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Next morning the Terkhâns collected round the house of Khwâjehka Khwâjeh, demanding the prince; but the Khwâjeh refused to deliver him up; while they, on the other hand, dared not seize him by force, the Khwâjeh's influence being too great to permit them to make such an attempt. After one or two days, Khwâjeh Abul MakâThe inhabi- rim, Ahmed Hâji Beg, and some others of the Begs and soldiers, with a multitude of the town's-people rising tumultuously, brought away the Mirza from the Khwâjeh's house, and besieged Sultan Ali Mirza and the Terkhâns in the citadel, which they were unable to hold out for a single day. Muhammed Mazîd Terkhân escaping by the gate of the four roads,' proceeded to Bokhâra; while Sultan Ali Mirza, with Dervîsh Muhammed Terkhân, fell into the hands of the assailants.

tants rise

and expel the Ter

khâns.

Baiesanghar Mirza was in Ahmed Hâji Beg's house when Dervish Muhammed Terkhân was brought in. One or two questions were put to him, to which he gave no satisfactory answer; and indeed the business in which he had been engaged was not such as admitted of it. He was ordered to be put to death. He showed a want of firmness, and clung to a pillar; but this did not save him, and he received his punishSulta Ali ment. Sultan Ali Mirza was ordered to be conducted to Gok-serâi, and to have the Mirzi sent mil or fire-pencil applied to his eyes. The Gok-serâi is one of the palaces which Tai

to Gok-se

râi;

2

mur Beg built; it is situated in the citadel of Samarkand. It is remarkable on this account, that every prince of the race of Taimur who is elevated to the throne, mounts it at this place; and every one who loses his life for aspiring to the throne loses it here. Insomuch, that it has passed into a common expression, that such a prince has been conducted to the Gok-serâi, a hint which is perfectly well understood to mean, that he has been put to death. Sultan Ali Mirza was accordingly carried to Gok-serâi, and had the fire-pencil applied to his eyes; but whether it happened from the surgeon's want of skill, or from intention, no injury was done to them. Without disclosing this but escapes, circumstance, he went to Khwâjeh Yahîa's house, and, after two or three days, fled, and joined the Terkhâns at Bokhâra. From this period an enmity subsisted between the sons of the reverend Khwâjeh Abîd-ulla, for the elder became the spiritual guide of the elder prince, and the younger of the younger. In a few days Khwâjeh Yahîa followed him to Bokhâra.

and defeats Baiesan

Baiesanghar Mirza, having collected an army, advanced towards Bokhâra against ghar Mirza. Sultan Ali Mirza; but when he arrived in the vicinity of that city, Sultan Ali Mirza and the Terkhân Begs, having arrayed their force, marched out, and a trifling action ensued, which terminated in favour of Sultan Ali Mirza, Baiesanghar Mirza being

1 Derwázeh chehâr-râheh.

2 Probably with a reference to the usage of the Tartars and Arabs, with whom the pole that supports the tent is sacred and considered as a sanctuary; a reverence in some situations transferred to the pillar of a house.

3 It is curious that though Gok-serâi, the green palace, is here said to be one of the palaces built by Taimur Beg, we are told by Petis de la Croix, Hist. of Genghis Can, p. 171, that that conqueror put to death Gayer Khan, who made the brave defence of Otrar, in the palace of Gheucserai, and the same fact is repeated p. 227, and said to have taken place in Gheucserai, without the city of Samarkand. Perhaps Taimur Beg only rebuilt the palace, or the proverbial saying, applied by a later historian, may have produced the mistake.

defeated. Ahmed Hâji Beg was taken prisoner, with a number of his best troops, the greater part of whom were put to death. The male and female servants and slaves of Dervish Muhammed Terkhân, under pretence of revenging the blood of their master, put Ahmed Hâji Beg to a miserable death. Sultan Ali Mirza pursued Baiesanghar Mirza as far as Samarkand.

against Sa

This intelligence reached me at Andejân in the month of Shawal,' and in that same Baber month I too mounted and set out with my army to attempt the conquest of Samar- marches kand. As Sultan Hussain Mirza had retired from Hissâr and Kundez, and as Sultan markand. Masaûd Mirza and Khosrou Shah had recovered from their alarm, Sultan Masaûd Mirza now likewise, on his side, advanced by Shehrsebz,2 in order to assert his pretensions to Samarkand. Khosrou Shah sent his younger brother Wali to accompany

invaded on

the Mirza. For three or four months Samarkand was thus beleaguered on three sides; Samarkand when Khwâjeh Yahîa came to me from Sultan Ali Mirza, with proposals for an alliance three sides. and confederacy between us, and managed matters so successfully that a personal conference was agreed upon. I therefore moved with my army three or four farsangs, 3 on the Soghd side of Samarkand, and he also came from the opposite direction with his army towards the same place. Sultan Ali Mirza then advancing on his side with four or five persons, and I on mine with the same number, we had an interview on Baber's inhorseback in the midst of the river Kohik; and after a short conference, he returned terview with towards his own side and I to mine. On that occasion I saw Mulla Binâi and Mu- Mirza. hammed Saleh, who were with the Khwâjeh. Muhammed Saleh I never saw except on this occasion; but Mulla Binâi' was afterwards for some time in my service.

Sultan Ali

After this conference with Sultan Ali Mirza, as the winter season was fast approaching, and great scarcity prevailed in the country of Samarkand, I returned to Andejân, and Sultan Ali Mirza to Bokhâra. Sultan Masaûd Mirza being deeply enamoured of the daughter of Shiekh Abdulla Birlas, married her; and renouncing his schemes of ambition, returned to Hissâr. Nay, this was his only object in advancing against Sa- The inva markand.

About this time Mehedi Sultan fled from the territory of Shirâz and Kanbâi and went to Samarkand; and Khamzeh Sultan, having received my permission, also went from Ramîn and repaired to the same place.

1 The month of Shawal A. H. 901, begins 13th June 1496.

2 Or Kesh, S. E. of Samarkand.

3 About fourteen miles; the Persian has sharaa (kos), which would be probably six or seven miles.

4

A particular account of Mulla Binâi is afterwards given in describing the eminent men of Sultan Hussain Mirza's Court. He was distinguished as a man of letters and a wit.

ders all retire.

Mehedi

Sultan de.

Kerîm.

THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE YEAR 902.1

DURING this winter the affairs of Baiesanghar Mirza had attained their most prosperous situation. Abdal Kerîm Ashret having advanced on the part of Sultan Ali Mirza to Kôfîn and its environs, Mehedi Sultan issued from Samarkand with Baiesanfeats Abdal ghar Mirza's light troops, and attacked him by surprise. Abdal Kerîm Ashret and Mehedi Sultan having met face to face, engaged each other with their scymitars. Abdal Kerîm's horse fell with him, and, as he was in the act of rising, Mehedi Sultan struck a blow that severed his wrist; after which he took him prisoner and completely defeated the invaders. These Sultans, however, perceiving that the affairs of Samarkand and the court of the Mirzas were in complete disorder, availed themselves of their foresight and went off to join Sheibâni Khan.

to surprise Bokhara.

Elated by the issue of this skirmish, the men of Samarkand assembled and marched out in array to meet Sultan Ali Mirza. Baiesanghar Mirza advanced to Sirepûl, and Unsuccess- Sultan Ali Mirza to Khwâjeh Kardzin. At this same time, Khwâjeh Abul Makârim, ful attempt with Weis Laghari, Muhammed Bâkir, and Mîr Kâsim Dûldâi, who were of the Begs of Andejân, acting on the advice of Khwâjeh Murâd, set out one night with a party of the household and retainers of Baiesanghar Mirza, intending to surprise Bokhâra. Before they reached the city, however, the people of Bokhâra were alarmed, and the attempt failed; so that they were obliged to return back without effecting anything.

Baber marches against Samarkand. May 1497.

24 June

1497.

In my conference with Sultan Ali Mirza, it had been settled, that, in the summer, he should advance from Bokhâra, and I from Andejân, to form the siege of Samarkand. According to this agreement, in the month of Ramzân, I mounted, and proceeded from Andejân to Yar-Ilâk, where, having received information that the Mirzas were lying front to front, I dispatched Tûlûn Khwâjeh Moghul, with two or three hundred skirmishers, to advance on them with all expedition. By the time that they got near, Baiesanghar Mirza being apprized of our approach, broke up and retreated in great disorder. The detachment, that same night, having overtaken their rear, killed a number of men with their arrows, took a great many prisoners, and acquired much booty. In two days I arrived at the fortress of Shirâz, which at that time belonged to Kâsim Dûldâi. The commandant whom he had left in the place not being able to maintain it, delivered up the fortress, which I committed to the charge of Ibrahîm Saru. Next morning, after having performed the prayers of the Idi-Fitr, I proceeded towards Samarkand, and halted in the fields of Abyâr. The same day, Kasim

1 The year A. H. 902 begins on the 9th September 1496.

2 The Shirâz here spoken of lies about 25 miles north of Samarkand.

3 The Id-al-fitr is the festival of the first new moon in Shawal, when the long fast of Ramzân finishes. The first appearance of the new moon is watched for as the end of the fast, and is instantly announced, as the signal of joy, from the minarets of the mosques.

Fields of Abyar, the Kurûgh of Abyâr. These Kurûgh are retired fields, in which the Prince in the summer months encamps to enjoy the season, taking the females of his family with him. The outskirts of them are carefully guarded by patroles, to keep off intruders.

Duldâi, Weis Laghari, Hassan Nabîreh, Sultan Muhammed Sighel, and Sultan Muhammed Weis, with three or four hundred men, came and entered into my service. Their story was, that, as soon as Baiesanghar Mirza began his retreat, they had left him, and come to offer their services to the King. I afterwards discovered, however, that, at the time of parting from Baiesanghar Mirza, they had undertaken to defend the fortress of Shirâz, and had set out with that intention; but that, on discovering how things stood with regard to Shirâz, they found that there was nothing left for it but to come and join me.

puts some

death.

When I halted at Kara-bûlâk, many straggling Moghuls, who had been guilty of Kâsim Beg great excesses in different villages through which they had passed, were seized and Moghuls to brought in. Kâsim Beg ordered two or three of them to be cut to pieces, as an example. Four or five years afterwards, during my difficulties, when I went from Masîha to the Khan, Kâsim Beg found it necessary to separate from me on account of this very transaction,' and went to Hissâr.

camps at

Marching from Kara-bûlâk, I crossed the river, and halted near Yâm. The same Baber enday, some of my principal Begs attacked a body of Baiesanghar Mirza's troops on Yam. the Khiabân2 (or public pleasure-ground) of the city. In this skirmish, Sultan Ahmed Tambol was wounded in the neck with a spear, but did not fall from his horse. Khwâjehka Mullai, the Sadder (or chief judge), who was the elder brother of Khwâjeh Kilân, also received an arrow in the neck, and, on the spot, departed to the mercy of God. He was a man of worth. My father had shown him marks of regard, and appointed him keeper of the seal. He was a man of learning, and had great knowledge of language. He excelled in falconry, and was acquainted with magic.3 While we were in the vicinity of Yâm, a number of persons, both traders and others, came from the town to the camp-bazar, and began to traffic, and to buy and sell. One day, about afternoon prayers, there was suddenly a general hubbub, and the whole of those Musulmans were plundered. But such was the discipline of my army, that, on my issuing an order that no person should presume to detain any part of the effects or property that had been so seized, but that the whole should be restored without reserve, before the first watch of the next day was over, there was not a bit of thread or a broken needle that was not restored to the owner.

Yuret

Marching thence, I halted at Yuret-Khân,+ about three kos to the east of Samar- Moves to kand. I remained forty or fifty days on this station; and during our stay there many Khan.. sharp skirmishes took place on the Khiabân (or pleasure-ground of the city), between our people and the townsmen. In one of these actions, Ibrâhim Begchick received a

1 From an apprehension that the relations of the Moghuls so punished would prosecute the revenge of blood.

2 The Khiabân so often mentioned, is a large avenue, planted with several parallel rows of trees, and spreading over a considerable extent of ground, where the townspeople come out in the evening, or on holidays, to divert themselves. The dressed walks of a garden inclosed by low shrubs often receive the

same name.

3 Yedehgeri is properly the art of bringing on rain and snow by means of enchantment and sorcery.
• Yuret-Khân means in Tûrki the Khan's mansion or station. Three kos may be about five miles.

F

Attempt to surprise Samarkand.

Urgut sur renders.

Rupture between Sul

and Badiaez-zemân.

1

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.

3

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.

5

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. 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. ¡

This same year, the misunderstanding that had previously subsisted between Sultan tan 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 Badîa-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-Moghák may, however, be the name of a village. The Moghâk runs a little east of Samarkand.

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, milduess of manners, and mutual confidence.

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