Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/139

 Chap V.] ItEIGN OF BABER. 10^

CHAPTER Y.

Mogul dynasty -Life aiul reign of Ilaber -Hoomayoon — Ilis expuUiuii and return —State of India at

his death.

ABER was the sixth in descent from Tamerhine. His grand- ad uss. fathei', Abu Said Mirza, left eleven sons, among wliom his extensive dominions were divided. Omar Sheikh Mirza, the fom*th son, was for some time i^overnor of Cabool, but was transferred to Fergliana, situated on the upper course of the Jaxartes This province, of which he was in possession when Abu Said died, unVw, bom was afterwards lield l)y liim Jis an independent sovereignty. He had mar- lusorifrin ried the sister of Mahmood Khan, a descendant of Dschaggatai Khan, and "i""^,'".'^ tlu-ougl» him connected with CJhenghis Khan. Baber was lier son, and was, conseciuently, by the mother's side, a Mogul. It is somewhat singular that, in Ills own Memoirs, lie always speaks with contempt of the Mogul race, though the tlvnasty which he was about to e.stablisii in India was destined to take its name from it. Tiie exphmation is, that the title Great Mogul was not chosen by liini, but was applied, in accordance with the Hindoo ciustom of giving the name (»f Moguls to all the Mahometans of the north-west, with the single excei)tion of the Afghans When his father died, Baber was only twelve years of age. He was thus de])rive(lof his natural protector before he could be expecteil to be able to act for himself To add to the misfortune, his uncles, wh(^ ought to have befriended him, were ingenerous enough to re.sent a (piarrel which they had had with the father, on the son But Baber had talents equal to the difliculties of liis position. On learning his father's death, lie took immediate steps to secure the succession As the eldest son, he had the best title to it, and there was no room for tUs])ute. It Wiis necessary, however, to consult his uncle. Sultan Ahmed Mirza, ruler of Samarcand and Bokhara, to whom the .suiu'emac}' belonged; and Baber sent an embassy to him. to say, "It is plain you must place one of your iiis mes-sagfi servants in the command of this country; I ;un at once your son and your servant ; if you ap]>oint me, your purpose will be answered in the mo.st satisfac- toiy manner." 'i'his honest but ])lain dealing gave dis.sati.sfaction. and a hostile answer was returned The uncle wius, in fa<:t, already on the marcli, determined to complete the conquest which he had begun while Baber's father was alive, and make himself sole master of Fertrhana On this occasion fortune favoured the friendless youth. In crossing a river, the bridge, which was crowded with his unele's troops, gave way, and great numbers of men, hoi-ses. and camels ])erished.

Thi.s was regarded as ominous, particularly jus a defeat had been sustained at the Vol. I. 14