DEPARTURE OF HIS HIGHNESS JAHĀNBĀNĪ FOR KĀBUL AND BADAKHSHĀN,
AND THE MARCH OF THE ROYAL ARMY TO AGRA.

As it was necessary to arrange for the administration of Kābul and Badakhshān, and as the time was exigent, and as Badakhshān had been committed to Humāyūn since 917* (1511) when Mīrzā Khān had died, and as many servants were employed there, his Highness Jahānbānī, ornament of world-subduing, jewel of the sword of fortune, forehead of glory, frontispiece of splendour and glory, preamble of an incomparable model, pupil of the eyes of sovereignty and the Khilāfat, the father of victory (abū-n-naṣr), Naṣīru-d-dīn Muḥammad Humāyūn was, on 9th Rajab of this auspicious (humāyūn-fāl) year (11th April, 1527), at 3 kos from Alwar despatched to that country. At the same time, the Emperor swiftly applied himself to the reduc­tion of Biban Afghān who during the Rānā's disturbance had besieged Lakhnaw and taken possession of it. Qāsim Ḥusain Sulān, Malik Qāsim Bābā Qashqa, Abū'l-Muḥammad Nīzabāz, Ḥusain Khān, and —from among the Amīrs of India,—‘Alī Khān Farmulī, Mulkdād Kararānī, Tātār Khān and Khān Jahān were sent along with Muḥam­mad Sulān Mīrzā against him. That luckless one, on hearing of the approach of the glorious army, left all his goods behind him, and fled with naught but the coin of life in his palm. His Majesty at the end of this year, visited Fatḥpūr (Sīkrī) and Bārī* and then proceeded to Agra. In 934 he visited Koil and went from thence to Sambal* to hunt, and after viewing these delightful Highlands, returned to the capital. On 28th Ṣafar (23rd Nov.) Fakhrjahān Bēgam* and Khadīja Sulān Bēgam arrived from Kābul, and his Majesty embarked on a boat and went to meet them and behaved with liberality towards them.

As news was frequently brought that Medinī Rāī, the ruler of Candērī* was collecting troops and that the Rānā also was preparing war and putting together the materials of his own destruction, the Emperor marched in a fortunate hour against Candērī and also sent 6,000 or 7,000 gallant men from Kālpī under Cīn Tīmūr Sulān to Candērī. On the morning of Wednesday, 7th Jumāda'l-awwal (29th Jan., 1528), a splendid victory was gained at Candērī. Fatḥ-i-dāru-l-ḥarb (Conquest of the hostile country, i.e., of the country of the infi­dels = 934) is the chronogram of this Divine aid. After this Candērī was made over to Aḥmad Shāh, grandson of Sulān Naṣīru-d-dīn and then the Emperor returned on Sunday, 11th Jumāda'l-awwal (2nd Feb.).

It has been stated by trustworthy annalists that the Rānā (Sāngā) had meditated revolt and been collecting an army before the Emperor marched against Candērī, and that when the former came to Īrij,* Āfāq,* a servant of his Majesty Gītī-sitānī Firdūs-makānī, had put it into a condition of defence. That black-fated one came and besieged the place, but one night he beheld in a dream an ancestor of his under a dreadful appearance. He awoke in terror and horror and began to tremble in all his limbs. After this he immediately set about his return and on the way, the forces of death attacked him and he died. The victorious army crossed the river of Burhānpūr and it came to the ears of the Emperor that Ma‘rūf, Biban and Bāyazīd had gathered their forces and that the imperial servants had abandoned Kanauj and come to Rāberī and that the enemy had taken the fort of Shams­ābād from Abū'l-muḥammad Nīzabāz. Accordingly the reins of resolution were turned to that quarter and a number of heroes were sent on in advance. Merely on seeing the soldiers, the son of Ma‘rūf became dumbfounded and fled from Kanauj; and Biban, Bāyazīd and Ma‘rūf having heard of the royal army, crossed the Ganges and remained on the east side, opposite Kanauj, with a view to dispute the passage. The royal army continued to advance and on Friday, 3rd Muḥarram, 935 (18th Sept., 1528), Mīrzā ‘Askarī who had been sent for from Kābul before the Candērī disturbance, to advise (with the Emperor) on the affairs of Multān, arrived and entered upon auspi­cious service. On Friday next, the ‘Āshūrā, (10th Muḥarram) his Majesty halted at Gwālyār and next morning surveyed the palaces of Bikramājīt and Mān Singh and then proceeded towards the capital. He arrived there on Thursday, 25th Muḥarram.

On Monday, 10th Rabī‘u-l-awwal, couriers arrived from his High­ness Jahānbānī in Badakhshān and brought several pieces of good news. It was written that a son had been born to his Highness Jahānbānī by the chaste daughter of Yādgār aghāī and that he had received the name of Al-amān.* As this name was equivocal and had an improper meaning among the generality, it was not approved of. It was not acceptable also because it had not received the assent of his (Bābar's) holy heart. The pleasing of the father, especially such a father and such a king, is fruitful of blessings, visible and invisible, and the displeasing of him is the cause of a hundred evils, external and internal. What marvel then if men of experience regard the rapid disappearance of this first fruits of sovereignty as a mark of this displeasure.

When his Majesty had been settled in the capital, he convened the Turkī and Indian nobles and had a splendid feast and held a consultation about the settlement of the eastern districts and the extinguishing of the flame of rebellion. After much discussion it was agreed, that before his Majesty took the field, Mīrzā ‘Askarī should be sent to the east with a large force and that when the trans-Gange-tic Amīrs had joined him with their forces, some great expedition might be undertaken. In accordance with this determination, Mīrzā ‘Askarī departed on Monday, 7th Rabī‘u-l-ākhar, while the Emperor himself went for a visit and for hunting towards Dhōlpūr.

On 3rd Jumāda'l-awwal news came that Maḥmūd,* the son of Iskandar, had taken Bihār and was raising the head of rebellion. His Majesty returned from hunting to Agra and it was settled that he should proceed in person to the eastern districts.

At this time, couriers came from Badakhshān with the intelli­gence that his Highness Jahānbānī had collected the troops of those provinces and accompanied by Sulān Wais,* had set out with 40 or 50 thousand men on an expedition against Samarkand. It was also reported that there was talk of a peace. In an auspicious moment a message was sent that, if the time for negociations had not passed, he should make peace until the affairs of India had been cleared off. The letter also summoned Hindāl Mīrzā and mentioned that Kābul was to be a royal domain. He (Bābar) also wrote “God willing, when the affairs of Hindūstān which are near settlement, shall be finished, we shall leave these faithful servants and ourselves visit our hereditary kingdoms. It is proper* that all the servants of these countries should make preparations for the expedition and await the arrival of the imperial army.” (Bābar's)

On Thursday, the 17th of the said month, he crossed the Jumna and went towards the eastern districts.

In these days the ambassadors of Nuṣrat Shāh,* the ruler of Bengal, brought valuable presents and did homage.

On Monday, 19th Jumāda'l-ākhar, Mīrzā ‘Askarī arrived on the banks of the Ganges and tendered his duty. He was ordered to march with his army down the opposite bank of the river. Near Karra* news came of the defeat of Maḥmūd Khān, the son of Sulān Sikandar. Having advanced near the borders of Ghāzīpūr, he stopped at Bhōjpūr* and Bihīya.* In that place Bihār was bestowed on Mīrzā Muḥammad Zamān.* On Monday, 5th Ramaẓān,* being set at ease with regard to Bengal and Bihār, he proceeded to Sirwār* to put down Biban and Bāyazīd. The enemy engaged with the victorious army and was defeated. After visiting Kharīd* and Sikandarpūr and being satisfied with the state of things there, he rode post* towards Agra which he reached in a short space of time.