Having arranged the affairs of the country in such a way as to give a prospect of its being kept quiet, on Sunday, the 11th of the first Rabí', I marched from Bahrah on my return to Kábul. * * * Some persons who were acquainted with the country, and with the political situation of the neighbouring territories, and particularly the Janjúhah, who were the old enemies of the Gakkars, represented to me that Háti the Gakkar had been guilty of many acts of violence, had infested the highways by his robberies,* and harassed the inhabitants; that therefore it was necessary either to effect his expulsion from this quarter, or, at least, to inflict on him exemplary punishment.
For effecting this object, next morning I left Khwájah Mír Mirán and Míram Násir in charge of the camp, and about breakfast time, set out with a body of light troops, to fall upon Háti Gakkar, who, a few days before, had killed Tátár, seized the country of Parhálah, and was now at Parhálah, as has been mentioned. About afternoon prayers we halted and baited our horses; and set off again about bed-time prayers. Our guide was a servant of the Malik-hast, named Súrpa.* He was a Gújar. All night long we proceeded straight on in our course, but halted towards morning, and sent on Beg Muhammad Mughal towards their camp. When it was beginning to be light, we again mounted; and about luncheon time* put on our armour and increased our speed. About a kos from the place where we had made this halt, Parhálah began to appear faintly in sight. The skirmishers were now pushed forward; the right wing proceeded to the east of Parhálah. Kúch Beg, who belonged to that wing, was directed to follow in their rear, by way of reserve. The left wing and centre poured in straight towards Parhálah. Dost Beg was appointed to command the party charged to support the left wing and centre, who made the direct attack on Parhálah.
Parhálah, which stands high in the midst of deep valleys and ravines, has two roads leading to it; one of them on the southeast, which was the road that we advanced by. This road runs along the edge of the ravines, and has ravines and precipices on both sides. Within half a kos of Parhálah, the road becomes extremely difficult, and continues so up to the very gates of the city; the ravine road, in four or five places, being so narrow and steep, that only one person can go along it at a time; and for about a bow-shot it is necessary to proceed with the utmost circumspection. The other road is on the north-west.* It advances towards Parhálah through the midst of an open valley. Except these two roads, there is no other on any side. Although the place has no breastwork nor battlement, yet it is so situated that it is not assailable. It is surrounded by a precipice seven or eight gaz* in perpendicular height. The troops of the left wing having passed along the narrows, went pouring on towards the gate. Háti, with thirty or forty horsemen, all, both man and horse, in complete armour, accompanied by a number of foot soldiers, attacked and drove back the skirmishers. Dost Beg, who commanded the reserve, coming up, and falling on the enemy with great impetuosity, brought down a number of them, and routed the rest. Háti Gakkar, who distinguished himself by his courage and firmness in the action, in spite of all his exertions, could not maintain his ground, and fled. He was unable to defend the narrows; and on reaching the fort, found that it was equally out of his power to defend himself there. The detachment which followed close on his heels having entered the fort along with him, Háti was compelled to make his escape, nearly alone, by the north-west entrance. Dost Beg, on this occasion, again greatly distinguished himself. I ordered an honorary gift to be given to him. At the same time I entered Parhálah, and took up my abode at Tátár's palace. During these operations, some men, who had been ordered to remain with me, had joined the skirmishing party. Among them were Amín Muhammad Karáshi and Tarkhán Arghún. In order to punish them for this offence, I gave them the Gújar Súrpá* for their guide, and turned them out disgracefully* into the deserts and wilds to find their way back to the camp. * * *
On Thursday the 15th we halted at Andarábah, which lies on the banks of the river Súhán. This fort of Andarábah depended from old times on the father of Malik-hast. When Háti Gakkar slew Malik-hast's father, it had been destroyed, and had remained in ruins ever since. * * * Háti, after despatching Tátár, had sent to me one Parbat, his relation, with a caparisoned horse and peshkash. He did not meet me, but fell in with that part of the army that had been left behind with the camp; and having arrived along with the division that accompanied the baggage, now presented his offerings and tribute, and tendered his submission. Langar Khán, who was to be left behind in Bahrah, but who had accompanied the camp in order to finish some business, also rejoined me; and having brought everything to a conclusion, took leave on his return to Bahrah, accompanied by some zamíndárs of that district. After this we marched on, crossed the river Súhán, and encamped on a rising ground. I gave a dress of honour to Parbat, Háti Khán's relation; and having written letters to confirm Háti in his good intentions, and to remove any misapprehensions he might entertain, despatched Parbat in company with a servant of Muhammad 'Ali Jang-jang. * * *
Marching at the time when the kettle-drum beats,* we halted about luncheon time at the foot of the pass of Sangdáki. About noon-day prayers we renewed our march, and ascended the pass, crossed the river, and halted on an eminence; we again set out at midnight. In going to examine the ford by which we had passed on our way to Bahrah, we found a raft* loaded with grain, that had stuck fast in the mud and clay; the owners with all their exertions had not been able to extricate it. We seized this corn, and divided it among the men who were with us; the grain came very seasonably. Towards evening we halted lower down* than the junction of the Sind and Kábul rivers, and higher up than the old Níláb, between the two.* We brought six boats from Níláb, and divided them among the right and left wings and centre, who immediately began to exert themselves in crossing the river. On the Monday, being the day on which we arrived, and the night following, and on Tuesday and the night following till Wednesday, they continued passing; on Thursday, also, a few passed.
Parbat, Hátí's relation, who had been sent from the neighbourhood
of Andarábah with the servant of Muhammad 'Ali Jang-
On Thursday, at sunrise (March 24th, 1519), we moved from the banks of the river, and resumed our march. * * * [and on the 30th March] I reached Kábul.
On Friday, the 1st of Safar, in the year 932 (November 17th, 1525), when the sun was in Sagittarius, I set out on my march to invade Hindustán. * * *
* We made two marches from Bikrám (Pesháwar); and after the third, on Thursday, the 26th, we encamped on the banks of the river Sind. On Saturday, the 1st day of the first Rabí', we passed the Sind; and having also crossed the river of Kach-kot, halted on its banks. The Begs, paymasters, and díwáns, who had been placed to superintend the embarkation, brought me the return of the troops who were on the service. Great and small, good and bad, servants and no servants, they amounted to 12,000 persons.
To secure a proper supply of corn, we advanced along the skirts of the hills towards Siálkot. On coming opposite to the country of the Gakkars, in the bed of a brook, we found in several places a quantity of standing water. These waters were entirely frozen over. Although there was not much of it, the ice was in general a span in thickness. In Hindustán such ice is uncommon. We met with it here; but during all the years* I have been in Hindustán, I have in no other instance met with any trace of ice or snow.