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935 AH. SEP. 15th 1528 TO SEP. 5TH 1529 AD. 663
were not collected there, those there were greatly exceeded the breadth of the river. They could not move on, however, soarranged, because the water was here shallow, there deep, here swift, there still. A crocodile (gharidl) shewing itself, a terrified fish leaped so high as to fall into a boat; it was caught and brought to me.
When we were nearing our ground, we gave the boats names: a large* one, formerly the Baburl,2 which had been built in Agra before the Holy-battle with Sanga, was named Asaish (Repose).3 Another, which Araish Khan had built and presented to me this year before our army got to horse, one in which I had had a platform set up on our way to this ground, was named Aralsh (Ornament). Another, a good-sized one presented to me by Jalalu'd-dln Sharqi, was named the Gunjaish (Capacious); in it I had ordered a second platform set up, on the top of the one already in it. To a little skiff, having a ckaukandi* one used for ,every task (har dish) and duty, was given the name Farmaish (Commissioned).
{April 15th) Next day, Friday (jth), no move was made. Muhammad-i-zaman M. who, his preparations for Bihar complete, had dismounted one or two kurohs from the camp, came today to take leave of me.5
(xx. News of the army of Bengal.)
Two spies, returned from the Bengal army, said that Bengalis6 under Makhdum-i-'alam were posted in 24 places on the Gandak and there raising defences ; that they had hindered the Afghans from carrying out their intention to get their families across the
1 aulugh (kima). Does aiilugh (auluq, uluq) connect with the " bulky Oolak or baggage-boat of Bengal" ? (Hobson-Jobson s.n. Woolock, oolock).
■' De Courteille's reading of Ilminsky's "Baburi" (p. 476) as Balri, old servant, hardly suits the age of the boat.
3 Babur anticipated the custom followed e.g. by the White Star and Cunard lines, when he gave his boats names having the same terminal syllable ; his is Sith ; on it he makes the'quip of the har aish of the Farmaish.
* As Vullers makes Ar. ghurfat a synonym of chaukandl, the Farmaish seems likely to have had a cabin, open at the sides. De Courteille understood it tb have a rounded stern. [Cf. E. & D.'s History of India v, 347, 503 n. ; and Gal-badan's H.N. trs. P- 98, n. 2.]
5 mindin rukksat aldi; phrasing which bespeaks admitted equality, that ofTlmurid birth.
i.e. subjects of the Afghan ruler of Bengal ; many will h»ve been Biharis and Purbiyas. Malchduin-i-'alam was Nasrat Shah's Governor in Hajipur.
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