At this time, a messenger came from Amyr Hussyn, who was at that period
a wanderer in the mountains and deserts, stating that as we were then
both emigrants, it would be advisable to unite our efforts; I wrote him
a letter appointing to meet him at the well of Sajai (or Sajuch);
thither I repaired, and in a few days was joined by him; we then entered
into consultation respecting our affairs, and determined that we should
go to Tukel Behader of Khyūk, and prevail on him to join us; when we
reached Khyūk, that scoundrel pretended to forget our former
acquaintance: according to the proverb, “mankind imitate their rulers,”
and wished to seize us; when I discovered his views, I explained them to
Amyr Hussyn, who at first would not believe me, but I gave him such
proofs, that he was at length convinced, and we made preparations for
going to Khuarizm, intending, when we should get possession of that
country, to raise the standard of sovereignty, and endeavour to conquer
Maveralnaher.
The plan we laid for invading Khuarizm, was this;[59] finding that Tukel
Behader had behaved in so ungrateful and treacherous a manner, we left
Khyūk in the middle of the night, and proceeded with all expedition
towards Khuarizm; when we reached Banat (or Bayab), we rested our
horses, and resolved to attempt taking the fort of Aurkunj by surprize,
which would then lead to the subjection of all Khuarizm: whilst we were
deliberating on this matter, we observed a cloud of dust arise in the
desert, and could soon discern an advance guard of cavalry coming
towards us; we immediately mounted, and I sent off Tughy Berlās to
reconnoitre; I then rode to the top of a hill in the desert, and waited
there; after a short time, Tughy Berlās returned and informed me, that
the foe was Tukel Behader, who had come in pursuit of us, having with
him about one thousand cavalry; I immediately sent for Amyr Hussyn, and
drew up our forces on the hill, in such a manner as to make them appear
more numerous than they were. In fact we had but sixty well mounted
troopers with us, these I formed into five sections; the first of these
I placed under the command of Tughy Berlās, the second I gave under
charge of Syf Addeen, the third to Bulkhy Behader, the fourth consisted
of Amyr Hussyn and his followers, and the fifth were my own (Khanēzād)
dependants, with whom I took possession of the top of the hill: when I
had made this arrangement, I gave each of them a flag to distinguish
them.
At this time, Tukel Behader having drawn out his thousand cavalry,
charged us, but was vigorously opposed by Tughy Berlās and Syf Addeen,
so that his leading divisions fell back in astonishment. These two
officers pursued their advantage, and fought with such intrepidity, that
both their horses were disabled; they however continued to fight on
foot, till I sent them two of my own horses, on which they mounted. The
horse of Bulkhy Behader, was also knocked down, so that I was obliged to
remount him from my own stud. At this period, of the whole number of the
enemy, only three hundred remained, the others had been either killed,
wounded, or fled. In the mean time, Amyr Hussyn had also drawn the sword
of courage, and having charged the centre of the enemy’s line approached
close to Tukel Behader, but the soldiers of the latter surrounded him;
seeing my brother-in-law in this situation, I rushed forward sword in
hand, and liberated him.
When the hour of evening prayer arrived, the chiefs of the enemy drew in
their reins; at this time they had only one hundred and fifty men
remaining, while my strength was reduced to twelve.[60]
After a short time, Tukel Behader again drew up his men, and charged us;
Amyr Hussyn and our remaining companions, devoted ourselves to death,
and when they attempted to seize us, I exerted myself in such a manner
as to overthrow several of their champions; at this moment, the horse of
Amyr Hussyn being wounded by an arrow, threw him; his wife Dil Shād
Aghā, however immediately dismounted, and gave him her horse. I
remounted Dil Shād Aghā upon the same horse with my wife, the sister of
Amyr Hussyn; we then commenced shooting our arrows, not one of which
missed its mark, till our quivers were emptied. There now remained of us
but seven mounted persons; but the enemy being also very much reduced,
they withdrew from the fight, and alighted in the plain: our small party
took the opportunity of proceeding on our journey; we were soon followed
by our adversaries, but they missed us, and lost their way in the
desert. After we had travelled a long way in these extensive plains, we
came to a well, and being very hungry and thirsty, we alighted;
fortunately for us, the water of the well was delicious.
We remained at the well all night, and in the morning I reckoned our
people, and found that they were seven mounted persons, and three foot
soldiers of Balkh; we continued by the well all that day, and
fortunately for us, a shepherd who was tending his flock in the desert,
brought them to drink at the well; as our provisions were exhausted, we
bought several goats, parts of them we roasted, and parts of them we
dressed between stones, and enjoyed ourselves exceedingly: we remained
there another night, during which time, the three footmen of Balkh,
ungratefully stole three of our horses, and rode off with them: we were
thus reduced to seven persons, with only four horses; but I did not then
despond, and even comforted my companions; my respected wife Aljay
Tūrkan Aghā, also kept up her spirits, and said, “surely our fortunes
are now arrived at the lowest point, (and must rise) that we should be
obliged to walk.”
What added to our distress was, that none of us knew the road;
fortunately we discovered a shepherd, who pointed out a pathway to us,
and said, “this path will lead you to the huts of some Tūrkumāns;” was
delighted with this intelligence, and I set out on foot: when we arrived
in the vicinity of the huts, we found that the inhabitants had
apparently left them, and gone away; we therefore entered and took
possession of one of them, but some of the Tūrkumāns who had remained
behind, when they saw us, thought we were thieves, and made an attack on
us. I placed my wife, the sister of Amyr Hussyn, in one of the huts, and
with three or four of my men, we made an appearance of repelling them
with bows and arrows, but we were without arrows, (having expended them
in the battle); we then drew our swords, but when they came close to us,
one of them named Syed Muhammed, who was an old acquaintance,
recollected me, came and embraced me, and had compassion on my
situation, and when informed of all the circumstances, he forbade the
Tūrkumāns to injure us, and said to them, “this is Timūr the Governor of
Maveralnaher;” the men being also ashamed of their conduct, came and
bent the knee to me; Syed Muhammed took me to his own habitation, and
paid me much respect and honour, and shewed us all the attention in his
power.
At this time I had on two ruby armlets, one of these I gave to him; in
return for which, he procured three horses for me, also some travelling
equipage, armour, and arms; for three days he entertained us most
hospitably, and gave us an escort of ten troopers, commanded by Fulanchy
and Ajerchy.
Of the horses which he provided for me, I gave two to Amyr Hussyn, and
being thus well equipped, I determined within myself, that I should go,
and remain in the Mahmūdy desert, till my followers gaining intelligence
of the circumstance, might come and join me.
I therefore made Fulanchy our guide, and we wandered in the desert for
two days and two nights, without water or bread; till at length we
reached the village of Mahmūdy, but which we found in a ruinous and
deserted state, and void of inhabitants; we however alighted among the
ruins, and as we could not find water, we were obliged to dig a well,
and remained there for a month.
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Footnote 59:
Khuarizm is an extensive kingdom, situated on the eastern side of the
Caspian Sea, and divided from Maveralnaher by the river Jihūn, which
falls into the Aral lake.
Footnote 60:
See printed Institutes, page 35.