935 AH. SEP. 15TH 1528 TO SEP. 5TH 1529 AD. 629
(aa. Bdbur visits one of his officers?)
{Dec. 13th) On Sunday the last day of the month {RabVI. 30th)1 I went to SI. Muhammad Bakhslus house. After spreading a carpet, he brought gifts. His offering in money an'd goods was more than zlaks? When food and offering had been set out, we went into another room where sitting, we ate ma'jun. We came away at the 3rd watch (midnight ?), crossed the water, and went to the private house.
{bb. The Agra-Kabul road measured.)
{Dec. iytli) On Thursday the 4th of the latter Rabl', it was settled that Chlqmaq Beg with Shahl tamghdcht's^ clerkship, should measure the road between Agra and Kabul. At every 9th kuroh {cir. 18 m.), a tower was to be erected 12 qdris high 4 and having a chdr-dara s on the top ; at every 18th kuroh {cir. 36 m.),6 6 post-horses were to be kept fastened ; and arrangement was to be made for the payment of post-masters and grooms, and for horse-corn. The order was, " If the place where the horses are fastened up,7 be near a crown-domain, let those there provide for the matters mentioned ; if not, let the cost be charged on the beg
1 These statements of date are consistent with Babur's earlier explicit entries and with Erskine's equivalents of the Christian Era, but at variance with Gladwin's and with Wtistenfeldt's calculation that Rabi'II. 1st was Dec. 13th. Yet Gladwin (Revenue Accounts, ed. 1790AD. p. 22) gives Rabi' I. 30 days. Without in the smallest degree questioning the two European calculations,"! follow Babur, because in his day there may have been allowed variation which finds no entry in methodical calendars. Erskine followed Babur's statements ; he is likely nevertheless to have seen Gladwin's book.
' Erskine estimated this at ^500, but later cast doubts on such estimates as being too low (History of India, vol. i, App. D.).
3 The bearer of the stamp (tamgha) who by impressing it gave quittance for the payment of tolls and other dues.
* Either 24 ft. or 36 ft. according to whether the short or long qari be meant (infra). These towers would provide resting-place, and some protection against illdoers. They recall the two mil-i-radagan of Persia (f. 347 ยป. 9), the purpose of which is uncertain. Babur's towers were not " kos mindrs", nor is it said that he ordered each kuroh to be marked on the road. Some of the kos mindrs on the "old Mughal roads" were over 30ft. high ; a considerable numberare entered and depicted in the Annual Progress Report of the Archaeological Survey for 1914 (Northern Circle, p. 45 and Plates 44, 45). Some at least have a lower chamber.
_ s Four-doored, open-on-all-sides. We have not found the word with this meaning 'n Dictionaries. It may translate H. ckaukandi.
6 Erskine makes 9kos (kurohs) to be I3-I4miles, perhaps on the basis of the smaller gaz of 24 inches.
' alii yam-ati baghlaghailar which, says one of Erskine's manuscripts, is called a dak-choki.
