106
TIFSTOIJV OF INDIA.
[iiooK r.
At) iifli;
Raber'H
(lilfilMllt
positiuu.
Alteniate success and defeat.
His serious illne-a and luisfortuiies
snmo spot tliree or four years before. The anny, in consequence, Ixicarne panic- struck, and showed the utmost reluctance to axlvance. While they were hesi- tating, the horses were seized with a fatal di.sease, and Baber's arrny marie its appearance. All these circumstances made the invaders disposed to listen to terms of accommodation, and patch up a hasty peace, when a resolute a/lvance of a few miles would probably have put them in possession of Indijan, Baber's capital.
No sooner was this danger escaped, than another, of an equally formidaljle nature, thrcatejied him. The Sultan Mahmood Khan made his af)[»earance in the north, and laid siege to Baber's fortress of Akhsi. After re[)eated ftssaidts, which were repulsed with great valour, he abandoned the attempt as hopeless, and ma<^Ie the best of his way home. A third enemy advanced from the efist, jilundering and devastating as he came. He was, however, still more easily disposed of than the others, having brought himself into a position out of which, if full advantage had been taken, he could not have extricated himself Balder, thus freed from the perils wliich had environed him, turned his leism-e to good account, and made many important internal improvements.
He had hitherto been contented to act on the defensive, but in 1495 he found himself strong enough to change his tactics, and attempt the conquest of Kliojend. It had at one time belonged to hLs father, and on this ground he thought him- self entitled to take it if he could. The task proved easier than he anticipated, and he gained possession of it almost without resistance. His next attempt was on Uratuppa ; but as the inhabitants had canied home all their grain and pro- vender, thus making it impossible for him to obtain sipphes, and as the winter was about to set in, he was obliged to retreat. In 1496, the succession to Samarcand having been disputed, three diff'ei'ent claimants appeared, and invaded the country in tloi-ee different directions. Baber was one of them ; but as none of them was able to establish an ascendency, they all three retired. In the fol- lowing year Baber renewed the attempt, and conducted his operations with so much skill and valour, that, before the year expired, both the city and teiritory of Samarcand were in his possession. He wjis accordingly crowned, and acknowledged by most of the nobles ; but as the city had capitulated, and he was anxious to conciliate the inhabitants, he forbade all plunder. The troops were gi-ievously (Usappointed, and began to dispei-se. Others, not satisfied with this, went off in a body, and offered their ser-ices to Jehangir Mu-za, Baber's brother, who was treacherous enough to listen to their overtm-es, and seize on Indijan, one of the leading districts of Ferghana.
At this time, when aU the talents which Baber possessed would scarceh^ have sufficed, he was seized with a dangerous illness, and foimd his affairs on the verge of ruin. Samarcand was held by a most precarious tenure ; and it was obvious that the moment he ceased to overawe it by liis personal presence, he would lose it altogether. He resolved, notwithstanding, to make this sacrifice ;
