Having settled these affairs, on Thursday the 18th we October 14. marched, and halted at Bahār and Masīkh-kirām. Next morning I reached the Bāgh-e-wafā; it was the season when the garden was in all its glory. Its grass-plots were all covered with clover; its pomegranate trees were entirely of a beautiful yellow colour. It was then the pomegranate season, and the pomegranates were hanging red on the trees. The orange trees were green and cheerful, loaded with innumerable oranges; but the best oranges were not yet ripe. Its pomegranates are excellent, though not equal to the fine ones of our country. I never was so much pleased with the Bāgh-e-wafā (the Garden of Fidelity), as on this occasion. During the three or four days that we stayed at the Garden, all the people in the camp had pomegranates in abundance.
October 17.On Monday we marched from the Garden; I stayed till the first watch, and bestowed the oranges on different persons. I gave Shah Hassan the oranges of two trees; to several Begs I gave one tree, and to several two orange trees.* As I had an intention of travelling through the Lamghān in the winter, I desired them to save about twenty trees, around the piece of water, for my use. This day we reached Gandamak.
October 18.Next morning we halted at Jagdālīk. Towards evening prayers we had a drinking party; many of my courtiers were present. About the end of the party, Gadāi Muhammed, sister’s son of Kāsim Beg, became very noisy and troublesome; and, when he got drunk, placed himself on the pillow on which I reclined, whereupon Gadāi Taghāi turned him out of the party.
October 19.Marching thence, before break of day, I went to visit the country up the Bārīk-āb of* Kūrūk-sāi. Many turāk* trees were in excellent bearing. We halted at that place; and, having dined on a dish called yulkerān, we drank wine in honour of the rich crop. We made them kill a sheep which was picked up on the road, caused some meat to be dressed, kindled a fire of oak branches, and entertained ourselves. Mulla Abdal Malūk Diwāneh having petitioned to be allowed to carry to Kābul the news of my approach, I accordingly dispatched him for that city.
Hassan Nabīreh, who had come on the part of Mirza Khan, after giving me due notice of his intentions, here met and waited on me. We continued at this place drinking till the sun was on the decline, when we set out. Those who had been of the party were completely drunk. Syed Kāsim was so drunk, that two of his servants were obliged to put him on horseback, and brought him to the camp with great difficulty. Dost Muhammed Bākir was so far gone, that Amīn Muhammed Terkhān, Masti Chihreh, and those who were along with him, were unable, with all their exertions, to get him on horseback. They poured a great quantity of water over him, but all to no purpose. At this moment a body of Afghans appeared in sight. Amīn Muhammed Terkhān, being very drunk, gravely gave it as his opinion, that rather than leave him, in the condition in which he was, to fall into the hands of the enemy, it was better at once to cut off his head and carry it away. Making another exertion, however, with much difficulty, they contrived to throw him upon a horse, which they led along, and so brought him off.
October 20.We reached Kābul at midnight. Next morning Kuli Beg, who had been sent to Kāshghar on an embassy to Sultan Saīd Khan, returned and waited on me in the hall of audience. Bishgeh Mirza ambārchi,* who had been sent along with Kuli Beg on an embassy to me, brought with him a few of the rarities of that country as presents.
October 26.On Wednesday, the first of Zilkaadeh, I went alone and had an early cup close by Kābil Beg’s* tomb; the party afterwards dropped in, by one or two at a time. When the sun waxed hot, we retired to the Bāgh-e-banafsheh,* and sat down to our wine by the side of the piece of water. At mid-day we took a nap; and, about noon-day prayers, again returned to our wine. At this afternoon party, I gave wine to Tengri Kuli Beg and Mehndi, which I had never before done. At bed-time prayers I reached Hamām,* and stayed there that night.
October 27.On Thursday, I bestowed dresses of honour on the merchants of Hindustān, who were under the guidance of Yāhīd Lūhāni, and gave them leave to depart.
October 29.On Saturday, the 4th of the month, I granted audience of leave to Bishgeh Mirza, who had come from Kāshghar, when I gave him a dress of honour, and made him some presents.
October 30.On Sunday, I had a party in the small Picture-cabinet that is over the gate. Although the apartment is very small, our party consisted of sixteen.
October 31.On Monday, I went to Istālīf, to see the harvest. This day I took a maajūn. During the night there was a great deal of rain. Most of the Begs and courtiers who had attended me were obliged to take refuge in my tent, which was pitched in the middle of a garden.*
Nov. 1.Next morning we had a drinking party in the same tent. A. D. 1519. We continued drinking till night. On the following morning we again had an early cup, and, getting intoxicated, Nov. 2. went to sleep. About noon-day prayers, we left Istālīf, and I took a maajūn on the road. It was about afternoon prayers before I reached Behzādi.* The crops were extremely good. While I was riding round the harvest-fields, such of my companions as were fond of wine began to contrive another drinking bout. Although I had taken a maajūn, yet, as the crops were uncommonly fine, we sat down under some trees that had yielded a plentiful load of fruit,* and began to drink. We kept up the party in the same place till bed-time prayers. Mulla Mahmūd Khalīfeh having arrived, we invited him to join us. Abdallah, who had got very drunk, made an observation which affected Khalīfeh. Without recollecting that Mulla Mahmūd was present, he repeated the verse,
(Persian)—Examine whom you will, you will find him suffering from the same wound.
Mulla Mahmūd, who did not drink, reproved Abdallah for repeating this verse with levity.* Abdallah, recovering his judgement, was in terrible perturbation, and conversed in a wonderfully smooth and sweet strain all the rest of the evening.*
Nov. 10.On Thursday the 16th, I took a maajūn in the Bāgh-e-banafsheh, and embarked in a boat with several of my more intimate associates. Humāiūn and Kāmrān also joined us. Afterwards Humāiūn shot a water-fowl in very handsome style.
Nov. 12.On Saturday the 18th, we rode out from the Chārbāgh and, after dismissing our grooms and attendants,* and, after dismissing our grooms and attendants,a passed Mulla Bāba’s bridge, and, mounting the strait of Deverīn,* reached the subterraneous water-runs* of Kūsh-nāder and Bāzāriān.* We then passed behind Khirs-khāneh,* and came late, about the time of the first sleep, to Terdi Beg Khāksār’s subterraneous conduit. Terdi Beg, on hearing of our arrival, ran out in a great hurry to wait on me. I well knew Terdi Beg’s thoughtless profuse turn, and that he did not dislike his glass. I had* taken with me a hundred shahrokhis,* which I now gave him, telling him to get ready wine and everything else for an entertainment, as I wished to make merry with some jolly companions. Terdi Beg set out for Behzādi to bring wine. I sent my horse with one of Terdi Beg’s slaves to graze in a valley, while I myself sat down behind the water-course, on a rising ground. It was past the first watch (nine o’clock) when Terdi Beg came back with a pitcher of wine, and we set about drinking it. While Terdi Beg was bringing the wine, Muhammed Kāsim Birlās and Shahzādeh, who had guessed at the object of his errand, but had no suspicion that I was concerned, had dogged Terdi Beg on foot. We invited them to be of the party. Terdi Beg said, that Hul-hul-ankeh wished to drink wine with us. I said, ‘I have never seen a woman drink wine: Call her to be of the party.’ He likewise sent for a kalender,* called Shāhi, and a man connected with the conduit, who played on the rebeck.* We sat drinking wine on the eminence behind the water-run till evening prayers; after which we went to Terdi Beg’s house, and drank by candle-light till after bed-time prayers. It was a wonderfully amusing and guileless party. I lay down, and the party went to another house, where they drank till the kettle-drum beat. Hul-hul-ankeh came, and was very riotous with me; at last, however, I threw myself down, as if completely drunk, and so escaped. I intended to mount my horse alone, and set off for Isterghach, without letting them know. They discovered my Nov. 13. design, however, so that it did not succeed. At length, when the kettle-drum beat, I mounted. Having desired Terdi Beg and Shahzādeh to accompany me, we all three rode on towards Isterghach. About early morning prayers we reached Khwājeh Hassan, below Istālīf. We halted for a little, and I took a maajūn, and made a circuit of the crops. Towards sunrise, we halted at the garden of Istālīf, and ate grapes, and finally halted and slept at Khwājeh Shahāb, in the territory of Isterghach. The house of Ata Mīr Akhūr was there. While we were asleep, he prepared an entertainment, and got ready a pitcher of wine. It was of excellent vintage. We drank several cups and mounted. At noon-day prayers, we alighted in a beautiful* garden at Isterghach, and had a merry party. In a little time Khwājeh Muhammed Amīn joined us. We continued drinking till night prayers. During the course of that night and day, Abdallah, Asas, Nūr Beg, and Yūsef Ali arrived from Kābul.
Nov. 14.