There had been an order/1/ issued, "Write down whatever you know of the doings of Firdaus-makani [Babur] and Jannat-ashyani [Humayun]."

At the time when his Majesty Firdaus-makani passed from this perishable world to the everlasting home, I, this lowly one, was eight years old, so it may well be that I do not remember much.  However, in obedience to the royal command, I set down whatever there is that I have heard and remember.

First of all, by way of invoking a blessing (on my work), and in pious commemoration, a chapter is written about my royal father's deeds, although these are told in his memoirs.

From his Majesty Sahib-qirani [Timur] down to my royal father there was not one of the bygone princes who laboured as he did.  He became king in his twelfth year, and the khutba was read in his name on June 10th, 1494, in Andijan, the capital of Farghana....

The toils and perils which in the ruling of kingdoms befell our prince, have been measured out to few, and of few have been recorded the manliness, courage and endurance which he showed in battle-fields and dangers.  Twice he took Samarqand by force of the sword.  The first time my royal father was twelve years old, the second nineteen, the third time he was nearly twenty-two.  For six months he was besieged (in Samarqand), and neither Sultan Husain Mirza Bayqra, his paternal uncle, who (ruled) in Khurasan, nor Sultan Mahmud Khan, his maternal uncle, who ruled in Kashghar, sent him help.  When none came from any quarter, he grew desperate.

At this difficult time, Shahi Beg Khan sent to say:  "If you would marry your sister Khanzada Begam to me, there might be peace and a lasting alliance between us."  At length it had to be done; he gave the begam to the khan, and came out himself (from Samarqand).  With 200 followers on foot, wearing long frocks on their shoulders and peasants' brogues on their feet, and carrying clubs in their hands, —in this plight, unarmed, and relying on God, he went towards the lands of Badakhshan and Kabul.  [[83-85]]

N O T E S

/1/ Probably that mentioned by Abu'l-fazl, as issued for the gathering of material for the Akbar-nama.  If so, the Begam's book dates from about 1587 (995H.).  There are indications of its use by Abu'l-fazl.