The arrangement that I made for renewing the war with Amyr Hussyn, was
this; when the defeated generals of Amyr Hussyn presented themselves
before him at Sali Seray, they threw their caps on the ground, and made
some excuses; he abused them for their negligence, in the first place,
for having permitted me to surprise Kārshy; and secondly, for allowing
themselves with twelve thousand horse, to be defeated by three hundred
and thirteen men.
After having given vent to his rage, Amyr Hussyn resolved to make a
vigorous attack on me before I should get settled in my quarters; he in
consequence quitted Sali Seray, and gave orders for all his forces to
join him. He appointed the defeated Amyr Musā to the principal command,
which consisted of ten thousand select horse, with a number of his best
officers.
Amyr Musā having seized the sword of revenge in his teeth, advanced with
his army towards Kārshy. When I was informed of the proceedings of Amyr
Hussyn, and that the Amyr Musā, with ten thousand horse, had advanced as
far as the fort of Kehulkeh, and had encamped near Checkichec; I
resolved to make a night attack on them; I therefore marched by the road
of _Belghun Bāgh_, which lay to the left of the enemy, and having
arrived there, passed the night in that grove: I then sent one of my
scouts, named Termunay, to observe the situation of their encampment, to
examine the roads of ingress and egress of it, and to send me
intelligence as soon as they should pass the straits of Checkichec. He
went, and having seized one of the enemy’s soldiers, examined him, and
sent me the information that Amyr Musā, with his ten thousand horse, had
passed the straits of Checkichec, and were to encamp that night at
Chekdalyk.
I therefore passed that day in the desert, and when night came on, I
mounted my horse; but when I arrived near the enemy’s camp, found I was
attended only by three hundred horse; I however gave the (Tekbyr) war
cry, and having entered their camp by the left, came out of it by the
right: this unexpected night attack, threw them into great confusion;
but having recovered from their fright, they mounted their horses. At
this time, the day began to dawn, and Amyr Musā having drawn out his
army in line, stood looking at my party; but without molesting us. I
therefore alighted in the plain of Chekdalyk, and having performed the
morning prayers, again mounted, and retreated by the way of Kūrdenk.
I now resolved to return to Kārshy, and having strengthened it, to
proceed to Bokharā, and on being joined by my other troops in that city,
then to turn about and oppose Amyr Hussyn’s army. When I reached Kārshy,
having made all the requisite arrangements, I marched towards Bokharā;
when I drew near the city, Mahmūd Shāh, whom I had appointed governor of
the place, came out some distance to meet me, accompanied by Aly Yusury,
and they both professed their allegiance.
When I had halted in Bokharā, Amyr Jakū, who was not on friendly terms
with the governor, and had no confidence in his professions, privately
requested leave of absence to go to Khurasān; I said, “I will consider
of it, and do whatever shall appear advisable;” I then summoned the
governor, and all the principal officers, and entered into consultation
on the state of affairs; I said to them, “although we are much inferior
to the army of Amyr Hussyn, which is approaching, nevertheless, if you
will all unite firmly with me, we will go and meet it, give them battle,
and let the conqueror take the bride of the kingdom by the hand.” My
brave generals approved of this opinion; but the governor and Aly Yusury
being heartless, advised that we should fortify Bokharā, and that I
should, with a light army, in the _Cossack_ manner, annoy the enemy, and
that no doubt we should prove successful.
Finding that Mahmūd Shāh and Aly Yusury were afraid, and that Amyr Jakū
was doubtful, I gave him leave to go to Khurasān; and I also sent off
Abās Behader and Syf Addeen to Makhān, to levy troops along the banks of
the river Amū;[88] I appointed the Prince Pyr Muhammed, to escort the
baggage and followers, and intrusted the charge of the city to Mahmūd
Shāh and Aly Yusury, and advised them, if they found themselves unequal
to stand a siege; to abandon the place.
After this arrangement, I quitted Bokharā, with my three hundred
_Cossacks_, and advanced towards the enemy; when we approached their
encampment, we seized a number of their horses and camels that were
grazing, and I gave them to my people; I then proceeded towards
Khurasān, and during the night crossed the river Amū; I then passed over
the desert, and having reached Makhān, joined the heavy baggage, and the
remainder of my victorious troops.
I amused myself for some time in hunting in the plains of Makhān,
waiting for intelligence from Mahmūd Shāh, and news from Bokharā; at
length a letter arrived from him, representing that he had fortified the
city, that Amyr Hussyn had come with his large army, and laid siege to
it; that for some days he had resisted, but the inhabitants had proved
treacherous, and had taken part with my enemy; that Amyr Hussyn had gone
to the tomb of Shykh Syf Addeen, and there taken an oath, that the
inhabitants of Bokharā had nothing to fear from him; in consequence of
which, the citizens had rebelled, had taken possession of several of the
bastions, and had fortified them; that although he had taken much pains
to reconcile them, they had turned their backs on him; that being
without remedy, he had armed his cavalry, and taken the field as
Cossacks.
I was much distressed by this intelligence, and sent off spies to learn
whether Amyr Hussyn still remained in Bokharā, or had returned to Sali
Seray. About this time, Mahmūd Shāh and Aly Yusury, having made long
journeys through the desert, arrived, and had the honour of kissing my
carpet; as they had lost several of their horses, and much property, I
recompensed them, and waited for the return of my spies.
At length the spies came back, and informed me that Amyr Hussyn had left
a large army under the command of Amyr Khelyl, in Bokharā, and had gone
back to Sali Seray.
On receipt of this intelligence, I deliberated whether I should go to
Melk Hussyn, Prince of Herat, and enter into a confederacy with him
against my enemies. I had formerly rescued this Prince from the hands of
the officers of Amyr Kurghen, had carried him to Herat, and there placed
him on the throne; on which account, he was under great obligations to
me. But as I had no great dependence on his gratitude, fearing that he
might have been gained over by Amyr Hussyn, and might prove an enemy, I
wavered in my opinion.
I soon after received information, that Melk Hussyn had arrived at
Serkhush, with the intention of visiting me; I therefore sent off Amyr
Jakū as my ambassador, to meet him, and instructed the latter, that he
was to discover the bottom of Melk Hussyn’s heart, and to ascertain
whether he was sincere, or inimical; if the former, he was to endeavour
to strengthen the chain of friendship, and to return immediately.
In a short time, Amyr Jakū came back, and brought me a letter from Melk
Hussyn, replete with affection and friendship; as his kindness and
sincerity made a great impression on me, I therefore opened my mind, and
wrote him, “that as the chiefs of Bokharā, and all Maveralnaher, had
entreated me to return to them, in compliance with their request, I
meant to do so, but with his permission, would leave my son Muhammed
Jehangyz, and all my family, in the vicinity of Makhān, under the
protection of his kindness and friendship.”
-----
Footnote 88:
In the vicinity of the city of Amū, the Sihūn is called the Amū.