Khurásán, and halted at the summer-cots of Ilák, one of the summer pasturages the province of Hisár. I here entered my twenty-third year, and began to use the razor to my face. The followers who still clave to me, great and small, were more than two hundred and less than three. Most of them were on foot, with brogues on their feet, clubs in their hands, and tattered cloaks over their shoulders. So poor were we that we had only two tents. My own I gave to my mother; and they pitched for me at every halt a felt tent of cross poles, in which I took up my quarters. Though bound for Khurásán, I was not without hopes, in the present state of things, to manage something among the territories and followers of Khusrau Sháh, where I now was. Hardly a day passed without some one joining me with hopeful news of the country and tribes.'
Bábar, in fact, was tampering with the subjects of his peculiar enemy. It has been suggested that he painted Khusrau Sháh in the blackest colours in order to vindicate his own treatment of him; but he owed the treacherous governor no sort of obligation, and Khusrau's conduct to Mahmúd's sons is enough to explain their cousin's detestation. In justice to the great noble, the Memoirs frankly admit that he was 'far famed for his liberal conduct and generosity, and for the humanity which he showed to the meanest of men, though never to me.' Khusrau at least allowed him to travel through his dominions at a time when any tampering with his army was of vital importance in view of Shaibáni's advance. He seems even to have recognized Bábar as the rightful king; and his brother Báki Beg, with all his family, joined
