere till he got possession of the fort also, and then directed him to make it over to the family of Ameer Zoolnoon, while he himself marched with his army towards Khorassan. Shortly after this, the fort of Kandahar also fell,

Zeekad 4.
A. H. 913.
March 7.
A. D. 1508.

and was restored to the Arghoons.

On the 4th of Zeekad of this year, Babur had a son born to him in Kabul, whom he named Hoomayoon.

A. H. 914.
A. D. 1508. In the following year, he took the field against the Meimundy Afghans; but, during his absence, the Moguls of Khoosrow Shah, who had been left to defend Ka-bul, revolting, raised the King's cousin Abdool Ruzak Mirza, the son of his uncle Alugh Beg Mirza, to the throne. Babur was now suddenly deserted by the greatest part of his army; who, hearing of the rebellion in Kabul, hastened to join their families: insomuch, that out of upwards of 10,000 horse, which he carried to the field, scarcely 500 men remained with him.

Notwithstanding these misfortunes, Babur boldly advanced towards Kabul, with the few trusty friends he had with him. Abdool Ruzak Mirza marched out to oppose him; but Babur, with his small band, attacking the enemy with impetuosity, defeated them, and with his own hand slew the following chiefs: Ally Shubkoor, Ally Seestany, Nuzr Bahadur Oozbuk, Yakoot Sheer Chung, and Oozbuk Bahadur. Abdool Ruzak Mirza was taken prisoner; but so great was Babur's clemency on this occasion, that he pardoned him, though soon after Abdool Ruzak again engaged in rebellion, and suffered death.

The country of Khoosrow Shah, ruler of Koon-dooz, having fallen into the hands of the Ooz-buks, who took no proper means of keeping it in subjection, a number of independent chiefs arose in Budukhshan, of whom the principal was one Zoobeir. In this state of affairs Khan Mirza, the son of Khoosrow Shah, was influenced by his mother, Shah Begum, who traced her descent from the ancient kings of Budukhshan, to take measures to raise himself to the throne of that kingdom. Having previously obtained the consent of Babur, he left Kabul, and raising a small army, advanced towards the borders of Budukhshan. His mother, who came up in the rear, was intercepted by a body of Kashghar troops, made prisoner, and carried off to Aba Bukr Mirza of Kashgar. Khan Mirza, in the mean time, was seized by Zoobeir, who kept him also in confinement. Yoosoof Ally Gokultash, an old servant of Khan Mirza, however, having formed a conspiracy against Zoobeir, assassinated him, and elevated Khan Mirza to the throne. It is mentioned in the Wakaya Babury, that the Kings of Budukhshan, from whom Shah Begum was descended, traced their pedigree from Alexander the Great, son of Philip.

A. H. 916.
A. D. 1510. In the year 916, Shah Ismael Sufvy, King of Persia, wrote to Sheebany Khan to withdraw his troops from some parts of his dominions, on which the Oozbuks had made encroachments. Sheebany Khan replied, that it was only for those who were descended from kings to entertain thoughts of empire; that it was true Shah Ismael had raised himself to the throne, when there was no such prince as himself in his neighbourhood to oppose him; but that now he should recommend his retiring to his former obscurity; and that, for that purpose, he sent him a staff and a beggar's dish, the badges of his inheritance. “For,” added he, “those only like myself are “worthy of possessing the bride of sovereignty, who “dare kiss her through opposing swords.” Shah Ismael replied, that if empire was an inheritance, it would never have left the race of the Peshda-dians. That by the same rule, Chungiz Khan would never have attained empire, nor Sheebany Khan himself succeeded to the throne he had overturned. That, for his own part, he had always considered the right of kings as founded on power, and that the longest sword was the best title. That with the latter he was at all times ready to contend with such as Sheebany Khan; and that, though he himself had no disposition to a display of ostentation, yet, in return for Sheebany Khan's present, he had sent him a spinning-wheel for his amusement. “As for the rest,” added he, “I “shall be my own messenger.”

Having dispatched this communication, Shah Ismael marched eastward, and expelled the Oozbuks from Khorassan. He did not halt till he reached Murv, where Sheebany Khan sustained a siege, and being severely reproached by Shah Ismael for remaining within the walls, he marched out and gave him battle, but was defeated. In his flight he had the misfortune to be overtaken, and surrounded in a walled park, with about 500 relatives and Oozbuk chiefs, from whence there was no escape: he was attacked by the Kuzilbashies of Shah Ismael, and in this situation he and all his followers were put to the sword.

Khan Mirza dispatched accounts of this important event from Budukhshan to Babur, and went himself to Koondooz, to influence him to recover

A. H. 917.
A. D. 1511.

his former dominions. Accordingly, in the year 917, Babur marched towards Khoozar, and crossed the Oxus, in company with Khan Mirza. An army of Oozbuks lay encamped near Budukhshan, which Babur not being able to attack, was obliged to retreat to Koondooz. Shah Ismael at this time sent Khanzada Begum (Babur's sister) to him. This Princess had been made prisoner at the capture of Samarkand by Sheebany Khan, who afterwards married her. She was now restored, with all her property, and sent from Murv to Koondooz. On her arrival, she gave so flattering an account of the generous conduct of Shah Ismael, that Babur hoped to induce him to lend his assistance in reinstating him in his hereditary kingdom. He accordingly deputed Khan Mirza as ambassador, with proper presents to Shah Ismael's court, and himself, marched towards Khoozar. Finding the Oozbuks strongly posted at that place, he declined attacking them till reinforced. His troops arriving, Babur advanced to the Oozbuk camp, and offered them battle. An action ensued, wherein Babur obtained a complete victory, for which he was mainly indebted to Khan Mirza, who had rejoined him. In a few days after, Babur was joined by Ahmud Sooltan Soofy, Ally Koolly Khan Oostajloo, ^33a and Sharokh Afshar, with a fine body of cavalry, on the part of the King of Persia, so that his army now amounted to 60,000 horse. With this force having taken Koondooz, Khoozar, and Boklan, Babur marched towards Bokhara, and after several successful actions with Abdoolla Sool-tan and Jany Beg Sooltan, he subdued that king-

Rujub 15.
A. H. 917.
October 9.
A. D. 1511.

dom. On the 15th of Rujub of the same year, he marched from Bokhara to Samarkand, which city surrendered to him the third time, and acknowledged him as its sovereign. Babur, having fixed his residence at Samarkand, appointed Nasir Mirza, his brother, to the government of Kabul, and gave permission to the troops of Persia to return. Babur had not been seated on his new throne, however, above nine months, when the Oozbuks, who had fled to Toorkistan, returned under Teimoor Sooltan, who succeeded to the government of Sheebany Khan. On receiving these advices, Babur marched to defend Bokhara, in the vicinity of which place he engaged the Oozbuks; but was defeated, and obliged to shut himself up within the walls of the city, which, in the end, he abandoned, and retreated to Samarkand. Herein he was again besieged, and compelled to fall back on Khoozar and Shadman.

About this time Nujm-ool-Sany, of Isfahan, a Persian general, advanced with the intention of occupying Bulkh; and Babur, fully bent on recovering his paternal dominions, made common cause with him. Nujm-ool-Sany, having taken the fort of Furas from the Oozbuks, put the garrison, consisting of 15,000 men, to the sword, and laid siege to Kujdiwan, in conjunction with Ba-bur. Shortly after, a body of Oozbuks advanced against them from Bokhara. Fortune being still adverse to Babur, Nujm-ool-Sany and the greater portion of his army were cut off, and Babur was compelled to fly to Khoozar with a few attendants. Nor were his misfortunes confined to defeat by the enemy; for having reproached his troops with their misconduct, they conspired against his life, and a party rushing into his tent at midnight attempted to assassinate him. Babur, aroused by the opposition of his guard, made his escape, and reached the citadel of Khoozar before morning, without one attendant: the conspirators then plundered his camp, and dispersed. In this situation, seeing little hope of success in the north, Babur proceeded direct to Kabul, with a

small retinue. On his arrival, he reinstated Nasir Mirza in the government of Ghizny. In the year 924, he marched towards Swad and Bejowr, then possessed by the Afghans of the tribe of Yoosoofzye. He defeated those mountaineers, and carrying some thousands of them away with him, he intrusted the management of that country to Khwaja Kulan.

On the death of Sikundur Lody, King of Hin-doostan, he was succeeded, as we have already related, by his son Ibrahim. In his reign, the Afghan chiefs settled in India nearly subverted his power; and Babur deemed it a favourable opportunity to establish himself in a quarter, the conquest of which he had long meditated. He failed, however, in four successive campaigns; but eventually succeeded in his fifth and last attempt, which we shall proceed to detail. Babur's first

A. H. 925.
A. D. 1519.

campaign took place in the year 925. On that occasion he marched his army as far as the Indus, to where it is called the Neelab; he overran with his troops all the countries on his route, and crossing the river, advanced to Berah in Punjab. In this province he levied a contribution of 400,000 sharookhies on the inhabitants, instead of permitting his troops to plunder. From Berah he deputed one Mowlana Moorshid to Ibrahim Lody, acquainting him, that as the Punjab had been frequently in the possession of the house of Teimoor, it was fit he should relinquish his pretensions to it, and thus prevent the war from being carried farther into India. At this place Babur received accounts of the birth of a son, while preparing to invade Hind, whom he caused to be called Hindal Mirza. Having appointed Hussun Beg Atka governor of the countries which he had subdued, as far as the Chunab, he marched in person against the Gukkurs, and laid siege to the fort of Birhala. The Guk-kurs sallied, but were defeated by Dost Beg Mogul; and the King in person, cutting off their retreat to the fort, compelled them to fly to the mountains. The fort of Birhala, in which was considerable treasure, fell, without further opposition, to Babur; in which having left Ma-homed Ally, he returned to Kabul.

In the latter end of the same year, Babur returned a second time towards Hindoostan, in order to reduce Lahore. On the route, he defeated the Yoosoofzye Afghans, who endeavoured to oppose his progress. On reaching Pishawur, he caused that fort to be repaired, and proceeded to the Indus. Intelligence was now brought that Sooltan Syeed, the King of Kash-ghar, was in full march towards Budukhshan, which induced Babur to return. At the same time he left Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, Bin Sool-tan Ooveis, Bin Kirany, Bin Munsoor, Bin Oomr Sheikh, Bin Ameer Teimoor, ^36a with 4000 horse, to prosecute the war in the East. Babur had scarcely reached Kabul, when he learned that the King of Kashghar had retreated. His attention being directed to the Afghans of the tribe of Khizr Kheil, who had made depredations on Kabul during his absence, he entered and sacked their country, and returned to his capital.

A. H. 926.
A. D. 1520. In the year 926, Babur marched a third time towards India, attacking the Afghans on his route. On reaching Sealkote the inhabitants submitted, and thus saved their property from plunder: not so the people of Syudpoor, who making a vigorous defence, the garrison was put to the sword, and their families carried into captivity. Babur was here met by intelligence of an army from Kandahar having invaded the territory of Kabul; abandoning, therefore, his projects in India, he returned to his capital, and not only expelled the invaders, but pursued them, and laid siege to Kandahar. In the mean time he received advice of the death of Khan Mirza, in Budukhshan, in whose stead Babur appointed his son Hoomayoon governor. Shah Beg Arghoon, of Kan-dahar, maintained the siege with great obstinacy for

A. H. 928.
A. D. 1522.

three years; but in the year 928, Kan-dahar fell, as well as all the country of Gurmseer, into Babur's hands. The Prince Kamran Mirza, Babur's second son, was placed in charge of the government. Shah Beg Arghoon being thus compelled to seek safety in flight, retreated with a few of his tribe, and found refuge in the city of Bhukkur, the capital of Sind.

Soon after the occupation of Kandahar, Dowlut Khan Lody, an Indian chief, apprehensive of treachery on the part of Ibrahim Lody, King of

A. H. 930.
A. D. 1524.

Dehly, sent a deputation to wait on Babur at Kabul, offering to place Lahore in his hands. In the year 930, Babur, having augmented his army, advanced through the territory of the Gukkurs, to within six coss of Lahore, where he was opposed by Behar Khan Lody, Moobarik Khan Lody, and Bhikun Khan Lohany, Indian officers stationed in the Punjab; but they being defeated with great slaughter, Babur entered Lahore in triumph, when he set fire to the bazar, a superstitious practice common among the Moguls. Babur remained only four days in Lahore, before he proceeded against De-palpoor. The garrison having forced him to risk an assault, he put the whole to the sword. Dowlut Khan Lody, who had been expelled from Lahore by the King of Dehly, and had taken protection among the Bulochies, ^38a now joined Ba-bur at Depalpoor, together with his three sons. He was favourably received, and being inrolled among the nobles of the court, was appointed governor of Jalendur, Sooltanpoor, and other districts of Punjab.

I have heard from persons of veracity, that this Dowlut Khan Lody† ^38b was a lineal descendant of the person of the same name who ascended the throne of Dehly in the year 816 (A. D. 1414.) At this time, Dowlut Khan proposed to Babur to send a force to Dura Ismael Khan, where several hostile Afghan chiefs had collected a force. The King prepared to do so, when Dilawur Khan, the youngest son of Dowlut Khan Lody, acquainted Babur privately that his father and brother only wanted to separate the Mogul troops in order to fall on them. On enquiry, Babur became convinced of the truth of this information, and ordered Dowlut Khan and his son Ghazy Khan into confinement. On crossing the Sutlooj, however, and advancing to Now-shehra, he caused them to be released, and conferred the revenues of Sooltanpoor on them for their subsistence. On reaching Sooltanpoor, these chiefs, collecting their families, fled to the hills; on hearing of which circumstance, Babur conferred on Dilawur Khan the title of Khan Khanan, and gave over into his hands the family estates; but as the desertion of Dowlut Khan greatly affected Babur's interest in Hindoostan, he deemed it inadvisable to prosecute any attempt on Dehly this year. Accordingly he proceeded to Lahore, and made the following arrangements for the government of his newly-acquired provinces: — He appointed Meer Abdool Azeez, governor of Lahore; Khoosrow Gokultash, governor of Seal-kote; Baba Kushka, under the orders of Sooltan Alla-ood-Deen, (brother of Ibrahim Lody, King of Dehly,) was made governor of Depalpoor; and Mahomed Ally Tajeek, governor of Kulanore; after which Babur returned to Kabul.

During his absence, Dowlut Khan Lody found means to seize his son, Dilawur Khan, who had betrayed him, and put him in chains; he then marched to Depalpoor, and attacked the Prince Alla-ood-Deen Lody, brother of the King Ibrahim Lody, and defeating him, occupied his country. Alla-ood-Deen fled to Kabul, and Baba Kushka, the Mogul general, retreated to Lahore. Dowlut Khan Lody now sent 5000 Afghans to recover Seal-kote; but Meer Abdool Azeez, governor of Lahore, having marched with reinforcements to the assistance of Khoosrow Gokultash, the Afghans were defeated, and Meer Abdool Azeez returned to Lahore.

Meanwhile Ibrahim Lody, King of Dehly, proceeded against Dowlut Khan and his son; but such was the influence of these officers, that they contrived to sow dissensions in the King's camp at Bejwara, and gained over a part of the troops: the remainder were compelled to return to Ibrahim Lody without risking a battle. Alla-ood-Deen Lody, who, having lost Depal-poor, had fled to Kabul, now returned to Lahore, conveying Babur's orders to his officers in those parts to join him with their forces, and to march towards Dehly; and Babur promised that he would support them in person as soon as his affairs in Kabul should permit. Dowlut Khan and Ghazy Khan Lody, hearing of this determination on the part of Babur, wrote to the Mogul chiefs, that they were also prepared to espouse the cause of Alla-ood-Deen, and to aid in raising him to the throne of Dehly. The Moguls, having obtained for Babur the formal cession of all the countries west of Lahore, permitted Alla-ood-Deen to join Dowlut Khan, in order to prosecute his pretensions.

Alla-ood-Deen, with the aid of Dowlut Khan and his son, Ghazy Khan, accordingly marched to Dehly, and invested that city with 40,000 horse. His brother, the King Ibrahim Lody, advanced to oppose him from Agra, where his army was surprised in the night, and dispersed; but owing to the irregular conduct of the troops of Alla-ood-Deen after the action, they were attacked again by Ibrahim Lody, and defeated. Alla-ood-Deen retreated in great distress to Pun-jab. At this crisis, Ghazy Khan Lody, finding the affairs of Alla-ood-Deen on the decline, deserted his standard, and having reached Kula-nore, reduced it, and encamped at the town of Pursuroor. Here he heard that Babur was again on his return to India. He first of all retreated to Mulwut, from whence, taking the road through the mountains, he had a conference with Ibrahim Lody at Dehly, with whom he remained till that monarch's death. Babur, hearing of the defeat of Alla-ood-Deen Lody, awoke from the dream of indolence and luxury in which he had for some time indulged in Kabul; and, on the

Suffur 1.
A. H. 932.
Nov. 15.
A. D. 1525.

1st of Suffur of the year 932, marched the fifth time towards Hindoostan. He was joined on this occasion by his son Hoomayoon from Budukhshan, and Khwaja Kullan from Ghizny. On the route to Lahore he amused himself by hunting rhinoceroses, with which that country abounded; and thus had an opportunity of putting the personal courage of most of his chiefs to trial. Many of those animals were killed, and some taken alive.

Rubbee-ool-
Awul 1.
A. H. 932.
Dec. 15.
A. D. 1525. On the 1st of Rubbee-ool-Awul, Babur crossed the Indus, and having mustered his army on the banks of that river, he found it to consist of only 10,000 chosen horse. Proceeding thence across the Behut, he advanced to Sealkote, where he was met by Alla-ood-Deen Lody, as also by Mahomed Ally, governor of Kulanore, and Khwaja Hoossein, collector of the revenues. Dowlut Khan and his son, Ghazy Khan Lody, who considered themselves in the service of the King Ibrahim, were at this time encamped on the banks of the Ravy, near Lahore, with an army of 40,000 men; but on Babur's approach they retreated, Dowlut Khan to the fort of Mulwut, and Ghazy Khan to the hills. Babur having invested Mulwut, it capitulated after a few days; and Dowlut Khan, who had some days before put on two swords, and boasted of the manner in which he would treat Babur, was ordered to appear with those two swords slung round his neck. Notwithstanding his conduct, the King subsequently forgave him, and took him into favour. When the gates of Mulwut were opened, the troops, eager to plunder, rushed in without orders. Babur was provoked at their conduct; and mounting his horse, galloped in among them, and was under the necessity of using violence to prevent outrage. On the spur of the moment he killed by accident an officer of rank, of his son Hoomayoon's retinue, with an arrow; and though he lamented the circumstance, it is certain his presence alone saved the honour of Dowlut Khan's family. Babur preserved, by his exertions on this occasion, a fine library collected by Ghazy Khan, who was a poet, and a man of learning. ^42a On the following day he went in pursuit of Ghazy Khan; when Dilawur Khan, the son of Dowlut Khan, who had been confined by his father and brother, found means to escape, and was honourably received by Babur. Ghazy Khan was subsequently overtaken and defeated; and being followed very closely, was induced to join Ibrahim Lody at Dehly. Dowlut Khan Lody died shortly afterwards.

Babur, being fully satisfied of the dissensions which prevailed among the Afghan chiefs, determined to delay no longer his attack on Dehly; a measure to which he was invited by letters received from time to time from a few of the malecon-tents at the court of Ibrahim Lody. On reaching the Kuggur, he learned that Humeed Khan, on the part of the governor of Hissar-Feroza, was prepared to oppose him. He accordingly detached his son Hoomayoon, with some of his most experienced officers, to expel the governor, having effected which, Hoomayoon returned to the army. This being the first battle wherein the Prince Hoomayoon commanded, his father was overjoyed at his success, and made over to him the districts of Hissar-Feroza and Jalendur. Two days after, Mullik Bubun Afghan Julwany, one of Ibrahim Lody's officers, deserted his master, and joined Babur's standard with a body of three thousand horse.

Babur arrived within two stages of Shahabad when he received intelligence that Ibrahim Lody had marched out of Dehly, and that Dawood Khan and Hatim Khan, forming his vanguard, were prepared with 27,000 horse to oppose his progress, six or eight miles in advance. Babur accordingly detached Cheen Teimoor Sooltan, Mehdy Khwaja, Mahomed Sooltan, Mirza Adil, and Sooltan Mirza, with all the troops of the left wing, together with the troops of Jooneid Birlas, and Shah Hussun Birlas to meet the enemy. They encountered Dawood Khan the next morning at sunrise, and, after an obstinate conflict, put his army to flight, Hatim Khan having fallen in the pursuit. The victors took seven elephants, and a number of prisoners, whom they brought into camp; and in order to inspire terror, Babur caused them to be put to death. The main army under Babur, having arrived on the field of battle, encamped there for six days, during which he ordered his park of artillery to be linked together with leathern ropes made of raw hides, according to the practice of the armies of Asia Minor.

Ibrahim Lody's army consisted of 100,000 horse, and 100 elephants; and although that of Babur did not exceed 12,000 men, he made an attempt with 5000 horse to surprise the Indian camp by night; but finding the enemy on the alert, the enterprise failed. This circumstance encouraged Ibrahim Lody to bring on a general action, and he accordingly marched next morning to Paniput. Babur at the same time also advanced to within twelve miles of Ibrahim Lody's encamp-

Rujub 10.
A. H. 932.
April 20.
A. D. 1526.

ment. On the day after, being the 10th of Rujub, the two armies came in sight of each other. Babur divided his troops into two lines, composed of four divisions, with a reserve in the rear of each, and a few light horse to skirmish in front. In the first division on the right, commanded by Prince Hoomayoon, were Khwaja Kullan, Sooltan Maho-med Doldy, Hindoo Beg, Wully Beg Khazin, and Peer Kooly Seestany. In the division on the left, commanded by Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, were Mehdy Khwaja, Ghazy Sooltan, Jooneid Birlas, and Shah Hoossein Birlas. The right of the second line was commanded by Cheen Teimoor Sooltan and Mirza Mahomed Gokultash; the left by Ameer Khuleefa, Khoosrow Gokultash, and Mahomed Ally. The light troops thrown out in advance were under Sooltan Mirza, the son of Khan Mirza. Abdool Azeez (Meer Akhoor) commanded the reserve of the right wing, and Wully Kurrawul the reserve of the left. Besides these, was the grand reserve in the rear of both lines, the right of which was commanded by Kasim Beg, and the left by Ally Bahadur. Babur, after having personally given orders to his generals, and marshalled the troops, took post in the centre of the first line. Ibrahim Lody drew up his forces in one solid mass, and, according to the practice of the Indians, ordered his cavalry to charge. This attack the Mogul army received so steadily, that the Indians began to slacken their pace long before they reached the enemy's line. Those divisions which advanced were repulsed; but when they attempted to retreat, they found themselves surrounded; for the two corps in reserve in rear of the Mogul line being ordered to wheel round their flanks, met in the centre, and fell upon the rear of those who had advanced, by which means the Afghans were almost all cut to pieces: 5000 men fell around the person of Ibrahim, who was found among the slain. According to the most correct accounts, 16,000 Afghans were slain in this action, though some authors have computed the number at 50,000.

Babur did not fail to make the best use of his victory. Immediately after the battle, he detached the Prince Hoomayoon, and three of his best generals, to Agra, to occupy it before the Indians could have time either to recover from their defeat or to remove their wealth. He also deputed Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, and three other generals, to march rapidly on Dehly, to

Rujub 12.
April 22.

take possession of that city, while he himself came up in the rear, and arrived on the 12th of Rujub. The Khootba was read in Babur's name by Sheikh Zein-ood-Deen of Dehly, and, after surveying the city and visiting the tombs of the saints and heroes, he

Rujub 22.
May 2.

proceeded to Agra, where he arrived on the 22d of the same month. He immediately invested the fort, still in possession of the late government, which had for its garrison the troops of Vikramajeet, the raja of Gualiar, who had been killed in the late action. So great, however, was the terror inspired by the Moguls, that the Rajpoots proposed to capitulate; and in lieu of any other ransom for the private property of individuals, Babur was content to receive a diamond, weighing eight miskals, or 224 rutties. ^46a This diamond was formerly the property of Sooltan Alla-ood-Deen Khiljy of Malwa, and Ba-bur on this occasion presented it to his son Hooma-yoon. Thus, on the fifth day after his arrival, Babur was in possession of Agra, wherein he found the mother of Ibrahim Lody: she was treated with becoming respect, and permitted to retain all her wealth.

“The conquest of Hindoostan (observes Babur in his Commentaries) has been achieved by three persons since the commencement of the Maho-medan era. In the first instance, by Sooltan Mahmood of Ghizny, whose descendants ruled over India; on the second occasion, by Sooltan Mahomed Ghoory and his officers, who also long reigned over the same country; and the third time, by myself: but my success does not bear any close resemblance to those of the conquerors I have named; since, when Sooltan Mah-mood Ghiznevy entered India, he was the undisputed sovereign of Mavur-ool-Nehr, Khwaruzm, and Khorassan; and if his army did not amount to 200,000 men, they exceeded 100,000 soldiers. At that time, also, no one king ruled over the country, which was divided among numerous petty rajas. In the case of Sooltan Mahomed Ghoory, although himself not a sovereign prince, yet his brother was king of Khorassan, and his troops did not amount to less than 120,000 men, with which army he subdued the country of India, then subdivided among numerous petty princes. When I first made the attempt on India, I had only 15,000 men with me, and eventually accomplished the conquest with 12,000 men. I was the ruler of Budukhshan, Kabul, and Kandahar; but I did not receive half the revenues of those territories, part of which absorbed a great portion of the resources in preserving it from foreign attacks. The Afghan government extended from Birah to Behar, and it could bring into the field an army of 500,000 soldiers; and that of Ibrahim Lody even, on the day of the battle, amounted to 100,000 horse, besides 1000 war elephants. Notwithstanding these circumstances, and the fact of the Oozbuks being at war with me in my rear, I ventured to attack such an enemy as Ibrahim, and having reaped the reward of my labours, I conquered Hindoostan. I do not ascribe this success to my own exertions merely; I refer it to the favour of the Almighty, who was pleased to aid me in my humble efforts.”

Rujub 29.
A. H. 932.
May 9.
A. D. 1526. On the 29th of Rujub, having gone into the public treasury of the King of India, Babur presented his son Hoomayoon with 350,000 rupees, and to his cousin Mahomed Sooltan Mirza he gave four handsome shields, and 200,000 rupees in money, added to which, he conferred costly presents on all his chiefs, and even to the merchants who followed his camp. Besides what was distributed in camp, a great part of the treasure was sent to Kabul, to be divided among his subjects, which yielded to each a silver sharokh. This division was independent of the large sums he sent to Samar-kand, Khorassan, Kasghar, Erak, Mecca, Medina, Kurbula, Nujuf, Mushud, and other holy places, in charity. Such generosity, bordering on prodigality, procured for Babur the name of Kul-lundur, whose practice it is to keep nothing for to-morrow.

The Afghans, apprehensive of a Mogul government, and bearing a natural aversion to that race, still refused to submit. They appeared in arms in every quarter, strengthening their forts, and refusing submission in their different provinces. Kasim Khan in Sumbhul; Ally Khan Firmully in Mewat; Zeitoon Khan in Dholpoor; Tartar Khan in Gualiar; Hoossein Khan Lohany in Rabery; Kootub Khan in Etawa; Alum Khan in Kalpy; Nizam Khan in Byana; and Nasir Khan Lohany and Maroof Khan Firmully on the east bank of the Ganges. All these chiefs refused to acknowledge Babur's authority, and uniting for mutual support, they elected Behar Khan, the son of Duria Khan Lody, their king, with the title of Sooltan Mahomed, and forming a junction at Kunowj, advanced towards Agra. At this time also, Bubun Khan Julwany, the Afghan chief, who had joined Babur, deserted with all his adherents, and the very inhabitants of the country around Agra cut off the Mogul foraging parties, and rendered it difficult to support the cavalry, or to supply the troops with provisions. Added to these circumstances was the intolerable heat of the weather, from which many of the Moguls, unaccustomed to the climate, died.

In this situation of affairs, Babur was strongly urged by Khwaja Kullan and other chiefs to return to Kabul; but he replied, “That a kingdom “which had cost him so much pains in taking, “should not be wrested from him but by death.” He immediately issued an order, stating his determination to remain in India, permitting, at the same time, those persons who were desirous of returning to Kabul, and who preferred safety to glory, to retire; retaining with him only such soldiers whose valour would reflect honour on themselves, and their king and country. This order had the desired effect: all murmurs ceased; and the officers, one and all, swore never to forsake him, with the exception only of Khwaja Kullan, whose reputation being already well established, he was permitted to withdraw for the sake of his health, and was appointed governor of Kabul and Ghizny, on account of the services he had rendered. It being now known publicly, that Babur had determined not to quit Hindoostan, as his ancestor Teimoor had done before, several officers of the late government began to come over to him, such as Sheikh G'hoorun, with 3000 horse from Dooab, and Ally Khan Mewatty from Mewat. The last chief was induced to adopt this step in order to procure the release of his sons who had been taken in the battle. Lastly were Feroze Khan, and Sheikh Bayezeed Firmully.

At the same time also, Kasim Khan of Sum-bhul, being besieged by the Afghans, invited Babur to receive him under his protection. The King accordingly deputed Mirza Mahomed Go-kultash to his aid: the confederate troops were defeated, and Kasim Khan placed Sumbhul in possession of the Moguls. Measures were now taken to attack the confederated army, and the Prince Hoomayoon, with the greatest part of the Mogul troops, was detached against the Afghans, whose forces amounted to fifty thousand horse. On the Prince's approach, the Afghans retreated to Joonpoor, and Futteh Khan, the late King's minister, joined Hoomayoon. Futteh Khan was sent to Babur at Agra, and became the means of inducing several other Afghan chiefs to submit.

Nizam Khan, governor of Byana, though pressed hardly by Rana Sanka, who was endeavouring to become master of that province, still refused to submit to Babur. Baba Koolly Sool-tan marched against him with a force, but was unfortunately defeated. Rana Sanka, soon after, having reduced Nizam Khan of Byana to great extremities, that chief sent a deputation to Ba-bur, requesting his aid, for which he was ready to pay him due homage. The King did not hesitate to accept his allegiance, and sending a force to expel Rana Sanka, Nizam Khan was confirmed in possession of Byana, which was settled upon him, with all its dependencies, in consideration of his paying an annual tribute of twenty lacks of rupees.

Tartar Khan, a descendant of Sarung Khan, was now in possession of the fort of Gualiar; but being besieged by the Raja of that country, he solicited the aid of Babur. The detachment of troops sent by Babur defeated the Raja; but Tartar Khan, repenting of his promise of submission, delayed to put the Mogul troops in possession. In the fort was one Sheikh Mahomed Ghows, a learned man, who had a number of students under him, and who wrote to the Mogul general to endeavour to introduce himself singly into the fort, promising that he would then find means of accomplishing his object. For this purpose, the Mogul general stated to Tartar Khan, that the enemy being all around, it was desirable to bring his troops under protection of the fort, for fear of a surprise, and requested that he might be permitted to pay a visit to the learned man in the fort. This being acceded to, the Mogul was admitted without suspicion. During his visit, he sent word to the governor from time to time, requesting permission for such and such officers to be admitted also, till at length Tartar Khan desired the officer of the guard to use his own discretion in admitting whom he chose. The officer of the guard, a disciple of the philosopher, and who was privy to the plot, availed himself of this order to permit every body the Moguls wished to pass in, till at length all the chosen men of the detachment were within the garrison before the entertainment was ended. Tartar Khan was called on to give up the place, and threatened with instant death in case of refusal; and he, making a virtue of necessity, replied, that had he not intended doing so, he should not have permitted its occupation without resistance. Tartar Khan proceeded in person to Agra, and entered into the service of Babur. Zeitoon Khan also, having surrendered Dholpoor, was placed in command of a body of troops, having previously sworn allegiance to Babur. Not long after these transactions, Humeed Khan, Sarung Khan, and other Afghans, created an insurrection in Hissar Feroza; but the sudden arrival of Cheen Teimoor Sooltan against them soon put an end to all opposition.

A. H. 983.
A. D. 1575. In the year 983, Khwaja Asud, who had gone as ambassador from Kabul, to congratulate Shah Tamasp, King of Persia, on his accession, returned to court, accompanied by Sooliman Khan Toorkoman. This officer brought with him, among other presents, two Circassian maids, of whom the King became greatly enamoured. At this time, the mother of Ibrahim Lody, who had hitherto been treated with much kindness, formed a design to poison Babur, and seduced the King's taster and cook to effect her object by putting poison into some hare soup: the King, after eating a few spoonsful, nauseated the food, and immediately vomited, which saved his life. After proper enquiry, both the taster and the cook avowed their share in the transaction; and in order to ascertain the truth, a dog was brought, who having eaten of the soup, was seized with convulsions, and died. Two of the under cooks were also made to partake of the broth, and their lives were saved only by the greatest precautions: on this, the taster and head cook, with several of their assistants, were put to the torture. The whole plot was revealed, and the mother of Ibrahim, being cast into prison, all her wealth was confiscated. One of Ibrahim Lody's sons, too, was sent at the same time to Kabul, which left Babur without any further apprehensions from that family. The Prince Hoomayoon having defeated the Afghans at Joonpoor, left Sooltan Jooneid Birlass in that quarter, and on returning to Agra, induced Alum Khan, governor of Kalpy, to submit, and to accompany him to court, where he was received with due honours.

The King was at this time suddenly roused by information that Rana Sanka, Hussun Khan Me-watty, Rawul Dew Raja of Bagur, and Medny Ray Raja of Chundery, espousing the cause of Mah-mood, a son of the late King Sikundur Lody, had collected a force of a hundred thousand horse, in order to re-establish the Afghan dynasty. Babur, having little dependence on the Indian chiefs who had joined him, detached them to defend different provinces, and with his own Moguls hastened to meet the enemy: his vanguard falling in with theirs in the neighbourhood of Byana, after a sharp conflict, was repulsed by the Afghans, with great loss, which struck unusual terror into the King's small army. Kasim Khan, deserting Babur, repaired to Sumbhul; and every day brought disagreeable intelligence from all quarters: nor did the predictions of one Mahomed Shureef, an astrologer, tend to remove the general consternation. This man asserted that the planet Mars was to be seen every evening in the west, and consequently that whoever marched in that direction would be overthrown. Babur, perceiving this rumour affected the minds of his troops, called a council of war, in which most of his officers gave it as their opinion, that, owing to the superior numbers of the enemy, it was advisable, after leaving a strong garrison in Agra, to retreat for the present to Punjab. Babur, after some reflection, asked the chiefs, “What will “all the Mahomedan kings in the world say of “a monarch, whom the fear of death obliged to “abandon such a kingdom? It is more consistent “with true heroism to reconcile ourselves to “martyrdom, and to exert ourselves with all our “hearts; for,” said he, “as it is certain the soul “must of necessity quit the body, it is fit that it “should do so with honour; for the whole object of “a man's life should be, that when he dies he may “leave behind him a spotless name.” The whole assembly, as if inspired with one soul, cried out, “War! war!” The King, who had been formerly much addicted to wine, made a vow publicly to drink no more, should he prove victorious in this campaign; and orders were accordingly issued to prohibit its sale in the camp, not more, perhaps, from adherence to his oath, than to keep the soldiers cool for action.

Jumad-ool-
Akhir 9.
A. H. 933.
March 21.
A. D. 1526. On Tuesday the 9th of Jumad-ool-Akhir of the year 933, which happened to be the vernal equinox, Babur formed his line of battle, according to the custom of Room (Asia Minor), with his carriages and artillery in his front: in that order he moved towards the enemy, who lay at the distance of six miles. After proceeding two miles he halted, and encamped. Several young warriors, fond of distinguishing themselves, issued out under the command of Mullik Hoossein, Mahomed Kassim, and Baba Kushka Mogul, to skirmish with the enemy's light troops and piquets, among whom they did considerable execution. On the next day, being the third of the month, the King having proceeded two miles further, marked out his camp at the village of Kanwa, ^56a in the neighbourhood of Byana; but his tents were scarcely pitched, when he perceived the enemy approaching. He marshalled his line, in the manner which he had for some days before practised, and in a few minutes he was forced to receive the shock of the enemy. The army was chiefly drawn up by Nizam-ood-Deen Ally, whom Babur considered his ablest general; and this order of battle being on account of circumstances different from the former, we shall describe it in detail.

The line, which upon this occasion was single, was divided; the King, at the head of the lifeguards, took post in front of his park of artillery, and commanded in person.

In the right wing were Cheen Teimoor Sooltan, Sooliman Shah, Khwaja Dost Khazin, Yoonoos Ally Beg, Shah Munsoor Birlass, Dervish Ma-homed Sar, Abdoolla Kitabdar, and Dost Beg Aka, with their several squadrons.

In the left wing were the Prince Alum Khan (a son of Bheilole Lody), Sheikh Zein Sudr, Mohib Ally, Tardy Beg, Sheer-Afkun Khan, Arayish Khan, Khwaja Hoossein Dewan, besides other chiefs, who occupied each a particular post assigned to him.

The advanced guard was under the personal command of the prince Hoomayoon, his right being composed of the troops of Kasim Hoossein Sooltan, Ahmud Yoosoof, Hindoo Beg Kocheen, Khoosrow Gokultush, Mullik Kasim, Baba Kush-ka Mogul, Kuwam Beg, the son of Shah Wully Khazin, Mirza Kumur Ally, Peer Koolly Sees-tany, Khwaja Pheilwan Budukshy, Abdool Shu-koor, and Sooliman Aka, the ambassador to Erak, and Hoossein Aka, the envoy to Seestan. The left was composed of the troops under Meer Shah Mahomed Gokultash, Khwajgy Assud, Khan Kha-nan ^57a (the son of Dowlut Khan Lody), Mullik Dawood Kirany, and Sheik G'hoorun, each occupying their respective posts.

The reserve was intrusted to Syeed Khwaja, on whose right and left the following chiefs took post; viz. Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, Adil Sooltan, Abdool Azeez (Meer Akhoor), Mahomed Ally Jeng Jeng, Kootloogh Khan, Ameer Khan Mogul, Jany Beg Atka, Julal Khan, and Kumal Khan (the sons of the prince Alla-ood-Deen Lody), Ally Khan Firmully, and Nizam Khan, of Byana.

Besides these, was a separate rear-guard under the command of Tardy Beg Atka, under whom was Roostoom Khan Toorkoman, and his corps of No-weenans or Nooyans.†^57b

The Bukhshy ^58a of the camp, Sooltan Mahomed, together with numerous Yesawuls† ^58b and attendants to convey orders, attended the person of the King.

About ten o'clock in the forenoon the action commenced. The left of the enemy charging the right of the Moguls, engaged hand to hand with the troops of Gokultash Khan, and made them give ground; but Cheen Teimoor Sooltan, receiving orders to support them, turned the scale in favour of Babur. According to the practice of the Choghtays‡, ^58c the wings wheeled up on each flank, and the reserve supported those engaged, wherever assistance was required; while from the centre the artillery under the command of Oostad Ally Kooly Roomy, hurled destruction on all sides.

The enemy fought with desperate valour till Babur, perceiving a favourable opportunity, charged with his personal guards, like a lion rushing from his lair, and after an obstinate conflict compelled the Indians to give way. Hussun Khan Mewatty, whose family had been distinguished for nearly 200 years, was killed by a musket ball; Rawul Dew Raja of Bagur, Chundur Bhan, Manuk Chund Chowhan, and Kurn Sing Rajpoot, each powerful princes of the enemy, were numbered among the slain; while Rana Sanka escaped with the utmost difficulty from the field of battle. The King, immediately after the victory, assumed the title of Ghazy, and, in order to perpetuate the commemoration of the victory, ordered a pyramid, composed of the heads of the slain, to be raised on an eminence near the field. To the astrologer Ma-homed Shureef (after being severely reprimanded for his false prediction) he presented a lack of rupees, but compelled him to quit the kingdom.

From hence Babur marched towards Mewat, where Nahir Khan, the son of Hussun Khan Mewatty, seeing no other means of safety, submitted. The government of Mewat was conferred upon Cheen Teimoor Sooltan and his tribe. After which, Babur returned to Agra, and detached his son the Prince Hoomayoon to Kabul, with orders to add Bulkh to that province. Mahomed Ally Sooltan and Tardy Beg were also ordered to proceed against Hoossein Khan and Duria Khan, Afghans, who still kept possession of Chundwara and Rabery. On the approach of the Moguls, the Afghans flying, Hoossein Khan was drowned in crossing the Jumna, but Duria Khan escaped. Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, the King's cousin, was also detached at the same time to Kunowj, against Bubun Khan Afghan, who fled from thence to Khyrabad.

Zeehuj 29.
A. H. 934.
Sept. 12.
A. D. 1528. On the 29th of Zeehuj, in the year 934, the King marched by the route of Kole to Sumbhul, and having diverted himself with the amusement of the chase, returned to his capital, where he was for a time ill of a fever; but having recovered, he proceeded towards Chundery, then occupied by Medny Ray with a strong garrison of Rajpoots. The place being invested, the Rajpoots sallied out on the second day, and attacked the King; but they paid dear for their rashness, and lost six thousand men. Those who returned after this defeat into the fort, seeing no hopes of defending it, murdered their wives and children, according to custom. Among those who lost their lives on this occasion, was Medny Ray himself. The empty fort thus fell into the hands of the Moguls, and Babur did not fail to rebuild and repair those mosques in Chundery, Sa-rungpoor, Runtunbhore, and Raisein, which had been partly destroyed and otherwise injured by being converted into cattle-sheds, by Medny Ray's orders. He also restored those countries to their legitimate sovereign, Sooltan Ahmud, the son of Sooltan Mahomed, and grandson of Sooltan Nasir-ood-Deen Khiljy, King of Malwa.

Advices were about this time received, that a body of troops which had been sent against the Afghan chiefs had unnecessarily brought on an action, and were defeated. The King, therefore, marched in person towards Kunowj, and met his defeated troops at Rabery. Having reached the Ganges, he collected thirty or forty boats, and threw a bridge over it, so that Cheen Teimoor Sool-tan commenced crossing that night. The enemy on the opposite bank, after a faint resistance, gave way, and Cheen Teimoor Sooltan, pursuing them, took part of their baggage, and a number of their families and followers were made prisoners.

The King after this victory hunted for a few days along the banks of the Ganges, and then returned to Agra. He appointed Mahomed Zuman Mirza, the son of Budee-ooz-Zuman Mirza (who had lately been expelled from Bulkh), governor of Agra.

Mohurrum 5.
A. D. 935.
Sept. 19.
A. D. 1528. On the 5th of Mohurrum, in the year 935, Babur commenced a tour through his new kingdom. He first took the route of Gualiar, and viewed there the fortifications, the stone-elephant, and the palace of Raja Man Sing. He then visited the gardens of Raheem Dad, and having admired some extremely fine scarlet oleander flowers, he ordered a few of the plants to be conveyed to Agra. The usual colour of this plant resembles that of the peach-blossom; but the scarlet oleander is rarely to be met with. During his stay, he went in state to the great mosque built by the Emperor Altmish, for whose soul he ordered prayers to be read, and he returned by another route to Agra.

In the Wakaya Babury the King writes, “On

Suffur 23.
A. H. 935.
Nov. 7.
A. D. 1530.

“the 23d of Suffur of this year I was “taken unwell, and with difficulty was “able to remain in the musjid during “prayers on Friday. On Sunday, I “had a good deal of fever. It was on this occasion “I commenced to transpose into poetry the work of “Khwaja Abdool Ahrar; and it occurred to me, if “I succeeded so as to please that holy man, I might “through his intercession get over my disease; “and so in the end it turned out, for I shortly “after lost all the symptoms I had of epilepsy, “and completely recovered. The metre is that “of the Remul Moosudus Mujnoon, the same in “which Mowlana Jamy has written his poem en-“titled Saboosha. At this period of my life I “used to have frequent attacks of fever, from which “I seldom recovered under a month or six weeks. “On the present occasion I obtained relief on the

Rubbee-ool-
Awul 8.
Nov. 20.

“8th of Rubbee-ool-Awul.” Babur says he offered up public thanks to God for the restoration of his health, and made a great feast upon the occasion. He distributed magnificent presents among his nobles and foreign ambassadors, and bestowed large sums to gladden the hearts of the poor. During this festival, Khoond-Emir, the author of the Hubeeb-oos-Seer, Mowlana Shuhab-ood-Deen, entitled the punster, and Mirza Ibrahim Kanoony, who came from Hirat, and were esteemed the most eminent literary men of the age, were introduced to the King. They were loaded with presents, and directed to remain in future about his person.

In this year, Askurry Mirza, who governed Mooltan, was ordered to court, just at the time he was making preparations to attack Noosrut Shah. Boorhan Nizam Shah Bheiry, Prince of Ahmud-nuggur, also at this time sent an ambassador to congratulate Babur on his good fortune, and proffered allegiance. Towards the close of the year, the King received advices, that the Prince Mahmood, the son of the late King Sikundur Lody, had obtained possession of the province of Behar, and also that the Bullochies in Mooltan had raised the standard of revolt. The King deferred any operations against Mooltan for the present, but marched in person towards Behar. On reaching Kurra, Julal-ood-Deen Noosrut Shah Shurky, the ex-king of Joonpoor, prepared a royal entertainment for him, and was honoured with an audience. Mahomed Zuman Mirza was detached from Kurra to Behar, from whence he expelled the Prince Mahmood Lody; but in a few months after, the Afghans of Behar, collecting troops, advanced again towards the Ganges. The King, on this occasion, detached Askurry Mirza with a division to oppose them at the Budry ford, and himself followed next day with the rest of the army. On reaching the banks of the river, he was preparing boats to cross, when Cheen Teimoor Sooltan, who had already gained the opposite bank with only eighty horse, attacked without hesitation. Askurry Mirza, who had crossed at another place, also appearing fortunately in the enemy's rear, threw them into confusion, and they fled. Noosrut Shah now joined the King, and promised to aid in the expulsion of the Afghans; and Babur, having given orders to Sool-tan Jooneid Birlass to prosecute the war in conjunction with Noosrut Shah, returned to Agra.

The Prince Hoomayoon having left his brother, Hindal Mirza, to govern in his absence, returned about this time from Kabul to visit his father, and Sooltan Syeed, ruler of Uzkund, taking advantage of this circumstance, invaded Budukhshan. Mirza Heidur Doghlat was sent on in advance. On the approach of the enemy, Hindal Mirza retreated into the fort of Budukhshan, and was besieged therein; but Sooltan Syeed Khan finding he could not reduce the place, and that the inhabitants were not disposed to join him, ravaged the country and returned home. The news of the retreat of Sooltan Syeed not having reached Agra, the government of Budukhshan was conferred on Sooliman Mirza, the son of Khan Mirza, who marched immediately for that province, with a letter from the King to Sooltan Syeed, expressing his surprise at the late hostilities, for which he was unable to account, but by supposing some misconduct on the part of his son Hindal Mirza: the King stated, therefore, that he had sent another person, who was allied to them both, to supply his place. Sooliman Mirza found the country in perfect tranquillity on his arrival, and took quiet possession of the government, which his family have kept to this day, an account of which it is my intention to write at some future period. ^64a The Prince Hindal Mirza now came to Agra.

Rujub,
A. H. 936.
March,
A. D. 1530. During the year 936, in the month of Rujub, Babur fell sick; and his disorder daily gaining ground, in spite of the power of medicine, he recalled his son, Prince Hoomayoon, who was then besieging the fort of Kalunjur, and appointed him his successor.

Jumad-ool-
Awul 5.
A. H. 937.
Dec. 24.
A. D. 1530.

On Monday, the 5th of Jumad-ool-Awul, in the year 937, Babur Padshah died. According to his will, his body was carried to Kabul, and interred in a sepulchre at that city. The date of his death is comprised in the words:

◌

“May heaven be his lot.”

This monarch ascended the throne at twelve years of age, and reigned thirty-eight years. He was a prince of great humanity, and carried his liberality to such excess, that it bordered on prodigality. With respect to the first, he so often pardoned ingratitude and treason, that he seemed to make a principle of rendering good for evil: he thus disarmed malice, and made his enemies the admirers of his virtues. He was learned in the doctrines of the sect of Huneef, and never omitted his daily prayers. He had few equals in the arts of poetry, prose composition, and music. He wrote his own life in the Toorky language, with such elegance and truth, that the performance is universally admired. It was translated, in the reign of his grandson Akbur, by Mirza Khan Khan Khanan, into Persian, which is the same work that is usually read by persons in India of the present age. In his person, Babur was handsome, his address was engaging and unaffected, his countenance pleasing, and his disposition affable.

The following instance of his justice is worthy of being recorded in history: —

When he was Prince of Furghana, the owner of a valuable caravan ^65a of Khutta, who was crossing the mountains of Indijan, was killed by lightning. Babur ordered all the goods to be collected, and sent messengers to Khutta to proclaim the accident, and bring the owner's heirs to his court. Upon their arrival, at the end of two years, he entertained them hospitably, and returned them the whole of their property, not only refusing to accept a present, but even to be reimbursed for the expences incurred in securing it.

Notwithstanding his warlike pursuits, Babur was much addicted to wine and women, and the usual pleasures of courts. On occasions when he was inclined to make merry, he used to fill a reservoir in a garden, in the neighbourhood of Kabul, with wine, upon which was inscribed a verse to this purpose: —

“Give me but wine, and blooming maids,
“All other joys I freely spurn:
“Enjoy them, Babur, while you may —
“For youth once past will ne'er return.”

Whenever he marched, he always caused the road to be measured after him, a custom which prevails among the emperors of Hindoostan to this day; and the statute he made, concerning the measurement of distances, has hitherto remained in force. He fixed one hundred tunabs for one kroh, each tunab being forty guz, each guz being nine moosht or hands. ^66a The guz Sikundry, or yard of Sikundur, which prevailed when he reached India, was superseded by that of the Babury guz, which continued in use till the beginning of the reign of Jehangeer Padshah. Since the empire of India is now governed by the descendants of this illustrious Prince, it seems proper to refer to the genealogy of his race. Be it known then that Chungiz Khan, the son of Byooka Bahadur, the son of Purtan, had four sons, who all became kings, and the fathers of nations, in the time of Chungiz. These princes adopted the institutes of Chungiz, which in the Toorky language are denominated Toozuk. The names of Chungiz's sons were Oktay, Choghtay, Joojy, and Tooly. Though Oktay was not the eldest son, yet he was appointed his successor, and ruled over the extensive empire of Northern Asia, in the city of Kurra Koorum, or Kuloran, the original capital of his father's dominions. Oktay died, from excess of wine, in the year 639.

Choghtay Khan, who, according to my own belief, was the second son of Chungiz Khan, possessed the kingdoms of Mavur-ool-Nehr, Toorkis-tan, Bulkh, and Budukhshan, in subordination to his brother Oktay. Kurrachar Nooyan, who is the fifth ancestor of Teimoor, was appointed by Chun-giz Khan Ameer-ool-Oomra of Choghtay Khan. Choghtay was so devoted to the sports of the chase, that neglecting the affairs of his government, he intrusted them to the management of Kurrachar Nooyan, who promoted the interests of the tribe of Choghtay, and confirmed its power.

Joojy Khan, one of the younger sons of Chun-giz Khan, became ruler over the following tracts of territory, conferred on him by his father: viz. Dusht Kupchak, Khwaruzm, Khizr, Bulgaria, Lokmeen, Alan, Ass, Russia, and those parts lying to the north. Although children of the same father and mother, yet a spirit of hostility existed between the three brothers, Choghtay, Oktay, and Joojy Khan. Their mother was Boorga Kocheen, the daughter of Kysur. Joojy Khan died in 624. After seven generations, Oozbuk Khan, one of his descendants, ruled over Dusht-Kupchak. He was a Mahomedan, and a prince of virtuous disposition. The Oozbuks are generally of opinion, that he was the first prince who introduced the Mahomedan faith among his subjects.

Tooly Khan, the youngest, was the favourite son of Chungiz Khan. He contrived to maintain friendly relations with his elder brothers, and was eventually slain in battle during the invasion made into the kingdom of Khutta, in the year 628. One of his sons, Keela Khan, who became ruler of Khutta, laid the foundation of the city of Khan Baligh, and brought a large canal from the sea of Olives ^68a (Duria Zeitoon), whose ports belong to India, into Khan Baligh, a distance of 40 days' journey. The other son of Tooly Khan is Hulakoo Khan, who made himself master of Persia. Having related thus much of the descendants of Chungiz Khan, I shall proceed to state the pedigree of Teimoor Korkan, as descended from Kurrachar Nooyan.

Ameer Teimoor, the son of Ameer Tooraghay, the son of Birkul, the son of Ameer Alingiz Bahadur, the son of Anchul Nooyan, the son of Kurrachar Nooyan, the son of Somchuk, the son of Eroee Birlass, the son of Kajooly Bahadur, the son of Toomnay Khan, the son of Baisanghar Khan, the son of Keetoo Khan, the son of Kasin, the son of Bookay, the son of Boozunjur, the son of Alankoo, a descendant from a daughter of Beiram Joorjeea, who is descended from a daughter of Yeldooz Khan, of the tribe of Birlas. The pedigree of Chungiz Khan is also deducible from Boozunjur. Ameer Teimoor had four sons:

1st, Jehangeer Mirza, who died during his father's lifetime, in Samarkand.

2d, Sharokh Mirza, ruler of Hirat.

3d, Oomr Sheikh Mirza, ruler of Indijan.

4th, Meeran Shah Mirza, ruler of Persia, and successor to the kingdom of Hoolakoo Khan.

Accordingly those four princes, having obtained the government of four kingdoms, reigned for many years therein. Of these, the descendants of the fourth empire obtained by Meeran Shah still exercise sovereign sway, and the heir of that house sends governors to the following countries: viz. Hindoostan, Kabul, Ghizny, Kandahar, Ghoor, and Bamyan.

Hoomayoon ascends the throne — his brother Kamran, governor of Kabul, disputes his right to supremacy. — The government of Sumbhul is conferred on his brother Askurry, and that of Mewat on his brother Hindal. — Mahomed Zuman Mirza goes into rebellion, and is protected by Bahadur Shah of Guzerat, who also affords aid to Alla-ood-Deen Lody, a pretender to the throne. — War with Bahadur Shah. — Guzerat occupied by Hoomayoon, and the government conferred on Askurry Mirza. — Bahadur Shah expels Askurry — recovers his kingdom. — Sheer Khan Soor attacks the Mogul officers in the Dooab, and to the east of the Ganges. — Mahomed Sooltan Mirza in arms at Kunowj. — War with Sheer Khan in Bengal. — Hindal proclaims himself king in Agra, and proceeds to besiege Dehly. — Kamran seizes on Lahore, and marches to Dehly. — Kamran and Hindal unite at Dehly — they march to Agra. — Hoomayoon returns from Bengal — becomes reconciled to his brothers — they unite against the power of Sheer Khan, who assumes the title of Shah. — The Moguls defeated, and expelled from India. — Hoomayoon, and his brothers, fly to Lahore, and eventually to Sind. — Hoo-mayoon's adventures — is deserted by his brothers, who establish themselves in Kabul. — Hoomayoon retires to Kabul — his narrow escape, and flight to Persia — his infant son Akbur falls a prisoner into the hands of his uncle Kamran.

HOOMAYOON was a prince as remarkable for his wit as for the urbanity of his manners; and, for the most part, disposed to spend his time in social intercourse and pleasure. He devoted himself, however, to the sciences of astronomy and geography; and not only wrote dissertations on the nature of the elements, but had terrestrial and celestial globes constructed for his use. He also caused seven halls of audience to be built, in which he received persons according to their rank. The first, called the Palace of the Moon, was set apart for ambassadors, messengers, and travellers. In the second, called the Palace of Ootarid, ^71a civil officers, and persons of that description, were received; and there were five other palaces for the remaining five planets. In each of these buildings he gave public audience, according to the planet of the day. The furniture and paintings of each, as also the dresses of the household attendants, bore some symbol emblematical of the planet. In each of these palaces he transacted business one day in the week.† ^71b He had scarcely ascended the throne when his brother, Kamran Mirza, formed a design of rendering himself master of Punjab; but, in order to conceal his real intentions, he gave out, that he was proceeding from Kabul to Hindoostan, to congratulate Hoomayoon on his accession. The King, although aware of Kamran Mirza's design, from the conduct he pursued in those countries through which he passed, was extremely unwilling to wage war with his brother; and anticipating his wishes, sent to him a commission, rendering him governor of Punjab, Peshawar, and Lumghan; a measure with which Kamran professed to be satisfied. The government of Mewat was conferred on Hindal Mirza, and Askurry Mirza obtained that of Sumbhul.

A. H. 938.
A. D. 1532. In the year 938, Hoomayoon led an army against the strong fortress of Ka-lunjur. During the siege, Mahomed Khan, the son of Sikundur Lody, in conjunction with Bubun Khan Julwany, having taken possession of Joonpoor, made war in the eastern provinces. Hoomayoon receiving intelligence of this event, left Kalunjur, and marched to Joonpoor, where he defeated the Afghans; and, having reinstated Sooltan Jooneid Birlas in the government, he returned to Agra. On his arrival there, according to the statement of Nizam-ood-Deen Ahmud Bukhshy, Hoomayoon bestowed honorary dresses on above twelve thousand of his followers, of whom two thousand received jewels also. At this time, he sent to demand of Sheer Khan Afghan the evacuation of the fortress of Chunar, which being refused, Hoomayoon marched an army against him. While engaged in this operation, information was received, that Bahadur Shah of Guzerat was advancing towards the north. This event induced Hoomayoon to make peace with Sheer Khan, and to return towards Agra. On the road Kootub Khan, the son of Sheer Khan, whom Homayoon had brought with him as a hostage, effected his escape, and joined his father at Chunar.

Mahomed Zuman Mirza, grandson of Sooltan Hoossein Mirza, having resolved, if possible, to supplant Hoomayoon on the throne of India, through the agency of the Choghtay chiefs in the service of the latter, formed a plan for the King's assassination. The plot was discovered, but Ma-homed Zuman Mirza received his pardon on taking the most solemn oath of future fidelity; yet inheriting from his father a treasonable propensity, he projected a similar scheme a second time, when he was seized, and confined in the fort of Byana, under charge of Yadgar Beg. Orders were issued, at the same time, for apprehending and depriving of sight his nephew, Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, as also Nukwut Sooltan, both Mogul officers of distinction, and abettors of Mahomed Zuman's designs. The person to whom this duty was intrusted executed the decree only on Nukwut Sooltan, without destroying the sight of Mahomed Sooltan Mirza. Meanwhile Mahomed Zuman Mirza, assisted by his keeper, Yadgar Beg, escaped from Byana, and sought refuge at the court of Bahadur Shah of Guzerat. Mahomed Sooltan Mirza aided by his two sons, Alugh Mirza and Shah Mirza, also fled to Kunowj, where he was joined by about six thousand persons, consisting of Moguls, Afghans, and Rajpoots.

Hoomayoon required Mahomed Zuman Mirza to be delivered up by the King of Guzerat, who refused compliance, and became involved in a war. Bahadur Shah was at this time engaged in besieging the fort of Chittoor. The Prince Rana Sanka ^74a claimed the protection of Hoo-mayoon; who, having advanced as far as Gualiar, encamped there for two months, and, for what reason does not appear, returned peaceably to Agra. Rana Sanka, despairing of relief, sent a crown of jewels and other valuable presents to Bahadur Shah, and thus induced him to raise the siege.

Bahadur Shah, successful in every quarter, and inflated with pride by having reduced Mando and other places, did not hesitate to show his contempt for Hoomayoon, by bringing Mahomed Zuman Mirza into public notice, and by granting him honours. He also encouraged Alla-ood-Deen, a son of the King Bheilole Lody, to make an attempt on the throne of Dehly. To this end, Bahadur Shah conferred on Tartar Khan, the son of Alla-ood-Deen, the command of forty thousand men, to enable him to march against Hoomayoon. Tartar Khan took Byana, and advanced to the neighbourhood of Agra, when Hoomayoon directed his brother, Hindal Mirza, to oppose him. As the armies approached, Tartar Khan's troops deserted him; so that, in the space of ten days, he had scarcely ten thousand horse remaining. With these, however, he ventured to give battle, but was totally overthrown, having lost most of his troops, three hundred officers, and eventually his own life. Hindal Mirza, after this victory, having retaken Byana and all the other places which had before fallen into the hands of the enemy, returned in triumph to Agra.

“O thou! ^75a the ravager of Chittoor,
“In what way wilt thou subdue infidels?
“Knowest thou, that while employed at Chittoor,
“A king cometh to subdue thee?”

Bahadur Shah answered Hoomayoon in the same strain:

“I, who am the ravager of Chittoor,
“Will conquer the idolaters by valour;
“And he who dares not succour Chittoor
“Shall see in what way he himself shall be conquered.”

Bahadur Shah, after sending this reply, summoned a council of war; when it was the opinion of the majority that, as Hoomayoon had all his force with him, it would be better to raise the siege and march against him, and thus strike a decisive blow at once. Other advisers maintained that Hoomayoon's religious principles would prevent him from molesting Bahadur Shah while engaged in war with idolaters; and that, therefore, it was most advisable to bring the siege, now far advanced, to a close, and afterwards to act according to circumstances. Bahadur Shah, adopting the latter opinion, the siege was prosecuted with vigour till Chittoor fell; while Hoomayoon continued loitering away his time at Sarungpoor. The reign of Bahadur Shah now drawing to a close, that Prince, without anticipating his destiny, and full of his own importance, marched against Hoo-mayoon, who, hearing of his approach, proceeded to oppose him. The two armies met near Mund-soor. Bahadur Shah, who had collected a large train of artillery, was induced, by the advice of his engineer, Roomy Khan, to entrench his army, and to place his cannon in redoubts, in hopes that the Moguls would risk an attack. In this expectation he was disappointed; both armies continued to lie in sight of each other for two months, during which daily skirmishes occurred, but with varied success. Hoomayoon, unable to draw Bahadur Shah from his entrenchments, directed his attention to cutting off his supplies. He accordingly ordered his horse

A. H. 940.
A. D. 1533.

to proceed in bodies of from five to six thousand, to scour the country in rear of the enemy's camp, wherein famine began to be severely felt, so that men, horses, elephants, and camels perished daily in great numbers. Finding himself hemmed in on all sides, Bahadur Shah, accompanied by only five persons, consisting of Moobarik Khan, the ruler of Kandeish; Kadir Khan, who afterwards became ruler of Malwa; his own general, Sudr Jehan Khan, and two servants, left his camp in the night, and fled towards Mando. This event was no sooner known in the morning than Bahadur Shah's army dispersed. Hoomayoon ordered a pursuit, which was continued as far as Mando; and a great slaughter was committed on the unfortunate wretches, who had neither the power to escape nor the means to defend themselves. Bahadur Shah threw himself into Mando, and was invested therein.

A few days after, three hundred Moguls escaladed the walls of Mando in the night; and though the garrison consisted of many thousand men, such was the panic into which they were thrown, that they betook themselves to flight. Bahadur Shah escaped with five thousand horse, and reached the town of Champanere, which had become the capital of Guzerat, while Sudr Jehan Khan, his general, being dangerously wounded, and unable to proceed, shut himself up in the citadel of the fort

A. H. 941.
A. D. 1534.

of Mando, called Songur. Herein he was besieged, and capitulated on the second day; but on account of his excellent character, and his valour, he was received into favour by Hoomayoon. During the flight from Mundsoor, Sudr Jehan Khan had saved Bahadur Shah's life when very nearly taken by Hoomayoon in person. On this occasion, he threw himself between Hoomayoon's guards and his master, giving the latter an opportunity of escaping, and after himself receiving several wounds, one of which was from the hand of Hoomayoon, he reached Mando with great difficulty.

Three days after the capture of Mando, Hoo-mayoon renewed the pursuit of Bahadur Shah, who, having taken all his treasure and jewels out of the city of Champanere, ^78a fled towards Ahmud-abad. The city of Champanere, however, was devoted to plunder, while the reduction of the citadel (which still held out) being left to Dowlut Khwaja Birlas, Hoomayoon continued in pursuit of the King of Guzerat. Bahadur Shah, hearing of the approach of the Moguls, fled to Cambay in the first instance, and eventually to the island of Dew. He was pursued so closely by Hoomayoon, that he arrived at Cambay on the very evening Bahadur Shah left it.

Hoomayoon, however, having heard that Bahadur Shah's wealth was principally in the citadel of Champanere, he returned to superintend the siege of that place. Yekhtyar Khan, of Guzerat, defended the fort with great bravery; yet, though he had some years' provision in the fort, still, with that propensity to accumulate which belongs to some men, he was desirous of obtaining more, and was in the habit of receiving supplies daily by a secret pathway, leading through a thick wood. Hoomayoon, while one day reconnoitring, suspecting this fact, seized a party of country people who conveyed the supplies, and induced them to carry him, in disguise, to the spot where they gained admittance. After making the necessary observations, he returned to his camp. On the same night, having procured a number of steel spikes to be constructed, and selected a body of three hundred men for the purpose, he determined to attempt to take the place by escalade. Accordingly several false attacks were made by moonlight on other quarters. As access to this part of the fortress was extremely difficult, the enemy had confidently withdrawn the troops to repel the other assaults. The King was thus enabled to fix at leisure his steel spikes, without interruption, in the scarp of the rock, by which means thirty-nine officers ascended: the last was Beiram Khan Toorkoman, ^79a after whom Hooma-yoon himself mounted, making the fortieth. Before sunrise, his whole detachment was within the walls, when displaying a preconcerted signal, his troops attacked the garrison with vigour on all sides. At this moment Hoomayoon, at the head of his detachment, calling out “Alla Akbur†,” ^79b forced his way, sword in hand, through the enemy, and possessed himself of one of the gates, through which he admitted his troops. The whole garrison, excepting Yekhtyar Khan and his family, who were in the citadel (called Moolba), were put to the sword; but the governor, who had defended it so bravely, obtained honourable terms. The great strength of this place, the numerous garrison, and the boldness and success of the enterprise by which its capture was achieved, render this action equal, in the opinion of military men, to any thing of the kind recorded in history. Here the treasure of Guzerat, the accumulation of many years, was distributed among the troops; Hoomayoon gave to his officers and soldiers as much gold, silver, or jewels, as could be heaped upon their respective shields, proportioning the value to their rank and merit; for the wealth of Room, ^80a Khutta, and Furung, which had been there collected to a vast amount, fell into the hands of the captors on this occasion.

Bahadur Shah, having secured himself in the island of Dew, sent Imad-ool-Moolk, a Circassian, (the father of that Chungiz Khan who was subsequently murdered) to Ahmudabad, to collect the revenues, and to levy troops, and he succeeded so well, that the King of Guzerat, shortly after, found himself at the head of fifty thousand men, and daily gained a new accession of power. Hoomayoon hearing of this circumstance, after nominating Tardy Beg to command the fort of Champanere and the adjacent countries, marched in person towards Ahmudabad. Imad-ool-Moolk drew out his troops to oppose him, near Maho-moodabad, but was defeated. On this occasion, the vanguard only of Hoomayoon's army, commanded by Askurry Mirza, was engaged. The rest of the Moguls did not arrive in time to be brought into action. In reward for this signal service, Aksurry Mirza received the government of Ahmudabad. Hoomayoon now divided the provinces of Guzerat among his officers, and marched to Boorhanpoor. In this state of affairs, Boorhan Nizam Shah, Imad Shah, and the other sovereigns of the Deccan, apprehensive of his designs, wrote submissive letters, tendering their allegiance. Hoomayoon had scarcely obtained these flattering tokens of his success, when accounts arrived of the insurrection created in the north by Sheer Khan. Having received the submission of Kandeish, Hoomayoon proceeded to Mando. It was during this march that Khondameer, the author of the Hubeeb-oos-Seer, died in his camp. The remains of this eminent person were conveyed to Dehly, and interred in the same vault with Ameer Khoosrow and Sheikh Nizam-ood Deen Owlia.

In Guzerat, Imad-ool-Moolk, and the other nobles of the old government, again collected troops, and appeared in force in the neighbourhood of Ahmudabad. Yadgar Nasir Mirza, the ruler of Puttun, and Kasim Hoossein Sooltan, ruler of Baroach, themselves princes by descent, were compelled to quit their stations, and unite with Askurry Mirza. It happened one night, while engaged in drinking wine, Askurry Mirza observed, “Am not I a king, God's representative “on earth?” Ghuzunfur Beg Koka, one of Askurry Mirza's foster brothers, and the full brother of Mehdy Kasim Khan, whispered in his ear, “You are a king, but not an independent “one.” His companions smiled, and bantered Askurry Mirza on the subject, till he became so vexed, that he gave orders next day to seize Ghuzunfur Beg, who shortly after made his escape, and joined Bahadur Shah at Dew, where having assured him that the Moguls were only waiting for some plea to quit the country, he offered to conduct his troops against them, and even agreed to suffer death if they opposed him with resolution.

Bahadur Shah, who had ensured the aid of the inhabitants, did not fail to take advantage of this overture, and proceeded towards Ahmuda-bad, while Hindoo Beg, one of the Mogul chiefs, strongly advised Askurry Mirza to proclaim himself king, in order to secure the confidence of the troops. Although Askurry Mirza, in reality, desired nothing more, he pretended at the time to reprove Hindoo Beg severely for the suggestion; and, on the next day, having marched out of Ah-mudabad, he encamped near Assavul, in the neighbourhood of Surkech. The Guzerat army under Bahadur Shah reached that place about the same time, when the Moguls fired a few shots into Bahadur Shah's camp, one of which struck his tent. Vexed at this circumstance, he sent for Guzunfur Beg Koka, in order to execute him; but he was restrained by his assuring him that he had certain information of Askurry Mirza's intended retreat on that very night. It turned out as he said; for Askurry Mirza, calculating on securing Hoomayoon's treasure at Champanere, marched towards that fortress. Bahadur Shah pursued him during two or three days, but returned; while Tardy Beg, the governor of Cham-panere, on discovering Askurry Mirza's object, resolved to put him to death rather than suffer him to obtain the treasure. Askurry Mirza, finding his design frustrated, marched to Agra, raising troops on the road: meanwhile, Hooma-yoon, anticipating his views, left Mando, and reached Agra before him. Askurry Mirza, on hearing that Hoomayoon had already arrived, perceived that his diabolical projects had all miscarried. Accordingly, he, together with Yadgar Nasir Mirza, and Kasim Sooltan, represented to Hoo-mayoon, that being unable to maintain Guzerat against Bahadur Shah, they had returned to join the King at Agra. Tardy Beg Khan also shortly after surrendered the fort of Champanere to Bahadur Shah, and joined Hoomayoon, who, although not deceived, considered it prudent to profess himself satisfied with their conduct, and to take no notice of it. Thus the countries of Malwa and Guzerat, the conquest of which had been obtained by the exertions of so fine an army, were now abandoned without a struggle.

On the return of Hoomayoon to his capital, it was observed, that he gave way more than ever to the excessive use of opium: public business was neglected; and the governors of the surrounding districts, taking advantage of the state of affairs, promoted their own aggrandizement. In the first place, Sooltan Jooneid Birlas dying, the Afghans of the late Shurky kingdom, whom he had kept in subjection, revolted, and enlisted un-

Suffur 8.
A. H. 943.
May 27.
A. D. 1536.

der the standard of Sheer Khan Soor. This event compelled Hoomayoon to march towards Joonpoor on the 8th of Suffur, A. H. 943; and as Sheer Khan had gone to Bengal, the King proceeded to besiege the fort of Chunar, which held out, under the command of Ghazy Khan Soor, for six months. The place was, however, eventually taken, owing to the skill of Roomy Khan (the late commander of Bahadur Shah's artillery), now in the service of Hoomayoon. Having ascertained the strength of the fort on the land side, Roomy Khan determined to attack it from the river Ganges. He accordingly erected stages of a certain height, placed on rafts, which being built at some distance above the fort, were launched, and floated down without resistance: the walls being low, they were easily surmounted, and the place was thus secured.

Previously to this event, Hoomayoon had marched on with the main body of the army. Sheer Khan Soor, meanwhile, had wrested the kingdom of Bengal from Mahmood Shah Poorby, who, having been severely wounded, reached the King's camp. Hoomayoon reached Gurhy, a place situated on the banks of the Ganges, but difficult of access from the woods in its vicinity. Sheer Khan, however, content with the spoils of the kings of Goor, and without opposing Hoo-mayoon, fled to the mountains of J'harkund, leaving the Moguls to continue their march unmolested to Goor, the capital of Bengal. Hoomayoon having occupied Goor, he caused that unpropitious appellation to be changed for that of Junutabad. ^84a He took up his residence in that city for the space of three months, but was obliged to abandon it on account of the insalubrity of the climate, the greatest part of his army having fallen sick. At this time, accounts reached the King of the rebellion of his brother, Hindal Mirza, at Agra. Hindal Mirza had been sent to suppress the revolt of Mahomed Sooltan Mirza, who, we have already observed, had escaped to Kunowj; but instead of performing that service, as soon as Hindal found himself at the head of an army, he aspired to the throne; and marching back to Agra, openly declared his intentions, and put to death Sheikh Bheilole, who was formerly preceptor to the King, after which he caused the khootba to be read in his own name. From Agra he proceeded with all the ensigns of royalty to Dehly, to which place he laid siege. Hoomayoon, hearing of these proceedings, left Jehangeer Beg Mogul and Ibrahim Beg in Bengal, and hastened towards Agra. On the march, Mahomed Zuman Mirza, who had formerly found an asylum with Bahadur Shah, returned from Sind, and, on promise of pardon, joined the King with a considerable party. Meanwhile, Sheer Khan Soor, finding the King's army so much weakened by sickness and desertion, and learning that his affairs were perplexed by the rebellion of Hindal Mirza, marched with his troops from Rohtas, and came up with Hoomayoon at Jowsa. Both armies lay three months inactive, at a time when Hoomayoon ought to have brought on an action at all hazards, being every day insulted and harassed by the enemy's light troops.

To add to Hoomayoon's embarrassments, which could hardly be exceeded, his other brother, Kam-ran Mirza, instead of aiding him at this crisis, aspired to the throne, and marched with ten thousand horse from Lahore, giving out, that he came to offer assistance. On the arrival of Kam-ran at Dehly, Hindal Mirza prevailed on him to unite their forces in prosecution of the siege. Fukhr-ood-Deen Ally, who commanded in Dehly, informed Kamran that he would never betray his trust, but was determined to hold out to the last drop of his blood, as long as Hoomayoon reigned; but that if Kamran should, in the first place, render himself master of Agra, and succeed in subduing his brother Hoomayoon, he would then, and not till then, give up the city of Dehly.

The Princes, finding the governor so resolute, raised the siege, and marched towards Agra. On reaching that city, the jealousy which the brothers naturally entertained against each other (the eyes of both being turned towards the throne) evinced

A. H. 946.
A. D. 1539.

itself in open war. Hindal Mirza, being deserted by many of his party, fled to Alwur, with five thousand horse and three hundred elephants; while Kamran Mirza, entering Agra, proclaimed himself king.

Hoomayoon used every possible argument with his brothers to effect a coalition of interests against Sheer Khan; telling them, that their intestine feuds must end in their losing that mighty empire which had cost their father so much pains to acquire; that their conduct would involve the house of Teimoor in one common ruin; and that no remedy existed, but to reunite against the common enemy, and afterwards to divide the empire amongst themselves. These arguments had no weight with the King's brothers, who, blinded by ambition, determined rather to lose all than to be content with a part. They calculated, that after Sheer Khan had defeated Hoomayoon, they should be able to subdue him; and each had the vanity to suppose, that he would in the end exclude his rival, and reign alone. At this juncture, Sheer Khan sent one Sheikh Khuleel, a dervish of great reputation, to Hoomayoon, to treat for peace, to which the latter assented on the following condition: — that Sheer Khan should content himself with Bengal and Behar, to be held in the King's name, for which he was to pay a trifling annual tribute. This condition was signed and ratified by mutual oaths; and Hoomayoon, trusting too much to the faith of his enemy, permitted a free intercourse to be maintained between both armies. Sheer Khan's chief object in obtaining a suspension of hostilities was to throw Hoomayoon off his guard. Accordingly, one morning early, he treacherously surprised the Mogul camp on the banks of the Ganges, during the armistice, and totally defeated it. A bridge of boats, which the latter had been preparing, was unfinished; and no means of escape remained, but by swimming across the stream, all the craft on the river having been seized by a party of the enemy, who had turned the rear of Hoomayoon's army for that purpose. The King with a vast number of his soldiers plunged into the current, where, according to the most authentic accounts, eight thousand Moguls, exclusive of Hin-doos, were drowned, among whom was the Prince Mahomed Zuman Mirza. This dreadful blow oc-

A. H. 946.
A. D. 1539.

curred in the year 946. Hoomayoon owed his life to one Nizam, a water-carrier, who with great difficulty swam alongside of him across the river, and was among the few who survived the slaughter of this eventful day, and fled to Agra. On reaching his capital, Hoo-mayoon allowed the man who had saved his life to sit on the throne for half a day, and permitted him to reward his own relatives during that time with princely presents. Kamran Mirza, hearing of this defeat, hastened from Agra to Alwur, to consult with his brother Hindal Mirza, and finding that the Afghans were likely to prevail in all quarters, they became ashamed of their conduct, and now when too late endeavoured to support Hoomayoon. The King was shortly afterwards joined by Jehangeer Beg and Ibrahim Beg, who were at this time expelled from Bengal, and Mahomed Sooltan Mirza (who had gone into rebellion) came from Kunowj, leaving the country he had acquired in the hands of the enemy.

The three royal brothers having met at Agra, held daily consultations; but Kamran, averse to composing their differences, abandoned their councils, and proposed to return to Lahore, to which measure he was principally instigated by Khwaja Kullan Beg. Hoomayoon in vain used every argument to prevent his departure; but the ambition of Kamran prompted him to independence, and he accordingly withdrew from his brothers' councils. These dissensions had continued six months, when Kamran was suddenly seized with dysentery, owing to too great indulgence of his appetite; and imputing the disease to poison, he quitted the court for Lahore, leaving a thousand horse only under Sikundur Sooltan, one of his officers. Hoomayoon's soldiers, greatly disconcerted by the departure of Kamran Mirza, deserted, and many of them accompanied him. Among others, however, Mirza Hydur Doghlat, ^89a disgusted with his conduct, abandoned his standard, and joined Hoomayoon, to whom he was afterwards of great service.

Sheer Khan, who had remained quiet during these disputes, now advanced with an army to the banks of the Ganges, and detaching his son Kootub Khan across the river, took possession of the adjacent provinces. Hoomayoon, on receiving intelligence of his movements, ordered Kasim Hoos-sein Sooltan, in conjunction with Yadgar Nasir Mirza and Sikundur Sooltan, to oppose him. They met the enemy at Kalpy, where an obstinate engagement took place, in which victory declared in favour of the Moguls. Kootub Khan, with a great part of his army, was cut off, and that chief's head was sent to Agra. The generals, at the same time, recommended the King immediately to assume the command of the army in person.

Hoomayoon accordingly marched with a hundred thousand horse, and crossing the Ganges, near Ku-nowj, encamped for a whole month in view of Sheer Khan's army, which consisted of only fifty thousand men. Meanwhile, Mahomed Sooltan Mirza and his sons, who were alike distinguished for their treachery and ingratitude, went over to the enemy with all their adherents. Many others were induced also to follow them; an event which again plunged the King into distress; for his army, thus dispirited, began to desert by thousands. To complete his misfortunes, too, the rainy season commenced; his camp became quite overflowed, insomuch that he was obliged to abandon his position, and move to a more exposed one on higher

Mohurrum 10.
A. H. 947.
May 17.
A. D. 1540.

ground. On the 10th of Mohurrum, 947, while his army was in motion, he was attacked by Sheer Khan, and sustained a signal defeat. Having unfortunately, as in the former action, the river close on his rear, some thousands of his soldiers, in avoiding the swords of the enemy, suffered a more ignominious fate in the stream. A few only escaped with the King across the river, with whom he fled to Agra. Sheer Khan lost no time in pursuing Hoomayoon, who was forced

Rubbee-ool-
Awul,
A. H. 907.
July,
A. D. 1540.

to retreat to Lahore. In the month of Rubbee-ool-Awul, of that year, he was joined in Punjab by many of his Mogul officers, who had been dispersed on the day of the battle of Kunowj. Sheer Khan, still continuing the pursuit, crossed the river Beea near Sooltanpoor, and compelled

Rujub.
November.

Hoomayoon, in the month of Rujub to pass down the river of Lahore, ^91a and to retreat towards Tutta and Bhukkur on the Indus. Kamran Mirza at length became sensible of his ungenerous conduct towards his brother, and was compelled to fly towards Kabul. Hoomayoon having crossed the Indus on his way to Bhukkur, halted at Lory, and sent an ambassador with a horse and dress to Mirza Shah Hoossein Arghoon, governor of Tutta, to request his aid in recovering Guzerat; but Mirza Shah Hoossein detained Hoomayoon by various artifices and excuses for five or six months, till his small army, distressed for want of pay, daily diminished in numbers. Hindal Mirza left Hoo-mayoon at this time, and went to Kandahar, having been invited thither by Kurrachar Khan, the governor of the province; Yadgar Nasir Mirza proposed also to quit the King, though the latter spared no pains to bind him firm to his interest by giving him the government of Bhukkur; but he was no sooner in possession, than he declared his independence.

Hoomayoon with his small army now laid siege to Sehwan for seven months, without producing any effect; when Mirza Shah Hoossein, desirous of getting the place into his own hands, advanced with a force from Tutta, and surrounding both the garrison and the besiegers, prevented supplies from being carried to either. Hoo-mayoon's army became greatly distressed, and was soon reduced to extremities. The King solicited Yadgar Nasir Mirza to join him with his forces from Bhukkur; but Yadgar was prevailed on to unite with his enemy, Mirza Shah Hoossein, who promised to give him his daughter in marriage, and to secure him in his government. Hoo-mayoon, thus deserted by all his relatives and friends, was obliged to retreat from before Sehwan to Bhukkur, where he could not even obtain a few boats to cross his army over the Indus. After a search of some days, and wandering along the banks, he discovered some craft that had been sunk, and having raised them, he transported his troops to the opposite bank.

Notwithstanding these accumulated misfortunes, Hoomayoon had strength enough left to inspire terror into Yadgar Nasir Mirza, who, to avoid his resentment, came and made his submission. He obtained his pardon, but shortly after began to create sedition among the troops, and privately drew them over to his own interest. This plot being communicated to the King, Yadgar Nasir Mirza, instead of denying it, appeared at the head of his party in open rebellion; but the principal officers of his faction having refused to attack their King, an action was prevented at the very time when both armies were formed in order of battle. Hoomayoon, being in no condition to contest the point, thought only of providing for his safety, and accordingly marched by the way of Jesselmere to Na-goor and Ajmere, then ruled by Maldew, one of the most potent of the Hindoo rajas, from whom he had before received an invitation. While proceeding through the territory of Jesselmere, the Raja of that country opposed him; but being defeated, Hoomayoon passed on to the boundaries of Ajmere, where he halted, and sent a messenger to Maldew, who perceiving he had nothing to apprehend from Hoomayoon, and having no cause for attachment to him, resolved to seize and make him over to his enemy, Sheer Khan. One of Maldew's soldiers, who had formerly been in the service of Hoomayoon, obtaining intelligence of the design, communicated it to him. Hoomayoon, warned of his danger, mounted his horse at midnight, and fled towards Amurkote, a place situated about a hundred coss (200 miles) from Tutta. His horse beginning to fail, he asked Tardy Beg Khan, ^93a one of his chiefs, who was well mounted, to let him have his, but was refused. The troops of Maldew being close in pursuit, Hoomayoon was necessitated to mount a camel, till Nudeem Koka, his foster-brother, having caused his mother to dismount, gave her horse to the King, and placing her on the camel, ran on foot by her side.

The country through which they fled being an entire desert of sand, the Moguls were in the utmost distress for water. Some ran mad; others fell down dead. Nothing was witnessed but dreadful screams and lamentations; while, to add to their misery, news arrived of the enemy's approach. Hoomayoon ordered all those who could fight to form the rearguard, and allowed the women and baggage to move forward: but the enemy did not make their appearance. The King rode on in front, to see how it fared with his family; and it was fortunate he did so, for night coming on, those in the rear lost their way, and in the morning the enemy were discovered in close pursuit. The King was left with a few soldiers only, commanded by one Ameer Sheikh Ally, who, with about twenty brave men, resolved to sell their lives dearly, and having repeated the creed, turned upon their pursuers. The first arrow discharged reached the heart of the chief of the enemy, and the remainder fled. The Moguls, pursuing in their turn, took many of the enemy's camels; after which, the King coming to a well, ordered the whole party to kneel down, and offer up prayers for their escape. During the day, those who had lost their way joined again.

On marching forward, the Moguls were more distressed than before, there being no water for three whole days. On the fourth day they came to a well, which was so deep that a drum was beaten to give notice to the man driving the bullocks, that the bucket had reached the top.^94a

The unhappy followers were so impatient for water, that, as soon as the first bucket appeared, several of them threw themselves upon it, before it had quite reached the surface, and fell in. The next day they arrived at a brook, and the camels, who had not tasted water for several days, were allowed to quench their thirst; but having drank to excess, several of them died. The King, after enduring unheard-of miseries, at length reached Amurkote with only a few attendants. The Raja, who has the title of Rana, took compassion on his misfortunes, and spared nothing that could alleviate his sufferings, or tend to console him in his distress.

At Amurkote, on the 5th of Rujub in the year

Rujub 5.
A. H. 949.
October 14.
A. D. 1542.

949, the Prince Akbur was born of the Queen Banoo Begum. Hoomayoon, after returning thanks to God, left his family in the hands of the Rana of Amurkote, and with his assistance marched against Bhukkur. But a mutiny breaking out among the Rana's troops, they dispersed, and nothing could be effected. Some of the King's officers also deserted him; while the gallant Ameer Sheikh Ally, one of his most faithful adherents, was killed in an action with Shah Hoossein Arghoon. Hoomayoon now retired towards Kandahar, having been joined by Beiram Khan ^95a Toorkoman from Guzerat. Kamran Mirza, who had obtained possession of Kandahar from his brother, Hindal Mirza, had placed Askurry Mirza in the government; and Shah Hoossein Arghoon now wrote to him, that Hoomayoon being without followers, might easily be seized; so that Askurry Mirza, instead of affording his brother aid in his distress, attacked Hoomayoon as he approached Kandahar, and obliged him to leave his infant son Akbur behind in camp, and to fly to Khorassan with his mother, the Sooltana, and only twenty-two horsemen, one of whom was Beiram Khan. Askurry Mirza, being disappointed of his object, on coming into Hoo-mayoon's camp, carried off his nephew, the infant Akbur, to Kandahar.

Hoomayoon, finding he could place no reliance on his brothers, proceeded to Seestan, where he was hospitably received by Ahmud Sooltan Sham-loo, the governor, on the part of Shah Tamasp, King of Persia. This officer met and escorted Hoomayoon to the capital of Seestan, and treated him with the utmost consideration. From this generous chief Hoomayoon received not only a supply of money, but a number of attendants were furnished for his Queen. The King, having taken what appeared absolutely necessary, proceeded to Herat, where he was met by the Prince Mahomed Mirza, the King of Persia's eldest son. This prince omitted nothing of that generosity and politeness which so remarkably distinguished his character, and provided the unfortunate exile abundantly with every requisite for his journey to the Persian court. In his progress, Hoomayoon was met by all the governors of the provinces, who paid him their respects, and made magnificent entertainments for

A. H. 949.
A. D. 1542.

him. On his arrival at Kuzween, he deputed Beiram Khan to Ispahan, on a mission to the King of Persia, and awaited his return at Kuzween.