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On finishing this inroad against the Hazâras, we moved down the river Bârân, into Goes to Ai.toghdi. the vicinity of Ai-toghdi, for the purpose of collecting the revenue of Nijrow. While I remained at Ai-toghdi, Jehangîr Mirza waited upon me from Ghazni.

7th Feb. 1506.

At this time, on the 13th of Ramzan,. I was attacked with so severe a lumbago, that His illness, for forty days I was unable to move, and was obliged to be turned from one side to the other by my people. Among the glens of the valley of Nijrow, that of Bechghan is the chief, and is the principal district in the valley. The headman, Hussain Ghaibi Agha, and his younger brother, were noted for their rebellious and contumacious spirit. I dispatched a division against him, under the command of Jehangir Mirza, whom I made Kâsim Beg accompany. The detachment went, attacked, and took by storm, a rough stone fort, or sanger, which had been thrown up, and inflicted on part of them the punishment they deserved. In consequence of the pain I suffered from my lumbago, they made a sort of litter, in which I was conveyed from the banks of the Bârân to the city, where I was lodged in the Bostân-Serâ, and spent there some part of that winter. My first complaint was not removed, when I was seized with boils on my right cheek, which I got lanced. I also used laxatives for this disorder.

On getting better I moved into the Chârbâgh. Jehangîr Mirza came thither to pay Defection of Jehangir his respects to me. Yûsef and Behlol, the sons of Ayub, from the time they had join- Mirza. ed the Mirza, had been instigating him to seditious and treasonable practices. I did not on this occasion find Jehangîr Mirza what he had formerly been. In the course of a few days he set out from his quarters, put on his mail, and went off hastily for Ghazni. Having taken Kila Baki, and killed several of the men in it, he completely plundered the place. He then pushed on, accompanied by all his retainers of every description, and directed his route through the midst of the Hazâras towards Bamiân.1 Almighty God knows that neither from me, nor any person dependent on me, did he receive any provocation by word or deed to occasion such violent measures. I afterwards learned that he assigned the following cause for his flight. At the time when Jehangir Mirza came from Ghaznin, and Kâsim Beg and the rest of the Begs went out Causes to meet him, the Mirza had thrown off a falcon at a Bûdineh, or quail. When the falcon had overtaken it, and was in the act of seizing it in his pounces, the quail dashed itself on the ground. There was a cry, "Has he taken it or not?" Kâsim Beg observed, "When he has reduced his enemy to such a plight, he will not let him off. No doubt, he will take him." This expression struck him, was misinterpreted, and was subsequently one of the causes of the Mirza's elopement. They also noted and treasured up one or two expressions still more idle and unmeaning than even this. In a word, having acted at Ghazni in the manner that has been mentioned, they passed through the midst of the Hazâras, and repaired to the Aimâks. At that time the Aimâks had left Nâsir Mirza, but were in a state of hostilities with the Uzbeks, and lived in Yai, Asterâb, and the summer habitations in that quarter.

1 Bamiân, or Bût-Bamiân, lies north-west from Ghazní, among the hills.

2 The Aimâks inhabit the hill-country west of the Hazâras, towards Herât. This, however, appears to have been only one wandering tribe of them.

of it.

Sultan Hus

sain Mirza

resolves to

oppose
Sheibâni
Khan.
Summons

Baber.

Sheibâni takes

At this very juncture Sultan Hussâin Mirza having come to a determined resolution to check the progress of Muhammed Sheibâni Khan, summoned all his sons to attend him. He also sent Syed Afzel, the son of Syed Sultan Ali Khâb-bin (the dreamer), to summon me. It appeared to me expedient, to march towards Khorasân on many accounts. One of these was, that when a mighty prince like Sultan Hussain Mirza, who filled the throne of Taimur Beg, had collected his sons and Amîrs from every quarter, with the intention of attacking so formidable an enemy as Sheibâni Khân, if others went on their feet, it became me to accompany them were it on my head; if others went against him with sticks, it was my business to go were it only with stones. Another consideration was, that Jehangîr Mirza having shown his hostility, it became necessary either to remove his animosity, or to repel his aggressions.

This year Sheibâni Khan besieged Hussain Sûfi in Khwârizm, which he took after Khwarizm. a siege of ten months. In the course of this siege a number of desperate actions were fought, and the men of Khwârizm displayed many deeds of consummate bravery, and distinguished themselves by their gallant exertions; they discharged their arrows with so much force that often they pierced through both shield and mail, and frequently right through the double cuirass. For ten months was the siege protracted; when, there being no hope of succour from any quarter, some mean and dastardly wretches among the inhabitants, having lost heart, entered into an understanding with the Uzbeks, and introduced them into the fortress. Hussain Sûfi, on hearing the alarm, repaired to the spot, charged those who had scaled the walls, and while in the act of driving them out, was struck with an arrow, and died. This put an end to the contest, and the place was taken. The blessing of God rest on Hussain Sûfi, who never hesitated for a moment, in the midst of danger and distress, gallantly to expose his life at the call of duty.

Death of
Sultan

Hussain
Mirza.

His birth and extraction. 1438-9.

Sheibâni Khan having committed Khwârizm to the care of Kuchek-bi,' himself repaired to Samarkand.

In the latter part of this year, in the month of Zilhajeh,2 Sultan Hussain Mirza, when he had collected an army for the purpose of acting against Sheibâni Khân, and had advanced as far as Baba Ilâhi, was called to the mercy of God.

He was born in the year 842 at Heri, in the time of Shah-rokh Mirza. Sultan Hussain was the son of Mansûr, the son of Baikrâ, the son of Omer-Sheikh, the son of Amir Taimur. Mansur Mirza and Baikra Mirza never mounted the throne. His mother was Firôzeh Begum, a grand-daughter of Taimur Beg. Sultan Hussain Mirza was also the grandson of Mirânshah. He was of exalted birth, and of royal race by both parents. There were born of that marriage, two brothers and two sisters of the full blood, Baikra Mirza, Sultan Hussain Mirza, Aka Begum, and another sister, whom Ahmed Khan married. Baikra Mirza, though elder than Sultan Hussain Mirza, served under him, but did not attend in the Diwân. Except when in the Diwân, they were accustomed to sit on the same cushion. The younger brother bestowed on him

1 It will be remarked, that several of Sheibâni's officers are called Bi, as Kamber-bi, Kuchek-bi, &c. This title of Bi is still given among the Uzbeks to the heads of families or clans.

2 The 1st of Zilhajeh corresponds to the 25th April, 1506.

the government of Balkh, which he held many years. He had three sons, Sultan Muhammed Mirza, Sultan Weis Mirza, and Sultan Iskander Mirza. Aka Begum was the Mirza's elder sister; she married Sultan Ahmed Mirza, the grandson of Mirânshah. She had one son named Kuchek Mirza, who at first entered into the service of his maternal uncle; but afterwards, renouncing the military life, devoted himself to letters. He is said to have become very learned, and had a genius for poetry. The following is one of his Rubais (quatrains) :·

:

(Persian.) For a while I plumed myself on my virtuous life;

I vaunted myself on my adherence to the rules of piety:
When Love came, what became of Virtue and Devotion?
Thanks be to God that I have proved myself.

There is a coincidence between these lines and a quatrain of the Mûlla (Jami's). Latterly he went on the pilgrimage of Mekka. Bedkeh Begum was the Mirza's younger sister. She was given in marriage to Ahmed Khan,' the Khan of Haji Terkhân. She had two sons by him, who came to Heri, and were long in the Mirza's service. He had strait narrow eyes, his body was robust and firm; from the waist down- His figure. wards he was of a slenderer make. Although he was advanced in years and had a white beard, he dressed in gay-coloured red and green woollen clothes. He usually wore a cap of black lamb's skin, or a kilpak.3 Now and then, on festival days, he put on a small turban tied in three folds, broad and showy, and having placed a plume nodding over it, went in this style to prayers.

4

character.

On first mounting the throne, he took it into his head that he would cause the His mannames of the twelve Imams to be recited in the Khûtbeh. Many used their endea-ners and vours to prevent him. Finally, however, he directed and arranged everything according to the orthodox Sunni faith.. From a disorder in his joints, he was unable to perform his prayers, nor could he observe the stated fasts. He was a lively, pleasant man. His temper was rather hasty, and his language took after his temper. In many instances he displayed a profound reverence for the faith; on one occasion, one of his sons having slain a man, he delivered him up to the avengers of blood to be carried before the judgment-seat of the Kazi. For about six or seven years after he first ascended the throne, he was very guarded in abstaining from such things as were forbidden by the law; afterwards he became addicted to drinking wine. During nearly forty years that he was King of Khorasân, not a day passed in which he did not drink after midday prayers; but he never drank wine in the morning. His sons, the whole of the soldiery, and the town's-people, followed his example in this respect, and seemed to vie with each other in debauchery and lasciviousness. He was a brave and valiant man.

1 Ahmed Khan, the son of Hâji Terkhân, chief of the Kozaks.-Leyden. The reading in the text is that of the other manuscripts. Hâji-terkhân is the proper name of Astrakhan. 2 Literally, he was lion-bodied. 3 The Kilpâk is the Turkomân cap. Seh-pich.

5 This was a proof that he was then a Shia. The Khûtbeh is the prayer for the prince.

6 The word perform may be excused in speaking of Musulman prayers, as a great part of them consists in ceremonial bendings and prostrations. Hence the disease in his joints made it difficult for Sultan Hussain Mirza to observe the injunctions of the law.

His wars and battles.

He often engaged sword in hand in fight, nay, frequently distinguished his prowess hand to hand several times in the course of the same fight. No person of the race of Taimur Beg ever equalled Sultan Hussain Mirza in the use of the scymitar. He had a turn for poetry, and composed a Diwân. He wrote in the Tûrki. His poetical name was Hussaini. Many of his verses are far from being bad, but the whole of the Mirza's Diwân is in the same measure. Although a prince of dignity, both as to years and extent of territory, he was as fond as a child of keeping butting rams, and of amusing. himself with flying pigeons and cock-fighting.

One of his exploits was on the banks of the river of Kûrkân,1 when he plunged into the stream, passed it, and completely routed a party of Uzbeks. Another was, when Sultan Abûsaîd Mirza nominated Muhammed Ali Bakhshi to the command of three thousand horse, with instructions to proceed without halt, and attack him by surprise, Sultan Hussain Mirza advanced to meet them with only sixty men, fell upon them straightway, and fairly discomfited them. This was a gallant and most distinguished achievement of Sultan Hussain Mirza. On another occasion he had a battle with Sultan Mahmud Mirza at Asterâbâd, and defeated him. He had also another fight at Asterâbâd, when he beat Hussain Turkomân Saadlîmek. Another of his battles was after mounting the throne, when he engaged and routed Yâdgâr Muhammed Mirza in Khabârân. Another of his exploits was when, passing the bridge of the Murghâb,' he proceeded by forced marches, and surprised and took prisoner Yâdgâr Muhammed Mirza, who was lying in a state of intoxication in the Bagh-Tâghân (or Raven Garden),3 after a debauch, and by this success gained the undisturbed possession of Khorasan. Another of them was at Chekman, in the vicinity of Andekhûd and Shaberghân, where he encountered and defeated Sultan Mahmûd Mirza. Another of them was, when Ababeker Mirza came from Irâk, accompanied by the Turkomâns of the Black-sheep, defeated Ulugh Beg Mirza in Takâneh and Khimâr, and took Kâbul, which he abandoned in consequence of the confusions in Irâk, passed by way of Kheiber, traversed the territory of Khûshâbs and Multân, and entered Sîvî,7 from whence he proceeded and occupied Kermân; but being unable to retain it, he again entered the country of Khorasan, when Sultân Hussain Mirza came upon him by surprise, and took him prisoner. On another occasion, at the bridge of Chirâgh, he defeated Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza, one of his own sons. At another time he raised an army, with which he besieged Kundez, but was forced to abandon the siege; on another occasion he besieged Hissâr, but not succeeding, he raised the siege. Another of his enterprizes was when he marched against Zûlnûn Beg's country; the Darogha of Bist surrendered the place, but he could effect nothing farther, and was obliged even to abandon Bîst and retreat. Sultan Hussain Mirza, though a great and warlike prince,

8

1 Kurkân, Gurgân, or Jorjân, lies on the south-east of the Caspian.

* Pule-murghȧb-perhaps the name of a village.

About 60 miles west from Balkh.

6

East of the Sind.

3 At Herât.
5 Karakuelûk.
7 Siwistân.

8 This transaction, and the one which follows it, have been already mentioned in the Memoirs. Bost, or Bîst, is the Kila Beast of Mr Elphinstone's map, on the left bank of the Helmend, below its junction with the Arghand-ab. This expedition of Sultan Hussain Mirza was against Zemîn Dâwer, which is higher up on the opposite bank of the Helmend, and river of Siahbend.

accomplished nothing worthy of his dignity in these two or three enterprizes, and returned baffled. At another time, he engaged and defeated in the Auleng-Nîshîn his son Badîa-ez-zemân Mirza, who had advanced, accompanied by Shah Shujâ Beg, the son of Zûlnûn Beg. On this occasion a singular coincidence occurred. Sultan Hussain Mirza, having divided his army, had sent the main body towards Asterâbâd. On the very day of the battle, the army that had been dispatched against Asterâbâd returned and joined him and the very same day, Sultan Masaûd Mirza, from whom Hissâr had been wrested by Baiesangher Mirza, made his appearance from another quarter, and also joined Sultan Hussain Mirza.

His kingdom was that of Khorasân, which on the east has Balkh, on the west Bos- His domitam and Damghân, on the north Khwarizm, and on the south Khandahâr and Sîstân. nions. After the fine city of Heri fell into his hands, his whole time was devoted, night and day, to revelry and enjoyment; and there was not one of his servants or dependents, who, in like manner, did not give himself up to pleasure and riot. The cares of ambition and the necessary toils of military discipline were consequently neglected. Hence, down to the time of his death, his dominions and servants went on diminishing, without getting any corresponding increase.

dren.

He had fourteen sons and eleven daughters who lived. The eldest of his sons was His chilBadîa-ez-zemân Mirza, whose mother was the daughter of Senjer Mirza of Merv. Badia-ezAnother was Shah Gherîb Mirza. Although his form was not prepossessing, he zeman had a fine genius; and though his constitution was feeble, he had a powerful style. Gherîb He assumed the poetical name of Ghûrbi, and composed a diwân. He wrote verses Mirza. both in Persic and Tûrki. The following is his :

I had a passing glance of a fairy face, and became inflamed to madness with her love;
What is her name, where her abode, I know not.

Sultan Hussain Mirza gave Shah Gherîb the government of Heri for some time. He
departed in his father's lifetime, leaving no son nor daughter.

Mirza.

Mirza.

Another was Muzaffer Hussain Mirza, who was the favourite son of Sultan Hussain Muzaffer Hussain Mirza, although there was nothing in his manners or conduct to justify such marked favour. In consequence of the decided partiality which he showed to this son, several of the others were induced to revolt. Khadijeh Begum, who had been a concubine of Sultan Abusaîd Mirza's, was the mother of the two last-mentioned Mirzas. She had likewise a daughter by the Mirza, named Ak Begum.1

san and

Another of his sons was Abul Hassan Mirza. Another was Kepek Mirza,2 as he was Abul Hasgenerally called, but his name was Muhammed Mokhsin Mirza. The mother of these Kepek two was Latifeh Sultan Aghâcheh.

Mirzas.

Another was Abu Terâb Mirza, who in early life was highly extolled for his rapid Abu Terab acquirements. When his father's illness increased and became extreme, having heard Mirza. something to alarm him, he went to Irâk, accompanied by his younger brother, Muhammed Hussain Mirza. He there renounced the profession of arms, and betook himself to that of a dervish. I never heard of him afterwards. He had one son, Sohrâb

1 The Fair Princess.-Leyden.

2 Kepek Mirza, from being round-shouldered.-Leyden.

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