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-
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.
*
This diamond was formerly the property
of Sooltan Alla-ood-Deen Khiljy of Malwa, and Ba-
“The conquest of Hindoostan (observes Babur
in his Commentaries) has been achieved by three
persons since the commencement of the Maho-
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-
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-
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-
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.