went
against the Emperor Ibrahim." Rushing down like a devastating whirlwind
from his mountain fastnesses around Cabul, Baber fell upon the Punjaub,
first striking down all that opposed him and then writing about it in
his Memoirs.
On
the twenty-first of April, 1526, he encountered the army of Ibrahim on
the field of Pani-put. "The sun was spear-high when the contest began,
and at midday they were completely beaten and my men were exulting in
victory," says Baber. The Indian emperor was killed and his head was
brought to the victorious Mogul. Immediately after the battle, the
conqueror sent forward two flying squadrons to Agra and Delhi
respectively to seize the treasures of the fallen king. The troop
which went to Agra was commanded by Humayup, the favorite son of Baber.
It is with this troop and its doings that we are concerned, but what
was found in the Hindoo treasury had best be told by the conqueror
himself :
