express by Abdal Wahâb Shaghâwel. The messenger accomplished this distance, which is one hundred and twenty-six farsangs,' on horseback in four days. Duladai. Another of his Amîrs was Hafez Beg Duladâi, the son of Sultan Malek Kâshghari, Hafez Beg and a younger brother of Ahmed Haji Beg. After the death of Khoda-berdi Beg, he was appointed Master of the Household, and sent to succeed him. As he was unpopular among the Begs of Andejân, on the death of Sultan Abusaîd Mirza, he repaired to Samarkand, and entered into the service of Sultan Ahmed Mirza. When the news arrived of the defeat of Sultan Ahmed Mirza in the battle on the Chirr, he was governor of Uratippa, and when Omar-Sheikh Mirza had reached Uratippa on his way to attack Samarkand, Hafez Beg delivered up the place to the Mirza's people, and himself entered into his service. Omar-Sheikh Mirza again intrusted him with the government of Andejân. He latterly went into the service of Sultan Mahmûd Khan, who gave him the charge of Mirza Khan with the government of Dizak.3 Before I took Kâbul he had set out by way of Hind, with the intention of making a pilgrimage to Mekka, but, on the road, he departed to the mercy of God. He was a plain unassuming man, of few words, and not very profound. Hussein Another was Khwâjeh Hussein Beg, who was a good-humoured man, of plain, sim- Khwȧjeh ple manners; he excelled in singing at drinking parties, as was the fashion of the time, Beg what was called Tûiúk, a sort of Moghul drinking-song. There was another named Sheikh Mazîd Beg, who was first appointed my governor. Sheikh MaHis arrangements and discipline were excellent. He had been in the service of Baber Mirza. No man stood higher in the esteem of Omar-Sheikh Mirza than himself. He was, however, of grossly libidinous habits, and addicted to pederasty. zîd Beg. Kochin. Ali Mazîd Beg Kochin was another. He twice rebelled, once in Akhsi and once in Ali Mazid Tâshkend. He was a libidinous, treacherous, good-for-nothing hypocrite. Another was Hassan Yâkûb Beg, who was frank, good-tempered, clever, and active. Hassan YâThe following verses are his Return again, O Hûma," for without the parrot down of thy cheek He was a man of courage, an excellent archer, and remarkable for his skill in playing the games of choughân" and leap-frog. After the death of Omar-Sheikh Mirza, he 1 Upwards of five hundred miles. ? The Persian has Ahmed Chachi Beg. 3 Jizzikh. 'This Baber Mirza was the son of Baiesanghar, the son of Shahrokh, one of Taimur Beg's sons. He was an active prince, was for some time master of Khorasân, and died a. D. 1457. 5 The Hûma is a bird much celebrated in oriental poetry. It never alights on the ground, and it is believed that every head which it overshadows will one day wear a crown. The verses here quoted are written in the character of one in adversity, who had formerly indulged better hopes. 6 The choughân is a game played by men on horseback, with long crooked sticks. They divide into two parties, each party trying themselves to hole a ball and to prevent the other party doing it. It requires both strength and skill. See Ayeen Akbery, vol. I. p. 249. kûb Beg. Kasim Beg became Master of my Household. He was, however, narrow-minded, of small capacity, and a promoter of dissension. Another was Kâsim Beg Kochin, who was one of the ancient Begs of the army of Andejân. He succeeded Hassan Beg as Master of the Household. As long as he lived, his power and consequence with me went on increasing uninterruptedly. He was a brave man. On one occasion, a party of Uzbeks having ravaged the country round Kâsân,' were on their retreat, when he pursued, overtook, engaged, and gave them a severe defeat. He had also distinguished himself by his gallant use of his scymiter in presence of Omar-Sheikh Mirza. In the war of Yâsi-kijet he made some bold forays. During my difficulties, when I proposed going from the hill-country of Masîkhi to Sultan Mahmûd Khan, Kâsim Beg separated from me, and went to Khosrou Shah. In A. D. 1504, the year 910, when I took Khosrou Shah and blockaded Mokîm in Kabul, Kâsim Beg came again and joined me, and I showed him my wonted affection and regard. When I attacked the Turkoman Hazaras in the Dera, or glen of Khîsh, as Kâsim Beg, notwithstanding his advanced years, displayed more ardour than many younger men, I gave him the government of the country of Bangash as a reward for his services. Afterwards, on my return to Kabul, I appointed him governor to Humâiûn.3 He was received into the mercy of God about the time I reduced the Zemîn Dâwer. He was a pious, religious, faithful Moslem, and carefully abstained from all doubtful meats. His judgment and talents were uncommonly good. He was of a facetious turn, and though he could neither read nor write, had an ingenious and elegant vein of wit. Baba Kuli Mir Ali hai. Another was Baba Kûli Beg, of the family of Sheikh Ali Behâder. After the death of Sheikh Mazîd Beg, he was appointed my governor. When Sultan Ahmed Mirza led his army against Andejân, he went over to him and delivered Uratippa into his hands. After Sultan Mahmûd Mirza's death, he fled from Samarkand, and was on his way to join me, when Sultan Ali Mirza, issuing out of Uratippa, encountered, defeated, and slew him. He was remarkable for maintaining his troops in good order, and with excellent equipments. He kept a watchful eye over his servants, but neither prayed nor fasted, and was cruel, and like an infidel in his whole deportment. Another was Mir Ali Dost Taghai, who was of the Begs of the Tumans of SaghriDost Tag- chi, and related to my maternal grandmother Isan-doulet-begum. I showed him great favour from the time of Omar-Sheikh Mirza. I was told that he would be an useful man; but during all the years that he was with me, I cannot tell what service he ever did. He had been in Sultan Abusaîd Mirza's service, and pretended to be an enchanter. He was Grand Huntsman, and was a man of disagreeable manners and habits, covetous, mean, seditious, insincere, self-conceited, harsh of speech, and sour of visage. 1 A city to the north of the Sirr. 2 So denominated from the battle fought at Yâsi-kijet, A. H. 904.' 3 Baber's son, who succeeded him in his dominions. 4 The district of Zemîn Dâwer lies about ninety miles west of Kandahar, on the right bank of the Hermend, towards the upper part of its course, after it issues from the mountains. 5 For an account of the Yedeh and Yedeh-ji-geri, see the Introduction, p. xlvii. These magicians pretended chiefly to bring rain by rubbing the Yedeh stone. Weis Laghari was another. He was from Samarkand and of the Tokchi tribe, and Weis Lawas latterly much in the confidence of Omar-Sheikh Mirza. He attended me on my expeditions. He was a man of excellent understanding and talents, but a little disposed to be factious. ghari. Taghai. Mîr Ghiâs Taghai, the younger brother of Ali Dost, was another. None of all the Mir Ghiâs young Moghul Emirs in Sultan Abusaîd Mirza's court was a greater favourite, and the Great Seal' was delivered to his custody by that prince. He was in very great favor with Omar-Sheikh Mirza in his latter years, and was on intimate terms with Weis Laghari. From the time that Sultan Mahmûd Khan got possession of Kâsân, till the end of his life, he remained in the service of the Khan, by whom he was treated with great consideration. He was an extremely witty and jocose man, but fearless in debauchery. There was another named Ali Dervish, a native of Khorasan, who served in the Ali Dervish. Khorasan Bands under Sultan Abusaîd Mirza; for when that prince got possession of Samarkand and Khorasân, be formed such of the young men of these two kingdoms as were fit for service into bands of household troops, which he termed the Bands of Khorasan, and the Bands of Samarkand. He made a gallant charge in my presence in the affair at the gate of Samarkand. He was a brave man. He wrote the Nastâlik character after a fashion. He was, however, a gross flatterer, and sordidly mean and miserly. 2 Kamber Ali, Moghul, an Akhteji, was another; when his father came to the coun- Kamber try, he for some time exercised the trade of a skinner, whence he got the name of Ali, Moghul. Kamber Ali Selakh, (or the skinner.) He had served Yunis Khan in the capacity of Ewer-bearer, but finally arrived at the rank of Beg. From me he received distinguished favours. Till he had attained high rank, his conduct was exceedingly good; but, after he had gained a certain elevation, he became negligent and perverse. He talked a great deal and very idly; indeed there can be no doubt that a great talker must often talk foolishly. He was a man of contracted capacity, and of a muddy brain. At the time when this fatal accident befel Omar-Sheikh Mirza, I was in Andejân, 10 June, at the Chârbâgh palace. On Tuesday the fifth of Ramzân, the news reached Ande- 1494. jân; I immediately mounted in the greatest haste, and taking with me such of my tempts An deján. followers as were at hand, set out to secure the castle. When I had just reached what is called the Mirza's gate, Shiram Taghâi seized my horse's bridle and carried me towards the Id-gâh.5 The idea had entered his mind that, as Sultan Ahmed Mirza, 1 Moher-charsûi, the square seal. Chardin, in describing the seals used in the Persian court in his time, says, "Le sceau carré est le plus consideré, et celui auquel on obeit le plus regulierement; c'est proprement le sceau ou le seing du roi, car il le porte a son cou; et ses ancêtres, de puis Abas le Grand, en ont fait de même."-See Voyages de Chardin, tom. V. p. 461, of the edition of M. Langlès. " D'Herbelot informs us that Akhteji, in the Moghul tongue, signifies a vassal who holds his states of a liege-lord.-See Art. Akhtagi, in the Bibliotheque Orientale. In the Turki it signifies a gelder. 3 Baber now returns to the death of his father, who was killed by falling from the pigeon-house at Ahsi. These words mean also, metaphorically, "stopped me by the way.” "The Id-gâh or Namâzzâh is generally an open terrace, with a wall on the side towards the kibleh, and on the outside of the town, whither on festival days the people go out in crowds to pray. Baber at Is received into the Citadel. Sultan Ah approaches Andejân. who was a powerful prince, was approaching with a great army, the Begs of Andejâu might deliver up both the country and me into his hands; he was therefore for conducting me towards Urkend' and the country on the skirt of the hills in that quarter, that if they should deliver up the country, I might not fall into his power, but might join my maternal uncles Ilcheh Khan or Sultan Mahmûd Khan. Khwâjeh Moulâna Kazi, the son of Sultan Ahmed Kazi, was of the race of Sheikh Bûrhanân-ed-dîn Kilij, and by the mother's side descended of Sultan Ilik Mâzi. He was sprung of a religious family that had come to be regarded as the protectors of that country. This family in some sort held the office of Sheikh-ul-Islâm2 by hereditary descent, and will hereafter be often mentioned. The Kazi, and the Begs who were in the Castle, on hearing of our proceedings, sent Khwajeh Muhammed Derzi, who was an old and trusty household servant3 of Omar-Sheikh Mirza, and the Beg-utkeh or governor of one of his daughters, to dispel our apprehensions. He overtook us and made me turn, after we had nearly reached the Id-gâh, and conducted me into the citadel, where I alighted. Khwâjeh Moulâna Kazi and the Begs having met in my presence, held a consultation; and, after having mutually communicated their ideas, and resolved on their plan, applied themselves to put the fortress, with its towers and ramparts, in a state of defence. Hassan Yâkub, Kâsim Kochîn, and some other Begs, who had been sent on an excursion to Marghinân and that quarter, arrived a day or two after, and entered into my service; and all of them, with one heart and soul, set themselves zealously to maintain the place. 5 Sultan Ahmed Mirza, after having made himself master of Uratippa, Khojend, and med Mirza Marghinân, advanced to Kaba, within four farsangs of Andejan, and encamped. At this time one Dervish Gaw, a man of note in Andejân, was capitally punished on account of some seditious expressions, an example which reduced all the rest of the inhabitants to their duty. I now sent Khwâjeh Kazi, Uzûn Hussan, and Khwâjeh Hussain, as ambassadors, to Sultan Ahmed Mirza, with a message to this effect:-"It is plain that you must place some one of your servants in charge of this country; I am at once your servant and your son; if you intrust me with this employment, your purpose will be attained in the most satisfactory and easy way." As Sultan Ahmed Mirza was a mild, weak man, of few words, who was implicitly guided in all his opinions and actions by his Begs; and as they were not favourably disposed to this proposition, a harsh answer was returned, and he marched forward.-But the Almighty God, who, of his perfect power, 1 Urkend or Uzkent lies towards the Ala-tagh hills north of Ush. 6 The Sheikh-ul-Islâm is the chief Judge in all civil and religious causes which are decided by the divine law (Sheriat). There is generally one in each great city. The Seder, when there is one, is the superior officer. 3 I am at a loss for the correct meaning of Baberian, which often occurs. It appears to signify one who had been about the person of a prince from infancy. It is sometimes written Baeriân. 4 Kaba was a small town on the river Kaba, west of Andejân. 5 Mr Elphinstone's Turki copy has four Yeghaji. The Persian four Kos. "Baber, like all other Turks, uses the word Tengri for Deity. It is of Pagan origin, and seems originally to have been Moghul. It is now current all over Tartary and in China. It has found its way too into Persian, and is used for the Almighty. has, in his own good time and season, accomplished my designs in the best and most proper manner, without the aid of mortal strength, on this occasion also brought certain events to pass, which reduced the enemy to great difficulties, frustrated the object of their expedition, and made them return without success, heartily repenting of their attempt. his failure. One of these was the following; the Kaba is a black river and extremely slimy, in- Causes of somuch, that it can be only passed by a bridge: as the host was very numerous, there was a great crowding on the bridge, and many horses and camels fell over into the black water and perished. Now as three or four years before this, the same troops had suffered a severe defeat at the passage of the river Chirr, the present disaster recalled the former to their remembrance, and the soldiers of the army were seized with a panic. Another circumstance was, that, at this time, a disease attacked the horses with such violence that they were taken ill, and began to die in great numbers. A third circumstance was, that they found my soldiers and subjects so unanimous and resolute, that they perceived clearly that their determination was to fight to the last drop of their blood, and the last gasp of their life, without yielding, and that they would never submit to the government of the invaders. Disconcerted by these circumstances, after they had come within one farsang of Andejân, they on their part sent Dervish Muhammed Terkhân, who was met near the Idgah by Hassan Yâkub, from the castle, when they conferred together and patched up a sort of a peace, in consequence of which the invading army retired. Mahmud northern In the meanwhile Sultan Mahmûd Khan had entered the country on the north of Sultan the river of Khojend in a hostile manner, and laid siege to Akhsi. Jehângîr Mirza Khan inwas in the place, and Ali Dervish Beg, Mirza Kuli Gokultâsh, Muhammed Baker vades the Beg, and Sheikh Abdulla the Chamberlain,' were along with him. Weis Laghari and Provinces. Mir Ghîâs Taghâi were also there, but, in consequence of some misunderstanding between them and the other Begs, they withdrew to Kâsân, which was Weis Laghari's government. As Weis Laghari was Beg-Utke (or governor) to Nâsir Mirza, that prince resided at Kâsân. As soon as the Khan arrived in the neighbourhood of Akhsi, these Begs waited on him, and surrendered Kâsân: Mir Ghîâs continued with the Khan; but Weis Laghari carried off Nâsir Mirza and delivered him to Sultan Ahmed Mirza, by whom he was given in charge to Muhammed Mazîd Terkhân. The Khan having approached Akhsi, made several assaults on it, but without success; the Begs and youth of Akhsi fought with distinguished valour. At this crisis Sultan Mahmûd But is forKhan fell sick, and being besides disgusted with the war, returned to his own country. treat. Ababeker Doghlet Kâshghari, who acted as an independent prince, and had for Ababeker several years been Hâkim of Kâshghar and Khoten, was seized, like the rest, with the Kashghari desire of conquest, and had advanced to Uzkend, where he constructed a fortress, and Ferghana employed himself in plundering and laying waste the country. Khwâjeh Kazi and a number of Begs were dispatched to expel him. When the army approached, the Ishek-Agha, lord or keeper of the entrance or door, an officer resembling the chamberlain, or perhaps rather a master of ceremonies, and of some consequence in Asiatic courts. C ced to re invades on the east. |