When the enemy first came in sight, they seemed to bend
their force most against the right division. I therefore
detached Abdal-azīz, who was stationed with the reserve, to
reinforce the right. Sultan Ibrahīm’s army, from the time it
first appeared in sight, never made a halt, but advanced right
upon us, at a quick pace. When they came closer, on getting
a view of my troops, and finding them drawn up in the order
and with the defences that have been mentioned, they were
brought up and stood for a while, as if considering, ‘Shall we
halt or not? Shall we advance or not?’ They could not halt,
and they were unable to advance with the same speed as before.
I sent orders to the troops stationed as flankers on the extremes
of the right and left divisions, to wheel round the enemy’s
flank with all possible speed, and instantly to attack them
in the rear;*
the right and left divisions were also ordered
to charge the enemy.*
The flankers accordingly wheeled on
the rear of the enemy, and began to make discharges of
arrows on them. Mahdi Khwājeh came up before the rest of
the left wing.*
A body of men with one elephant advanced
to meet him. My troops gave them some sharp discharges
of arrows, and the enemy’s division was at last driven back.
I dispatched from the main body Ahmedi Perwānchi,
Terdi Beg, Kūch Beg, and Muhibb Ali Khalīfeh, to the
assistance of the left division. The battle was likewise
obstinate on the right. I ordered Muhammedi Gokultāsh,
Shah Mansūr Birlas, Yunis Ali, and Abdallah, to advance in
front of the centre and engage. Ustād Ali Kuli also discharged
his guns*
many times in front of the line*
to good
purpose. Mustafa, the cannoneer, on the left of the centre,
managed his artillery with great effect. The right and left
divisions, the centre and flankers having surrounded the
enemy and taken them in rear, were now engaged in hot
conflict, and busy pouring in discharges of arrows on them.
They made one or two very poor charges on our right and left
divisions. My troops, making use of their bows, plied them with
arrows, and drove them in upon their centre. The troops on
the right and left of their centre, being huddled together
in one place, such confusion ensued, that the enemy, while
totally unable to advance, found also no road by which
they could flee. The sun had mounted spear-high when the
onset of battle began, and the combat lasted till mid-day,
But is
completely
defeated.
when the enemy were completely broken and routed, and
my friends victorious and exulting. By the grace and
mercy of Almighty God, this arduous undertaking was
rendered easy for me, and this mighty army, in the space
of half a day, laid in the dust. Five or six thousand men
were discovered lying slain, in one spot, near Ibrahīm.
We reckoned that the number lying slain,*
in different parts
of this field of battle, amounted to fifteen or sixteen thousand
men. On reaching Agra, we found, from the accounts
of the natives of Hindustān, that forty or fifty thousand men
had fallen in this field. After routing the enemy, we continued
the pursuit, slaughtering,*
and making them prisoners.
Those who were ahead, began to bring in the Amīrs and
Afghans as prisoners.*
They brought in a very great number
of elephants with their drivers, and offered them to me as
peshkesh. Having pursued the enemy to some distance,
and supposing that Ibrahīm had escaped from the battle,
I appointed Kismāi Mirza, Bāba Chihreh, and Bujkeh, with
a party of my immediate adherents, to follow him in close
pursuit down as far as Agra.*
Having passed through the
middle of Ibrahīm’s camp, and visited his pavilion and
accommodations,*
we encamped on the banks of the Siāh-āb.*
It was now afternoon prayers when Tāhir Taberi, the younger brother of Khalīfeh, having found Ibrahīm lying dead amidst a number of slain, cut off his head, and brought it in.
BāburThat very day I directed Humāiūn Mirza, Khwājeh Kalān, Muhammedi, Shah Mansūr Birlās, Yunis Ali, Abdallah, and Wali Khāzin, to set out without baggage or encumbrances and proceed with all possible expedition to occupy Agra, and take possession of the treasuries. I at the same time ordered Mahdi Khwājeh, Muhammed Sultan Mirza, Ādil Sultan, Sultan Juneid Birlās, and Kūtluk Kadem, to leave their baggage behind, to push on by forced marches, to enter the Fort of Delhi, and seize the treasuries.
April 22.Next morning we marched, and having proceeded about a kos, halted on the banks of the Jumna in order to refresh our horses.
April 23 After other two marches, on Tuesday I visited the mausoleum
of Nizām Aulia,*
and at the end of the third march
A. D. 1526.
April 25.
encamped near*
Delhi, on the banks of the Jumna. That
same night, being Wednesday, I circumambulated the tomb
of Khwājeh Kutb ed dīn,*
and visited*
the tomb and palaces
of Sultan Ghīas ed dīn Balban, of Sultan Alā ed dīn Khilji,
and his minaret, the Shams tank, the royal tank, the tombs
and gardens of Sultan Bahlol and Sultan Sikander; after
which I returned into the camp, and went on board of a
boat, where we drank arak. I bestowed the office of Shikdār
(or military collector) of Delhi on Wali Kizil; I made Dost
the Diwān of Delhi, and directed the different treasuries to
be sealed and given into their charge.
On Thursday we moved thence, and halted hard by* Tughlakābād,* on the banks of the Jumna.
April 27.On Friday we continued to halt in the same station. Moulāna Mahmūd, Sheikh Zein, and some others, went into Delhi, to Friday prayers, read the khutbeh in my name, distributed some money among the fakīrs and beggars, and then returned back.
April 28.On Saturday we marched from our ground, and proceeded, march after march, upon Agra. I went and saw Tughlakābād*; after which I rejoined the camp.
Arrives atOn Friday, the 22nd of Rajeb, I halted in the suburbs of Agra, at the palace of Suleimān Fermūli. As this position was very far from the fort, I next morning moved and took up my quarters at the palace of Jalāl Khān Jighat. The people of the fort had put off Humāiūn, who arrived before me, with excuses; and he, on his part, considering that they were under no control, and wishing to prevent their plundering the treasure, had taken a position to shut up the issues from the place.*
Bikermajīt, a Hindu, who was Raja of Gwāliār, had governed that country for upwards of a hundred years.* * Sikander had remained several years in Agra, employed in an attempt to take Gwāliār. Afterwards, in the reign of Ibrahīm, Azīm Humāiūn Sarwāni invested it for some time, made several attacks, and at length succeeded in gaining it by treaty, Shamsābād* being given as an indemnification. In the battle in which Ibrahīm was defeated, Bikermajīt was sent to hell.* Bikermajīt’s family, and the heads of his clan,* were at this moment in Agra. When Humāiūn arrived, Bikermajīt’s people attempted to escape, but were taken by the parties which Humāiūn had placed upon the watch, and put in custody. Humāiūn did not permit them to be plundered. Of their own free will they presented to Humāiūn a peshkesh, consisting of a quantity of jewels and precious stones. Among these was one famous diamond, which had been acquired by Sultan Alā ed dīn.* It is so valuable, that a judge of diamonds valued it at half of the daily expense* of the whole world. It is about eight mishkals.* On my arrival, Humāiūn presented it to me as a peshkesh, and I gave it back to him as a present.