From Bukhara Babur went to Samarkand. It was mid-Rajab 917 AH. (October 1511 AD.), some ten months after leaving Kabul, and after 9 years of absence, that he re-entered the town, itself gay with decoration for his welcome, amidst the acclaim of its people.1
Eight months were to prove his impotence to keep it against the forces ranged against him, Auzbeg strength in arms compacted by SunnI zeal, SunnI hatred of a Shl'a's suzerainty intensified by dread lest that potent Shl'a should resolve to perpetuate his dominance. Both as a SunnI and' as one who had not owned a suzerain, the position was unpleasant for Babur. That his alliance with Isma'Il was dangerous he will have known, as also that his risks grew as Transoxiana was over-spread by news of Isma'il's fanatical barbarism to pious and learned Sunnis, notably in Hen. He manifested desire for release both now and later, now when he not only dismissed his Persian helpers but so behaved to the Shah's envoy Muhammad Jan, he was Najm Sani's Lord of the Gate, that the envoy felt neglect and made report of Babur as arrogant, in opposition, and unwilling to fulfil his compact, later when he eagerly attempted success unaided against 'Ubaid Khan, and was then worsted. It illustrates the Shah's view of his suzerain relation to Babur that on hearing Muhammad Jan's report, he ordered Najm Sanl to bring the offender to order.
Meantime the Shah's conditions seem to have been carried out in Samarkand and Babur's subservience clearly shewn.2 Of this there are the indications, that Babur had promised and was a man of his word ; that Sunn! irritation against him waxed and did not wane as it might have done without food to nourish it ; that Babur knew himself impotent against the Auzbegs unless he had foreign aid, expected attack, knew it was preparing; that he would hear of Muhammad Jan's report and of Najm Sani's commission against himself. Honesty, policy and necessity
1 If my reading be correct of the Turk! passage concerning wines drunk by Babur which I have noted on f. 49 [in loco p. 83 n. 1), it was during this occupation of Kabul that Babur first broke the Law against stimulants.
a Mr. R. S. Poole found a coin which he took to be one struck in obedience to Babur's compact with the Shah (B. M.Cat. of the coins of Persian Shahs 1887, pp. xxiv et seg. ; T. R. p. 246 n.).
