Attempt to surprise Samarkand. sabre wound in the face, from whence he was always afterwards called Ibrâhim Chapuk (or Slashed-face.) On a different occasion, in the Khiabân, at the bridge over the Moghâk,' Abul Kâsim Kohbûr laid about him with his piâzi2 (or mace) in grand style. At another time, and also in the Khiabân, in the vicinity of Ternau, there was a skirmish, in which Mîr Shah Kochin distinguished himself with his mace, but received such a dreadful wound from a scimitar, that his neck was half cut through; the arteries, however, luckily were not separated. While we remained at Yuret-Khân, the townspeople treacherously sent a man, who was instructed to tell us, that, if we would come by night on the side next the Lover's Cave, they would deliver the fort into our hands. Seduced by this promise, we mounted at night, and advanced by the bridge over the Moghâk, whence we sent on a small party of chosen horse, with some foot soldiers, to the appointed place. The people of the town seized and carried off four or five of the foot-soldiers, before the rest were aware of the treachery. They were most active men. The name of one of them was Hâji, who had attended me from my infancy. Another was Mahmûd Gundaalasang. They were all put to death. While we remained in this station, so many of the townspeople and traders came from Samarkand, that the camp was like a city, and you could find in the camp whatever is procurable in towns. During this interval, the inhabitants surrendered to me the whole country, the castles, the high lands and low, except the city of Samarkand. A small body of troops had fortified the castle of Urgut, at the foot of the hill of Shah-dâr, which obliged me to decamp from the Yuret, and march against them. Urgut sur Being unable to maintain the place, they availed themselves of the mediation of Khwâjeh Kazi, and surrendered. I received their submission, and returned to invest Samarkand. renders. and Badiaez-zemân. Rupture be- This same year, the misunderstanding that had previously subsisted between Sultan tween Sultan Hussain Hussain Mirza and Badîa-ez-zemân came to an open rupture. The circumstances are as follows:-In the course of last year, Sultan Hussain Mirza had given Balkh to Badia-ez-zemân Mirza, and Asterâbâd to Muzaffer Hussain Mirza, and had received their submission on receiving the grant, as has been mentioned. From that time down to the present, a number of ambassadors had been coming and going between them. Ali Shîr Beg himself had at last been sent as ambassador, but, with all his endeavours, he could not prevail on Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza to give up Asterâbâd to his younger brother. That prince asserted, that, at the circumcision of his son Muhammed Momin Mirza, the Mirza had made him a grant of it. An incident one day oc 1 Pûl-e-Moghûk may, however, be the name of a village. The Moghak runs a little east of Samar kand. 2 The piâzi was a sort of mace, which had a set of steel balls fastened to its head by short chains, the whole strongly fixed on a wooden handle. It was a formidable weapon, much used by the warriors in the Shahnameh. 3 Ghar-Ashikân. • Pûl-e-Moghak. 5 Guz-sagik.-Pers. 6 This friendly intercourse between enemies bespeaks an advanced state of civilization, and seems to indicate that the long-continued prosperity of Samarkand, from the time of Taimur Beg downwards, had produced the usual effects of refinement, mildness of manners, and mutual confidence. curred between the Mirza and Ali Shîr Beg, which equally proves the Mirza's sagacity and presence of mind, and the acute feelings of Ali Shîr Beg. Ali Shîr Beg had repeated a good many confidential circumstances in a whisper to the Mirza, and, when he concluded, said, "Now, don't forget what I have mentioned." The Mirza, on the spot, answered, with apparent indifference, "Pray, what was it you mentioned?" Ali Shîr Beg was deeply affected, and cried bitterly. At last, the discussion between the father and son came to such a pitch, that the father marched against the father, and the son against the son,' towards Balkh and Asterâbâd. 2 1497. zemân Mir za defeated. Sultan Hussain Mirza advancing up the country, and Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza marching down, the two armies encountered below Girzewan, in the meadows of Yekchirâgh. On Wednesday the first of Ramzân, Abul Hassan Mirza, and some of Sultan 3d May Hussain Mirza's Begs, having pushed on with a detachment of troops as a plundering party, routed Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza after what could hardly be called an action. Many Badia-ezyoung cavaliers of his party were taken prisoners. Sultan Hussain Mirza ordered the whole of them to have their heads struck off. Nor in this instance alone; on every occasion when any of his sons rebelled and was defeated, he uniformly ordered every one of their adherents who fell into his hands to be beheaded. And why not? he had right on his side. These Mirzas were so extravagantly addicted to vice and pleasure, that, regardless of the approach of their father, a prince of great wisdom and experience, who had come from such a distance, and regardless of the holy and blessed month of Ramzân, of which only a single night had been enjoyed; without any reverence for their father, and laying aside the fear of God, they only thought of drinking wine and revelling in wantonness. But most certain it is that such conduct inevitably leads to destruction; and that they who so demean themselves, will inevitably fall before the first attack. Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza had held the government of Asterâbâd for several years. During all that time, the young cavaliers, both in that place and its environs, were all arrayed in gay and gallant attire. He had many arms and accoutrements of silver and gold, much furniture of rich cloth, with innumerable Tipchâk horses. All these he now gave to the wind. In his flight by the rugged mountain route, he came on a dangerous precipitous road, which they descended with great difficulty. Many of his men perished at this precipice. Balkh. After the defeat of his son, Sultan Hussain Mirza advanced to Balkh, which Badîa- Loses ez-zemân Mirza had left in charge of Sheikh Ali Taghâi, who found nothing left for it but to surrender the fortress. Sultan Hussain Mirza having given Balkh to Ibrâhim Hussain Mirza, and left with him Muhammed Wali Beg and Shah Hussain Chihreh, himself returned back to Khorasan. Badiâ-ez-zemân Mirza, after his defeat, being in great distress, and stript of every That is to say, in consequence of the dispute between Muzaffer Hussain Mirza and Muhammed Momin Mirza, matters proceeded to such lengths, that Sultan Hussain Mirza, the father of Muzaffer Hussain Mirza, advanced with an army towards Balkh against Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza, the father of Muhammed Momin Mirza; and Muzaffer Hussain Mirza, the son of Sultan Hussain Mirza, led an army towards Asterâbâd against Muhammed Momin Mirza, the son of Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza.-Persian note. 2 Girzewân lies between Balkh and Herât, three or four marches south west of Balkh. Takes refuge with Khosrou Shah. Khosrou Shah sends him against Hissâr. He repairs Arghûn. thing, accompanied by such of his men old and young, horse and foot, as still adhered to him, proceeded to Kûndez to Khosrou Shah, who gave him a handsome reception, and did him all manner of service. He was so liberal in equipping the Mirza and all that accompanied him with horses, camels, tents, pavilions, and military furnishings of every description, that such as saw them, confessed that there was no difference between their former and present arms or accoutrements, excepting that they were not mounted with gold and silver. As some misunderstandings and differences had arisen between Sultan Masaûd Mirza and Khosrou Shah, occasioned by the ungovernable ambition of the latter, he now sent his brothers Wali and Baki, accompanied by Badiâ-ez-zemân Mirza, to attack Sultan Masaûd Mirza in Hissar. They were not able to approach the fortress, but, in the environs and vicinity, there was some sharp sword-play on both sides. On one occasion at Kosh-Khaneh,1 on the north of Hissâr, Mohib Ali Korchi, having pushed forward and advanced in front of the rest of the troops, distinguished himself by his bravery. At the moment when he was unhorsed and taken prisoner, his own party made a push and rescued him. A few days after, a hollow peace was concluded, and the army retired. Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza soon afterwards set out, by the mountain route, towards to Zulnûn Kandahâr and Zemîn-dâwer, 2 to Zulnûn Arghûn and his son Shah Shujaa Arghûn. Zulnûn, in spite of his avarice and stinginess, gave the Mirza a good reception. He presented him with forty thousand sheep as a single peshkesh.3 It is a very singular circumstance that Muzaffer Hussain Mirza defeated Muhammed Momin Mirza at Asterâbâd on the very Wednesday on which Sultan Hussain Mirza defeated Muhammed defeatedand Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza ; and what adds to the oddity of the coincidence is, that Chehartaken pri- shembeh (Wednesday) was the name of the person who dismounted and made Muhammed Momin Mirza prisoner. His son Muhammed Momin soner. Baber continues the We now encamped behind the Baghe-Meidân," in the meadow of Kulbeh. On this blockade of occasion the men of Samarkand, both soldiers and townsmen, sallied out in great numSamarkand. bers on the side of Muhammed Châp's bridge, and came upon us. As my people were off their guard, before they could put themselves in a posture of defence, the enemy dismounted Sultan Ali Baba Kuli and carried him off into the town. 1 Kosh-khaneh. The hawk-house. 2 Zemin-dâwer lies west of the Helmend below the hills, and on the right bank of the Siahbend river. 8 The peshkesh is the tribute given to a superior prince. 4 The year 903 begins on the 30th of August 1497. It may be worth while to observe, that it was in the end of this year of the Hejira that Vasquez de Gama landed at Calicut. 5 The Garden of the plain. A few days after, we marched and encamped on the hill of Kohik, on the side of Kulbeh. That same day Syed Yûsef Beg came out of Samarkand, and having waited upon me at this station, entered into my service. The men of Samarkand, when they saw us on our march from the one station to the other, fancying that I had taken my departure, rushed out in great numbers, both soldiers and citizens, and advanced as far as the Mirza's bridge; and poured out by the Sheikhzâdeh's gate as far as Muhammed Châp's bridge. Orders were immediately issued for the cavaliers who were on the spot, to arm without loss of time, and to charge the enemy on the two flanks, both towards the Mirza's bridge, and towards Muhammed Châp's bridge. God prospered our proceedings-the enemy were defeated. Numbers of Begs and horsemen were dismounted and taken prisoners. Among these were Muhammed Miskîn and Hâfez Duldâi. The latter was wounded with a sabre, and had his fore-finger cut off. Muhammed Kâsim Nabîreh, the younger brother of Hassan Nabîreh, was dismounted and taken. Many other officers and fighting men of some note and distinction were also brought in. Of the lower order of townspeople there were taken Diwâneh, a Jamehweaver,1 and one nicknamed Kilmasuk, who were notorious as the chief ringleaders of the rabble, in fighting with stones and heading riots. They were directed to be put to death with torture, in retaliation for the foot-soldiers who had been slain at the Lover's Cave. The defeat of the men of Samarkand was decisive; from that time forward they never sallied out, and matters came to such a pass, that our people advanced right up to the edge of the ditch, and carried off numbers of male and female slaves close under the walls. The sun had now entered the sign of the Balance,2 and the cold was becoming severe. I assembled the Begs and held a consultation, when we agreed, that the townspeople were reduced to great distress; that, with the blessing of God, we were likely to take the place in a very few days; but that, as we were exposed to great inconvenience from being encamped in the open country, we should for the present break up from before the city, and construct winter quarters for ourselves in some neighbouring fort; that then, should we finally be obliged to draw off, we might do so without confusion. The fort of Khwâjeh Didâr seemed the fittest for our purpose. We therefore Retires to marched from our position, and halted in a plain in front of Khwâjeh Didâr. After waje visiting the fort, and marking out the ground for the huts and houses, we left workmen and overseers to go on with the work, and returned to our camp. During several days, while the houses for the winter quarters were building, we remained encamped on the plain. Meanwhile Baiesanghar Mirza sent repeated messengers into Turkestân3 to Sheibâni Khan, inviting him to come to his assistance. As soon as the erections in the fort were finished, we took up our quarters in it. The very next morning Sheibâni Khan, who had hastened by forced marches from 1 The Jameh is a gown or tunic. 2 It was the end of September or beginning of October. * This is the Turkestân north-west of Tashkend, north of the Sirr, and east of the Aral, where the head-quarters of the Uzbeks were, previous to their conquest of Bokhâra. Didâr. Sheibani Khan ap Turkestân, advanced and presented himself before my cantonments. My army was pears before in rather a scattered state, some of my people having gone to Rabat-Khwâjeh-Ameh,' Khwajeh some to Kâmid, other the Shirâz, for the purpose of securing proper winter quarters. Didar; Without being dismayed by these circumstances, however, I put the forces which were with me in array, and marched out to meet the enemy; when Sheibâni Khan did not venture to maintain his ground, but drew off towards Samarkand, and halted in its environs. Baiesanghar Mirza, disappointed on finding that Sheibâni Khan could not render him the effectual assistance which he had hoped for, gave him but an indifferent but returns reception; and, in the course of a few days, Sheibâni Khan, seeing that nothing could be done, returned back in despair to Turkestân. to Turkestân. Baiesan escapes from Samarkand, Baiesanghar Mirza had now sustained the blockade for seven months, and had plaghar Mirza ced his last hope in this succour. Disappointed in this too, he resigned himself to despair, and, accompanied by two or three hundred hungry and naked wretches, set out for Kundez to take refuge with Khosrou Shah. In the environs of Termez, while he was passing the river Amu, Syed Hussain Akber, the Hâkim or Governor of Termez, who was related to Sultan Masaûd Mirza, and high in his confidence, having received notice of his motions, advanced against him. The Mirza himself had just passed the river, but several of his men and horses that had fallen behind, were taken. Mirim Terkhân perished in the stream. One Muhammed Taher, a boy of Baiesanghar Mirza's, was taken prisoner. Baiesanghar Mirza met with a good reception from Khosrou Shah. and takes refuge with Khosrou Shah. Baber enters Samarkand. No sooner had Baiesanghar Mirza fled from Samarkand, than I received notice of the event. We instantly mounted and set out from Khwâjeh Didâr, for Samarkand. On the road we were met by the chief men of the city, and by the Begs; and these were followed by the young cavaliers, who all came out to welcome me. Having proThe end of ceeded to the citadel, I alighted at the Bostân Serai;2 and, towards the end of the November month of the first Rabîa, by the favour of God, I gained complete possession of the city and country of Samarkand. 1497. Description of Samar kand. In the whole habitable world there are few cities so pleasantly situated as Samarkand. It is situated in the fifth climate, in lat. 39° 37', and long. 99° 16'.3 The city is named Samarkand, and the country Mâweralnaher. As no enemy has ever stormed or conquered it, it is termed the protected city. Samarkand embraced Islâm in the reign of Osman the Commander of the Faithful, through the means of Kâsim-ibn-Abâs, who visited the city. His tomb is close by the Iron-gate, and is at present denominated Mazâr-i-Shah, or the Shah's tomb. The city of Samarkand was founded by Sekander. 5 The Moghul and Tûrki Hordes term it Samarkand. Taimur Beg made it his capital. Before Taimur Beg, no such great monarch had ever made it the seat of his government. I directed its wall to be paced round the rampart, and 1 Or Ghek. 6 2 Garden Palace. 3 This is the calculation in Ulugh Beg's tables. The longitude is from Ferro. 5 Alexander the Great. • The Persians and Arabs call it Samarqand, the Tûrks Samarkand, the former using the guttural Kaf, the latter the common one. |