Its verdure and flowers render Kabul, in spring, a heaven.—­

but this kingdom was too small for a man of Baber’s stamp.  He used it as a stepping-stone to the conquest of India (1526).

     Return a hundred thanks, O Baber! for the bounty of the merciful God
       Has given you Sind, Hind, and numerous kingdoms;
       If, unable to stand the heat, you long for cold,
       You have only to recollect the frost and cold of Ghazni.

In spite of these verses, Baber did not love India, and his monarchy was an exile to him.  Let the last extract from his memoirs be a part of a letter written in 1529 to an old and trusted friend in Kabul.  It is an outpouring of the griefs of his inmost heart to his friend.  He says:—­

My solicitude to visit my western dominions (Kabul) is boundless and great beyond expression.  I trust in Almighty Allah that the time is near at hand when everything will be completely settled in this country.  As soon as matters are brought to that state, I shall, with the permission of Allah, set out for your quarters without a moment’s delay.  How is it possible that the delights of those lands should ever be erased from the heart?  How is it possible to forget the delicious melons and grapes of that pleasant region?  They very recently brought me a single muskmelon from Kabul.  While cutting it up, I felt myself affected with a strong feeling of loneliness and a sense of my exile from my native country, and I could not help shedding tears. [He gives long instructions on the military and political matters to be attended to, and continues without a break:—­] At the southwest of Besteh I formed a plantation of trees; and as the prospect from it was very fine, I called it Nazergah [the view].  You must there plant some beautiful trees, and all around sow beautiful and sweet-smelling flowers and shrubs. [And he goes straight on:—­] Syed Kasim will accompany the artillery. [After more details of the government he quotes fondly a little trivial incident of former days and friends, and says:—­] Do not think amiss of me for deviating into

The ‘Memoirs’ of Baber deserve a place beside the writings of the greatest of generals and conquerors.  He is not unworthy to be classed with Caesar as a general and as a man of letters.  His character was more human, more frank, more lovable, more ardent.  His fellow in our western world is not Caesar, but Henri IV. of France and Navarre.

[Illustration:  Signature:  Edward S. Holden]

BABRIUS

(First Century A.D.)