The transit of the sun, that fulfils the hopes of the world, into
his house of honour in Aries, took place on Friday, the 15th of the
month of Rabi`u-s-sani in the Hijri year 1029, (10 March), 1620,
after 12 1/2 gharis, or 5 sidereal hours, [288] had passed, and
the 15th year of the reign of this suppliant at the throne of Allah
commenced happily and auspiciously. On Saturday, the 2nd (Farwardin),
having marched 4 1/2 koss, I halted at the village of Bakkar. On this
road there was no hill-pass (kotal), but it was rather stony. I saw
peacocks, black partridges, and monkeys (langur), such as exist in
the Garmsir country (Afghanistan). It is evident that these can also
exist in cold countries. From this place to Kashmir the road is along
the bank of the river Bihat. There are hills on both sides, and in
the bottom of the valley the water flows with great force, boiling
and raging. However large an elephant may be, he cannot hold his feet
firmly in it, but immediately rolls over, and is carried away. There
are also water-dogs [289] in the river. On Sunday, the 3rd, marching
4 1/2 koss, I pitched at Musaran. On the eve of Friday the merchants
who live in the pargana of Bara Mula came and paid their respects. I
asked the reason of the name of Bara mula, and they represented that
in the Hindi language they call a boar Barah (Varaha) and mula a
place--that is, the boars' place. Among the incarnations that belong
to the religion of the Hindus, one is the boar incarnation, and Barah
mula by constant use has become Bara mula. On Monday, the 4th, marching
2 1/2 koss, I pitched at Bhulbas. As they said these hills were very
narrow and difficult (to pass), and they could be crossed by a crowd
of men only with great trouble, I gave orders to Mu`tamid K. that,
with the exception of Asaf K. and a few of the necessary attendants,
no one should be allowed to march along with the prosperous stirrup
(with the king personally), and the camp should be kept one stage
behind. By chance, before this order was given, he had sent on his own
tent. After this he wrote to his men that this order had been given
with regard to him, and they should halt at whatever spot they had
reached. His brothers heard this at the foot of the kotal of Bhulbas,
[290] and pitched their own tent there. When the royal host reached
the place, snow and rain began to fall. One plain of the road had
not been crossed when his tent became visible. Looking on this as a
gift from the hidden world, I and the ladies alighted, and remained
protected from the cold and snow and rain. His brothers, according to
orders, sent someone in haste to summon him. When the news reached
him that the elephants and the advance camp had arrived at the top
of the kotal, and blocked up the road, as it was impossible to ride,
with great zeal, he, not knowing his head from his feet, traversed a
distance of 2 1/2 koss on foot in two hours, and came to wait on me,
and repeated this couplet with the tongue of gesture. [291]