But is re pelled. Baber's officers re- Death of Kâshgharian, who perceived that he was unable to contend with it, applied to Khwâjeh Kazi as mediator, and contrived to extricate himself from his situation with great address and cunning. During these important events, the Begs and younger nobility, who had been about Omar-Sheikh Mirza, united resolutely, and displayed a noble spirit, being eager to devote their lives to the cause. They afterwards conducted the Mirza's mother, Shah Sultan Begum, Jehângîr Mirza, and the family in the haram, from Akhsi to Andejân, where they performed the ceremonies of mourning for him, and distributed food and victuals to the poor and to religious mendicants. When delivered from these dangers, it became necessary to attend to the administration and improvement of the country, and to placing everything in proper order. The government of Andejân, and the prime authority in the Court, were bestowed on Hassan Yâkub; Ush was given to Kâsim Kochin; Akhsi and Marghinân were intrusted to Uzûn Hassan and Ali Dost Taghâi; and each of the Begs and younger nobility of Omar-Sheikh Mirza's court had a district, an estate, or portion of land assigned to him, or received some mark of distinction suited to his rank and consequence. Meanwhile Sultan Ahmed Mirza, after having made two or three marches on his med Mirza. return home, fell very ill, and being seized with a burning fever, departed from this transitory world, in the territory of Uratippa, just as he had reached the Aksû,1 (or July 1494. White river,) in the middle of the month Shawâl 899, in the 44th year of his age. Middle of His birth and extraction. A. D. 1451. Figure and features. His manners and religious opinions. He was born in 855, the year in which Sultan Abusaîd Mirza came to the throne, and was the eldest of all his sons. His mother was the daughter of Urdah Bugha Terkhân, was elder sister of Dervîsh Muhammed Terkhân, and the most respected of the Mirza's wives. He was tall, of a ruddy complexion, and corpulent. He had a beard on the forepart of the chin, but none on the lower part of the cheek. He was a man of extremely pleasant manners. He wore his turban, according to the fashion of the time, in what was termed Chârmâk (the four-plaited), with the tie or hem brought forward over the eyebrows. He was strictly attached to the Hanifah2 sect, and was a true and orthodox believer. He unfailingly observed the five stated daily prayers, and did not neglect them even when engaged in drinking parties. He was attached to Khwâjeh Abîd-ûlla, who was his religious instructor and guide. He was polite and ceremonious at all times, but particularly in his intercourse with the Khwâjeh; insomuch that they say, that, while in company with him, however long they sat, he never changed the position of his knees, by shifting the one over the other, except in one instance, when, contrary to his usual practice, he rested the one knee on the other. After the Mirza rose, the Khwâjeh desired them to examine what there was particular in the place in which the Mirza had been seated, when they found a bone lying there.3 1 The Habîb-es-seir makes him'die at Armena, a village on the Aksû, which is a considerable river, rising in the Asfera hills, and which falls into the Sirr a little to the west of Khojend. 2 The Hanifah is one of the four orthodox Musulman sects. 3 It will be recollected that the Asiatics sit cross-legged on a carpet. The bone of a dead animal being impure, is thought to defile a Musulman, who is obliged, after touching it, to purify himself. racter. He had never read any,' and, though brought up in the city, was illiterate and un- His cha. refined. He was a plain honest Tûrk, but not favoured by genius. He was, however, a just man; and as he always consulted the reverend Khwâjeh in affairs of importance, he generally acted in conformity to the law. He was true to his promises, and faithful to his compacts or treaties, from which he never swerved. He was brave; and though he never happened to be engaged hand to hand in close combat, yet they say that in several actions he showed proofs of courage. He excelled in archery. He was a good marksman. With his arrows and forked arrows2 he generally hit the mark; and in riding from one side of the exercise ground to the other, he used to hit the brazen basin several times.3 Latterly, when he became very corpulent, he took to bringing down pheasants and quails with the goshawks, and seldom failed. He was fond of hawking, and was particularly skilled in flying the hawk, an amusement which he frequently practised. If you except Ulugh Beg Mirza, there was no other king who equalled him in field-sports. He was singularly observant of decorum, insomuch that it is said, that even in private, before his own people and nearest relations, he never uncovered his feet. Whenever he took to drinking wine, he would drink without intermission for twenty or thirty days at a stretch, and then he would not taste wine for the next twenty or thirty days. In his social parties he would sometimes sit day and night, and drink profusely; on the days when he did not drink, he ate pungent substances. He was naturally of a penurious disposition, was a simple man, of few words, and entirely guided by his Begs. 6 He fought four battles: the first with Sheikh Jemâl Arghûn, the younger brother His wars. of Niâmet Arghûn, in the territory of Zâmin,5 at Akâr-tûzi, in which he was victorious; the second with Omar-Sheikh Mirza, at Khawâs, in which likewise he was victorious; the third affair was with Sultan Mahmûd Khan, in the vicinity of Tâshkend, on the river Chirr, in which there was in truth no battle, for as soon as a few scattered plundering Moghuls came up with the army, and seized some baggage, a whole mighty host, without fighting, without resistance, and no man having engaged 1 The expressions in the text would lead us to suppose that he could not read. 2 Giz. 3 This refers to an exercise in archery practised by the Tûrks. A brazen basin (kapak) is placed on the top of a very lofty pole, to serve as a mark. This is shot at, sometimes from a fixed station, and sometimes while the archer gallops across the ground and past the mark at full speed. Abulghazi Behader, in his account of the festival of Kiun Khan, describes a similar exercise. erected near these tents two trees, forty fathoms high, and a golden hen to be fixed on the top of the "He caused to be tree, which was planted near the tents on the right hand; and on the top of the tree which was planted near the tents on the left side, a hen of silver; ordering that all who bore the name of Bussick should exercise themselves in shooting at the golden hen, running full speed, and that those of the name of Utz-ock should shoot in the same manner at the silver hen; and he ordered considerable prizes for those who hit the hen."-Genealogical History of the Tatars, vol. I. p. 22. Lond. 1730, 8vo. 4 + When the Asiatics sit down, they draw in their legs under their bodies. It is regarded as a mark of disrespect, or of great familiarity, to show their feet. Their long and loose dress renders it easy to conceal them. 5 Zâmin, or Râmin, lies in Uratippa. Akâr-tûzi signifies the plain of the flowing stream. 6 Khawâs lies between Uratippa and Tâshkend. His domi. nions. His children. 1. Rabîa gum. Sultan Begum. 3. Aisha Sultan Begum. another, or even seen an enemy, was completely panic-struck and broken up, and numbers of them drowned in their disorderly flight across the Chirr. His fourth battle was with Haider Gokaltâsh, in the confines of Yâr-Ilâk,' in which he was victorious. He possessed the countries of Samarkand and Bokhâra, which his father had given him; and, after the death of Sheikh Jemâl, who was slain by Abdul Kadûs, he got possession of Tâshkend, Shahrokhîa, and Seirâm. He afterwards gave Tâshkend and Seirâm to his younger brother, Omar-Sheikh Mirza; and also, for some time, occupied Khojend and Uratippa. He had two sons, who died young, and five daughters, four of whom were by Katak Begum. The eldest of them all was Rabîa Sultan Begum, whom they called Sultan Be- Karagoz (or the Black-eyed) Begum. He gave her in his lifetime to Sultan Mahmûd Khan, by whom she had a son, named Baba Khan, a very promising boy. When the Uzbeks slew the Khan in Khojend, they put to death him and many others like him of tender years. After the death of Sultan Mahmûd Khan, Jani Beg Sultan married 2. Salikeh her. The second daughter was Salikeh Sultan Begum, who was called Ak Begum, (or the Fair Lady.) After Sultan Ahmed Mirza's death, Sultan Mahmûd Mirza celebrated her marriage with that prince's eldest son, Sultan Masaûd Mirza, with great festivity. She afterwards fell into the hands of the Kâshgharian at the same time with Shah Begum and Meher-Nigâr Khanum. The third daughter was Aisha Sultan Begum. When I visited Samarkand, at the age of five years, she was betrothed to me. She afterwards came to Khojend during the troubles, when I married her; and, about the time when I took Samarkand the second time, I had one daughter by her, who lived only a few days. She left my family before the overthrow of Tâshkend, induced 4. Sultanam by the machinations of her elder sister. The fourth daughter was Sultanam Begum, who was married first to Sultan Ali Mirza, afterwards to Taimur Sultan, and lastly to Mehedi Sultan. The youngest of all his daughters was Maasûmeh Sultan Begum, whose mother, Habibah Sultan Begum, was of the tribe of Arghûn, and the daughter of one of Sultan Arghûn's brothers. I saw her when I went to Khorasan, and, being pleased with her, asked her in marriage, and carried her to Kâbul, where I married her. I had by her one daughter, at the time of whose birth she was taken ill in childbed, and was united to the mercy of God. The daughter whom she bore received her mother's name." Begum. 5. MaasûBegum. meh Sultan His wives. Meher-Nigâr Kha num. Terkhân gum. Of his wives and ladies, the principal was Meher-Nigâr Khanum, the eldest daughter of Yunis Khan, who was betrothed to him by his father, Sultan Abusaîd Mirza. She was my mother's eldest sister of the full blood. Another of his wives was of the family of Terkhâns, and named Terkhân Begum. Another was Katak Begum, who was the foster-sister of this same Terkhân Begum. Sultan Ahmed Mirza married her for love. He was prodigiously attached to her, and she governed him with absolute sway. She drank wine. During her life, the Sultan 1 This name is variously written in the different manuscripts at various times-sometimes Bar-ilâk, sometimes Yaz-ilâk, and sometimes Yar-ilâk. 2 Tâshkend, as has been already remarked, lies between Shahrokhia and Seirâm. durst not venture to frequent any other of his ladies. At last, however, he put her to death, and delivered himself from his reproach. Another of his wives was Khan-Zâdeh Begum, who was sprung of the Khans of Khan-Zadeh Begum. Termez. When I went to Samarkand, at the age of five years, to visit Sultan Ahmed Mirza, he had newly married her, and she still kept her face covered with a veil, according to the custom of the Tûrks. He directed me, and I took off her veil. Another of them was the daughter of the daughter of Ahmed Hâji Beg, named Latîf BeLatîf Begum, who, after the Mirza's death, was married to Khamzeh Sultan, by whom she had three sons. When I defeated the Sultans under the command of Khamzeh Sultan and Taimur Sultan, and took Hissâr, these princes, as well as the children of the other Sultans, fell into my hands, and I set all of them at liberty. gum. There was another, named Habibeh Sultan Begum, the brother's daughter of Sul- Habibeh tan Arghûn. Sultan Begum. Duladai. Of his Emirs, one was Jâni Beg Duladâi, the younger brother of Sultan Malek of His Emirs. Kâshghar. Sultan Abusaîd Mirza conferred on him the government of Samarkand, Jani Beg with the prime direction of Sultan Ahmed Mirza's court. He was a man of singular habits and manners, and many strange stories are related of him. Among these it is said, that, when he held the government of Samarkand, an ambassador came from the Uzbeks, who was famous among them for his strength. The Uzbeks call a very stout champion Bûkeh. Jâni Beg asked him, "Why do they call you Bûkeh? If you are a Bûkeh, come let us have a set-to." The ambassador, do what he would, was unable to get off. The Hâkim grappled with the Uzbek, who was thrown. Jâni Beg was a man of perfect courage. Another of his nobles was Ahmed Hâji Beg, who was the son of Sultan Malek of Ahmed Háji Beg. Kâshghar. Sultan Abusaîd Mirza gave him the government of Heri, which he retained for some time. After the death of his paternal uncle, Jâni Beg, he was appointed to succeed him in his rank and dignity, and sent to Samarkand. He was of an ingenious and manly character, and in his poetical compositions assumed the name of Wafai. He was the author of a Diwân, and was no mean poet. The following is his: Let me alone to-day, my good judge, for I am tipsy; Call me to account some other time, when you catch me sober. Mîr Ali Shîr Nawâi accompanied him when he came from Heri to Samarkand; but when Sultan Hussein Mirza became King, he went to Heri, where he was received 1 It is customary among the Tûrki tribes for the bride to continue veiled, even in her own family, for some time after her marriage. When a few days have elapsed, some child from among her relations is desired to pluck the veil off and run away. This is believed to procure the child so employed success in marriage. 2 The composition of a Diwân is considered as the great trial of skill among the poets of Persia. It is a series of poems, in which the rhyme is taken successively from each letter of the alphabet, beginning with a poem, the rhymes of which terminate with the first letter of the alphabet, and finishing with one rhyming with the last. In these Diwâns there are generally many poems rhyming in the same letter. Dervish Muhammed Terkhân. Abdal Ali Syed Yûsef Oghlâkchi. 1 with most extraordinary favour. Ahmed Hâji Beg kept excellent horses of the breed termed Tipchâk. He was an admirable horseman, and most of his Tipchâks were of his own breeding. Though a brave man, his generalship was not equal to his courage. He was careless, and left the conduct of his affairs and enterprises to his servants and dependants. When Baiesanghar Mirza attacked Sultan Ali Mirza in Bokhâra and was defeated, Ahmed Hâji Beg was taken prisoner and shamefully put to death, on the charge of the blood of Dervish Muhammed Terkhân.2 Another of his officers was Dervish Muhammed Terkhan, the son of Urda Bugha Terkhân,3 and full maternal uncle of Sultan Ahmed Mirza and Sultan Mahmûd Mirza. He stood higher in rank and estimation with the Mirza than any other of the Begs. He was a good Moslem, of religious habits, and simple manners, and was constantly reading the Koran. He was very fond of chess, and played much and well. He was extremely skilful in falconry, and excelled in flying his hawks. In the troubles between Sultan Ali Mirza and Baiesanghar Mirza he died, in bad repute, in the height of his greatness. Another was Abdal Ali Terkhân, a near relation of Dervish Muhammed Terkhân; he married Dervish Muhammed Terkhân's younger sister, who was the mother of Bâki Terkhân. Though Dervish Muhammed Terkhân was his superior, not only according to the customs and rules of the tribe, but in rank and estimation; yet this haughty Pharaoh pretended to look down upon him. For some years he possessed the government of Bokhâra, when his servants amounted to three thousand. He maintained them well and handsomely. His information and intelligence, his forms of judicial investigation, his court, his suite, his entertainments* and levees, were all quite princely. He was a strict disciplinarian, tyrannical, lascivious, and haughty. Sheibâni Khan, though he did not take service with him, lived with him for some time. Many of the smaller and more inconsiderable Sultans were in his service. This Abdal Ali Terkhân was the prime cause of the rise and progress of Sheibâni Khan's fortune, as well as of the downfall and destruction of the family of the ancient Khans. Syed Yûsef Oghlâkchi was another. His grandfather was from the horde of Moghuls. Ulugh Beg Mirza had promoted and patronized his father. He was a man of profound reflection and counsel, was brave, and excelled in the exercise of throwing the jerîd. He was one of those who were with me when I first went to Kâbul. I 1 Round-bodied and swift.-LEYDEN. They are taught particular paces. 2 The Muhammedan law admitting of the doctrine of retaliation, a murderer is frequently given up to the avengers of blood, the nearest relations of the person murdered, by whom he is sometimes ransomed, sometimes put to death with circumstances of great cruelty. 3 The Terkhân was originally a rank among the Moghuls and Tûrks, though in the time of Baber it had come to belong to a particular family or clan. The ancient Terkhân was exempt from all duties; he did not divide his booty even with the prince's collectors; he could go into the royal presence without asking leave, and was to be pardoned nine times, be the fault what it would. Abul-faraj, ap. Petis de la Croix's Life of Genghis, p. 49. See also Vie de Timur, vol. II. p. 107. He had perfect liberty of speech, and might say what he pleased in the royal presence. 4 The shilân was an entertainment to dependants, in which food was often distributed, instead of giving a regular dinner; much as the sportula was given by the Roman patroni to their clientes. 5 Both Mr Elphinstone's Tûrki copy and the Persian read, "He played well on the Kabûz,” a kind of musical instrument. |