The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
History
The Bābur-nāma in English (Memoirs of Bābur)
Babur, Emperor of Hindustan
Babur, Emperor of Hindustan, 1483-1530; Mogul Empire
Our right was the first to overcome the foe; it made him hurry off. Its
extreme point had gone pricking (_sānjīlīb_)[1297] as far as where I
have now laid out a garden. Our left extended as far as the great
tree-tangled[1298] irrigation-channels, a good way below Bābā Ḥasan
Abdāl. Muqīm was opposite it, its numbers very small compared with his.
God brought it right! Between it and Muqīm were three or four of the
tree-tangled water-channels going on to Qandahār;[1299] it held the
crossing-place and allowed no passage; small body though it was, it made
splendid stand [Sidenote: Fol. 211.] and kept its ground. Ḥalwāchī
Tarkhān[1300] slashed away in the water with Tīngrī-bīrdī and
Qaṃbar-i-`alī. Qaṃbar-i-`alī was wounded; an arrow stuck in Qāsim Beg's
forehead; another struck Ghūrī _Barlās_ above the eyebrow and came out
above his cheek.[1301]
We meantime, after putting our adversary to flight, had crossed those
same channels towards the naze of Murghān-koh (Birds'-hill). Some-one on
a grey _tīpūchāq_ was going backwards and forwards irresolutely along
the hill-skirt, while we were getting across; I likened him to Shāh
Beg; seemingly it was he.
Our men having beaten their opponents, all went off to pursue and
unhorse them. Remained with me eleven to count, `Abdu'l-lāh the
librarian being one. Muqīm was still keeping his ground and fighting.
Without a glance at the fewness of our men, we had the nagarets sounded
and, putting our trust in God, moved with face set for Muqīm.
(Turkī) For few or for many God is full strength;
No man has might in His Court.
(Arabic) How often, God willing it, a small force has vanquished
a large one!
Learning from the nagarets that we were approaching, Muqīm forgot his
fixed plan and took the road of flight. God brought it right!
After putting our foe to flight, we moved for Qandahār and dismounted in
Farrukh-zād Beg's Chār-bāgh, of which at this time not a trace remains!
(_m. Bābur enters Qandahār._) [Sidenote: Fol. 211b.]
Shāh Beg and Muqīm could not get into Qandahār when they took to flight;
Shāh Beg went towards Shāl and Mastūng (Quetta), Muqīm towards
Zamīn-dāwar. They left no-one able to make the fort fast. Aḥmad `Alī
Tarkhān was in it together with other elder and younger brethren of Qulī
Beg _Arghūn_ whose attachment and good-feeling for me were known. After
parley they asked protection for the families of their elder and younger
brethren; their request was granted and all mentioned were encompassed
with favour. They then opened the Māshūr-gate of the town; with
leaderless men in mind, no other was opened. At that gate were posted
Sherīm T̤aghāī and Yārīm Beg. I went in with a few of the household,
charged the leaderless men and had two or three put to death by way of
example.[1302]
(_n. The spoils of Qandahār._)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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