Thus, after many struggles, Babar became “master and conqueror of the mighty empire of Hindustan,” but he had to fight two more great battles before his sovereignty was undisputed—­one in 1527 near Fatehpur Sikri, with the great chief of the Rajputs, Raja Sanga of Chitore, and another in 1529 near Buxar, with the Afghans who had settled in Bengal.  The next year Babar died in his garden palace at Agra The nobility of his character was conspicuous in his death as it was in his life.  He was devotedly attached to his eldest son, Humayun, who was seized with malarial fever while staying at his country estate at Sambhal.  Babar had him removed by boat to Agra, but his physicians declared that the case was hopeless.  Babar’s own health had suffered much during his life in India, and he was terribly agitated by the news.  When some one suggested that in such circumstances the Almighty sometimes deigned to accept the thing most valued by one friend in exchange for the life of another, Babar exclaimed that of all things his life was dearest to Humayun, as Humayun’s was to him.  He would sacrifice his own life to save his son.  His courtiers entreated him to give up instead the great diamond taken at Agra, said to be the most valuable on earth.  Babar declared that no stone could compare in value with his own life, and after solemnly walking round Humayun’s couch, as in a religious sacrifice, he retired to devote himself to prayer.  Soon afterwards he was heard to exclaim, “I have borne it away!  I have borne it away!” Humayun began to recover, and, as he improved, Babar gradually sank.  Commending his son to the protection of his friends, and imploring Humayun to be kind and forgiving to his brothers, the first of the “Great Moguls” of India passed away.  He was buried at Kabul, in one of his beloved gardens, which, according to Tartar custom, he had chosen for his tomb, in “the sweetest spot of the neighbourhood.” [2]

Babar’s connection with Agra.

Babar’s connection with Agra began immediately after the battle of Panipat.  He sent forward Humayun, who occupied the town without opposition.  The story of the great diamond referred to above is here recorded in the Memoirs.  The Raja of Gwalior, slain at Panipat, had left his family and the heads of his clan at Agra.  In gratitude to Humayun, who treated them magnanimously, and protected them from plunder, they presented to him a peskesh, or token of homage, consisting of a quantity of jewels and precious stones.  Among these was one famous diamond which had been acquired by Sultan Alaeddin.  “It is so valuable that a judge of diamonds valued it at about half the daily expense of the whole world.  It is about eight mikkals” (or about 280 carats).  This is generally supposed to be the celebrated Koh-i-nur.