On Saturday the 25th, I directed Shah Hassan to set
out for Khushāb. There was such a fall of rain,*
that the
whole plain was covered with water. Between Behreh and
the hills*
where we were encamped, there was a little
February
26.
stream. By the time of noon-day prayers, it was equal in
breadth to a considerable lake.*
Near Behreh, for upwards
of a bowshot, there was no footing in the ford, and it was
necessary to pass paddling and swimming. Between afternoon
and evening prayers,*
I rode out for the purpose of
surveying these waters. The rain and wind were so violent
that, in our return, we were afraid we should not have been
able to rejoin the camp. I passed the stream that was in
flood by swimming*;
the troops were extremely terrified.
Many of them leaving behind their tents and heavy baggage,
and taking their coats of mail, horse furniture, and arms
on their shoulders, after stripping their horses of all their
harness, swam them across. The whole plain was covered
February
27.
with water. In the morning, many of the troops carried
their tents and baggage across the inundation, in boats which
they brought from the river. Toward evening prayers,*
Kūch Beg’s men, having gone about a kos higher up,
discovered a ford, by which all the rest of the army passed.
February
28.
March 1.
A. D. 1519.
We remained one day in the fort of Behreh, which they call
Jehān-numā,*
and on the morning of Tuesday we marched,
and encamped on the rising grounds which skirt along Behreh
towards the north, in order to escape the inconveniences of
the rain and inundation. The inhabitants now began to
contrive delays in paying the money which they had
consented to give. Having divided the country into four
districts, I ordered the Begs to use all diligence in collecting
the whole contribution. One district I gave in charge
to Khalīfeh, another to Kūch Beg, a third to Dost Nāsir, the
fourth to Syed Kāsim and Muhibb Ali.
On Friday, the second of the month, Sheibāk Piādeh and Derwīsh Ali Piādeh, who are now matchlock-men,* brought me letters from Kābul, containing news of the birth of Hindāl. As this news came when I was on an expedition against Hind, taking it as a good omen, I named him Hindāl.
Kamber Beg, at the same time, brought letters from Balkh, from Muhammed Zemān Mirza.*
A drinkingNext morning, after the Diwān* was dismissed, when I had finished my ride, I went on board of a boat, and had a drinking party* with Khwājeh Dost Khāwend, Khosrou Mīram, Mirza Kuli, Muhammedi, Ahmedi, Gadāi, Naamān, Langer Khan, Ruhdem, Kāsim Ali tariāki,* Yūsef Ali, and Tengri Kuli. Towards the bow of the vessel a space was roofed in. It had a level platform above, and I and some others sat on the top of it. A few others sat below the scaffolding. Towards the stern of the ship, too, there was a place for sitting. Muhammedi, with Gadai and Naamān, sat there. We continued drinking spirits till after noon-prayers.* Disliking the spirits, we then took to maajūn.* Those who were at the other end of the vessel, did not know that we were taking maajūn, and continued to drink spirits. About night-prayers we left the vessel, and mounting our horses, returned late to the camp. Muhammedi and Gadai, thinking that I had been taking nothing but spirits, and imagining that they were doing an acceptable service, brought me a pitcher of liquor, carrying it by turns on their horses. They were extremely drunk and jovial when they brought it in. ‘Here it is,’ they said; ‘dark as the night is, we have brought a pitcher. We carried it by turns.’ They were informed that we had been using a different thing.* The maajūn-takers and spirit-drinkers, as they have different tastes, are very apt to take offence with each other.* I said, ‘Don’t spoil the cordiality of the party; whoever wishes to drink spirits, let him drink spirits; and let him that prefers maajūn, take maajūn; and let not the one party give any idle or provoking language to the other.’ Some sat down to spirits, some to maajūn. The party went on for some time tolerably well. Bāba Jān kabūzi* had not been in the boat; we had sent for him when we reached the royal tents. He chose to drink spirits. Tardi Muhammed Kipchāk, too, was sent for and joined the spirit-drinkers. As the spirit-drinkers and maajūn-takers never can agree in one party, the spirit-bibbing party began to indulge in foolish and idle conversation, and to make provoking remarks on maajūn and maajūn-takers. Bāba Jān, too, getting drunk, talked very absurdly. The tipplers filling up glass after glass for Tardi Muhammed, made him drink them off, so that in a very short time he was mad drunk. Whatever exertions I could make to preserve peace were all unavailing; there was much uproar and wrangling. The party became quite burdensome and unpleasant, and soon broke up.
March 7.On Monday the 5th, I gave the country of Behreh to Hindū Beg, and the country of Chenāb to Hussein Ikzāk; when Hussein Ikzāk, and the men of Chenāb, took leave.
At this time Manucheher Khan, the son of Syed Ali Khan, who had given me notice of his intention to wait on me, but who, as he was coming from Hindustān by the upper road, was intercepted by Tātār Khan Gakker (who would not suffer him to depart, carefully watched him and made him his son-in-law, by giving him his own daughter in marriage), after having been detained a considerable time, at length came and tendered me his services.
HātiIn the hill-country between Nilāb and Behreh, but apart from the tribes of Jūd and Janjūheh,* and adjoining to the hill-country of Kashmīr, are the Jāts, Gujers, and many other men of similar tribes, who build villages, and settle on every hillock and in every valley.* Their Hākim* was of the Gakker race, and their government resembles that of the Jūds and Janjūheh. The government of these tribes, which stretch along the skirt of the hills, was at that time held by Tātār Gakker and Hāti Gakker, sons of the same family; they were cousins. Their places of strength were situated on ravines and steep precipices. The name of Tātār’s stronghold was Parhāleh. It was considerably lower than the snowy mountains. Hāti’s country is close adjoining to the hills. Hāti had also brought over to his interest Bāba Khan, who held Kalinjer. Tātār Gakker had waited on Doulet Khan, and was in a certain way subject to him.* Hāti had never visited him, but remained in an independent, turbulent state. Tātār, at the desire of the Amirs of Hindustān, and in conjunction with them, had taken a position with his army a considerable way off, and in some sort kept Hāti in a state of blockade. At the very time when we were in Behreh, Hāti had advanced upon Tātār by a stratagem,* had surprised and slain him, and taken his country, his women, and all his property.
DrinkingAbout the time of noon-day prayers, I mounted to take a ride, and afterwards going on board of a boat, we had a drinking bout.* The party consisted of Dost Beg, Mirza Kuli, Ahmedi, Gadai, Muhammed Ali Jeng-Jeng, Hassan Aughān, and Berdi Moghul. The musicians were Rūhdem, Bāba Jān, Kāsim Ali, Yūsef Ali, Tengri Kuli, Abul Kāsim, and Ramzān Lūli. We continued drinking spirits in the boat till bed-time prayers, when, being completely drunk, we mounted, and taking torches in our hands, came at full gallop back to the camp from the river-side, falling sometimes on one side of the horse, and sometimes on the other. I was miserably drunk, and next morning, when they told me of our galloping into the camp with lighted torches in our hands, I had not the slightest recollection of the circumstance. After coming home, I vomited plentifully.
March 11.