At this time, I received intelligence that Amyr Hussyn, with a large
army, had passed by Kesh, and was encamped at Saryelāk; I therefore
resolved to march with Ky Khuserū, towards him, and make a sudden attack
on his army. In consequence of this resolution, Ky Khuserū and I
repeated the prayer for success, and set out, leaving Behram Jelayr in
the rear to support us.
About this time, I obtained further information that Amyr Hussyn had
detached Amyr Musā, with several other chiefs, and twelve thousand horse
from Saryelāk, that they had passed Samerkund with the intention of
fighting me, that the main body was encamped on the banks of the river
Belenghūr, that their advanced division, consisting of three thousand
men, were encamped in the plain of Surengerān, under Melk Behader, and
that another division of four thousand men, under the command of Jehān
Shāh, had been sent to Rebāt Mulk.
At this time, I deliberated on two plans, the first was to leave the
road on the left, and proceed to attack Amyr Hussyn, while separated
from his principal officers; the second, to march against the several
divisions, and cut them off in detail.
Having in conjunction with Ky Khuserū, taken a muster of our forces, we
found that we had in all only three thousand horse; I therefore resolved
to attack the detached parties, and having proceeded with my own troops,
amounting only to one thousand horse, I attacked Jehān Shāh, dispersed
his army, and seized a great quantity of plunder before my confederate
came up; when he arrived with his division, we halted at the village of
Azuk, that our men and horses might be refreshed; when night came on, we
agreed to march against the other division of the enemy, commanded by
Melk Behader, at Surengerān; I then formed the army into three
divisions, I took command of the advanced one, and left Ky Khuserū in
charge of the rear one, as a covering party. I then put my foot in the
stirrup, and placing my trust in God, advanced towards the enemy; I
ordered the _Moghul_ standard to be raised, and gave out that the Moghul
army was arrived.
When my three divisions were seen from the vicinity of Surengerān, the
peasants informed Melk Behader, that the whole Moghul army was coming,
and that Amyr Timūr commanded the advance, and he himself seeing the
Moghul standards and colours, had no doubt of the fact; but feeling
himself unequal to the contest, gave orders for a retreat, on which his
whole army ran off, and during the night, reached Amyr Hussyn’s camp; I
pursued them for a considerable distance, and returned victorious to my
camp; I then sent intelligence to Ky Khuserū, that I had defeated Amyr
Hussyn’s detachments, and that if he would now advance with his Jete
forces, we might take Hussyn prisoner; he replied by my messenger, “that
the Jetes were not fond of fighting, that they only loved plunder, that
it would not be fitting in us as followers of Muhammed, to permit these
infidels to plunder and murder the Muselmāns who were in Hussyn’s camp,
as it would in the first place be sacrilegious, and secondly it would
induce them to desert with the plunder to their own country.” I was
satisfied with this hint, and turned my reins toward Rebat Mulk; Ky
Khuserū came out to meet me, and we passed the day there in feasting.
Having heard that some of the Jetes had collected a quantity of plunder,
and had set off towards home, I sent a party to force them back; I then
halted to wait for intelligence respecting the conduct of Amyr Hussyn,
after he should have heard of the defeat of his detachments. In a very
short period, some of my spies returned and informed me that when the
defeated chiefs appeared before Amyr Hussyn, he abused them, and the
fire of anger being lighted up, he had severely scolded them, that he
had vowed vengeance against me, and that having assembled all his
warriors, he was advancing towards me.
On hearing this news, Ky Khuserū and I drew out our troops and advanced
towards the enemy: when we arrived at the village of Barsyn, we obtained
information that Amyr Hussyn, with a select division of his army, had
arrived at Ak Kutel, and was advancing; I immediately ordered the
trumpets to be sounded, and my troops to mount. At this time it began to
snow, and as the army of Amyr Hussyn had nothing to eat or cover them,
but the snow, they were therefore greatly harassed, and could neither
advance nor retreat: after some time, not being able to procure shelter,
and afraid of being buried in the snow, they dispersed, and made towards
their home.
Ky Khuserū and I, with our troops, passed that day in the houses of
Barsyn, and the next morning we mounted our horses, and marched towards
Tashkund:[91] at this time I was informed that Behram Jelayr, whom I had
left to cover our retreat, (if necessary) had gone back to Tashkund with
his Jete followers.
In a short time we were met by my family and dependants that I had left
behind, and having entered the city, I took up my winter quarters there.
It happened that this winter was so very severe, that even the very
birds of the forest came into the town, and entered into the houses; I
however enjoyed it extremely, as Timūr Beg, the (Kud Khoda)
superintendant of one of the quarters of the city, sent me daily forty
eggs, and a large tureen of (Joghrāt) soup; I ever remembered this
obligation as a debt of gratitude.
Having now taken up my winter quarters in Tashkund, I sent letters of
congratulation to my son Muhammed Jehangyr, whom I had left at Makhān,
and to the other persons of my family that I had left at Merve, in
Khurasān, and administered comfort to them all.
As the enmity of Amyr Hussyn to me was excessive, in order to avert its
evil consequences, I resolved to send an embassy to the Khān of Jetteh,
to request assistance, and having mentioned my intention to my chiefs,
they all approved of the measure; I therefore dispatched Shumsaddyn with
three other officers to carry a number of presents to the Khān, and to
solicit his aid.
About this period, news arrived that Amyr Hussyn had fortified the city
of Samerkund, had appointed Pulād Bughā to be governor, and had then
proceeded to Arheng Seray. I continued tranquilly at Tashkund, waiting
for intelligence from my ambassadors, at length Ak Bughā arrived with
the information, that the Khān of Jetteh had sent ten thousand horse
with the ambassadors to my assistance, and that they would shortly
arrive.
When this news reached Amyr Hussyn, he was greatly alarmed, and
immediately sent by the hands of his generalissimo, Amyr Musā, a copy of
the Korān, addressed to the prelates and learned body of Tashkund,
Khujend, and Andijan, imploring them to wait on me, and endeavour by all
means in their power, to conciliate me, and stating that Amyr Musā and
Mulānā Aālum would bear testimony of his having sworn on the Korān, that
he would henceforth be my friend. In consequence of this measure, early
in the spring, all the prelates and learned bodies of the three cities
having assembled in council on this important business, waited on me,
and laid before me the sacred book, on which Amyr Hussyn had taken the
oath of reconciliation, and entreated my forgiveness; I replied that the
Amyr had frequently before sent Korāns, on which he had taken the oaths
of amity, and afterwards forgetting his vows to God, had broken his
promises, I therefore had no confidence in his oaths or promises. After
the learned body had used many entreaties, Mulānā Aālum proposed that we
should consult the Korān; he did so, and this verse came forth, “when
two parties of Muselmāns quarrel, do ye make peace between them:” the
prelates then said, “in conformity with the orders of God, you must make
peace.”[92] In compliance with this request, I agreed to a
reconciliation, but said, “I will first send some confidential persons
to Amyr Hussyn, that he may confirm his promises, after which, I will
meet him at any place that may be agreed on:” Amyr Musā and the prelates
replied, “that they would attend me to Samerkund, and would see the
treaty confirmed.” I therefore placed my foot in the stirrup, and
accompanied by all the learned body, I crossed the Sihūn, and arrived in
the vicinity of Samerkund.
About this time, in order to discover my real intentions, Amyr Hussyn
had caused a report to be spread, that he was dead, but this was only
one of his stratagems to try me, because if I should impatiently enter
Samerkund, it would render me suspected, and would be injurious to my
character.
I therefore paid no attention to the report of his death, but while
seated on my horse, I resolved to proceed towards the fortress of
Shadmān; in consequence of this determination, I turned my face (without
alighting) towards the plain of Shadmān, attended by all the prelates. I
then sent a letter by the hands of Bukhtē Behader, to Amyr Hussyn, at
Sali Seray, to ascertain whether he was dead or alive; in the mean time,
I proceeded, and did not draw in my reins till I entered Shadmān, where
I waited the return of my messenger, but Amyr Musā stopped at Samerkund.
During this period, a detachment of the army of Amyr Hussyn approached
us, and fearlessly began to murder my people; I therefore mounted a
rising ground, in the middle of the plain, with a party of my troops,
and sent out two other divisions to oppose them; these divisions turned
their flanks, while I advanced in their front, and compelled them to
make a speedy retreat; we however took some of them, whom I abused and
liberated. I then resolved to cross the Kumek river, accompanied by the
prelates, and to halt at a fortress in that vicinity, till I could
procure further intelligence.
Soon after this affair, Bukhtē Behader returned from Sali Seray, and
informed me that Amyr Hussyn was alive and well, that he was much
rejoiced on hearing of my approach, and was anxiously looking for my
arrival, in order that he might relinquish all animosity, and repeat his
oaths of friendship; my messenger further stated, “that while he was in
Amyr Hussyn’s presence, his general, Amyr Musā, had arrived, and
informed his master, that he had accompanied me as far as Samerkund,
where I had heard the dreadful report of his death; that I had in
consequence marched to the fortress of Shadmān, while he had gone into
Samerkund, to inquire into the grounds of the report.” On receiving the
information from Musā, that I had gone towards the fort of Shadmān, Amyr
Hussyn became much alarmed, and had despatched a confidential person to
me, named Turān Shāh, who would shortly arrive, in order to confirm the
amicable promises he had made.
When Turān Shāh came into my presence, and had repeated all that has
been related, I was satisfied, and conferred an honorary (Khelāt) dress
on him; he however requested that I would again send a confidential
person with him to hear Amyr Hussyn repeat his promises, I therefore
sent Abās Behader, who was one of my most confidential servants, with
instructions, that if he should think Amyr Hussyn was sincere in his
protestations, he might then propose we should meet at the tomb of Atā
Aly, “blessed be his remains,” and there repeat our promises of
perpetual friendship.
When Abās Behader delivered this message to Amyr Hussyn, he sent two of
his most confidential generals, viz. Amyr Musā and Aljaitū, to meet me;
at the time that these officers were coming into my presence, some of my
chiefs represented to me, that these two persons were the main pillars
of Hussyn’s power, that we had better bind them, and make a sudden
attack on that Prince; I replied, “it is beneath my dignity to be guilty
of a breach of promise, or to rebel against God and his holy book;” this
silenced them.
When Musā and Aljaitū were introduced, they made a speech on the part of
their master: after this, they returned, and having persuaded Amyr
Hussyn to mount, he went, attended by several thousand horse, to the
tomb of Atā Aly, where I met him, and we sat down to confer; he said,
“we will not talk of what has past;” I replied, “a repetition of
grievances, would only be the cause of mutual dissatisfaction.” He then
said, “if you and I are united, we need not fear the power of any
stranger;” this he said as an allusion to some person, (probably the
Jetes); I answered, “if the stranger is a friend, he is welcome, and if
he is an enemy, he may still remain a stranger.” He then laid his hand
on the Korān, and repeated his oath of friendship, I trembling, placed
my hand on the sacred volume, and said, “if Amyr Hussyn does not break
his promise, I will faithfully preserve mine, but if he shall ever
attempt to kill, or imprison, or injure me, I will not be deficient in
the preservation of my life, my property, and my honour;” being thus
reconciled, we mounted, and sitting on our horses, we bade each other
farewell.[93] After this ceremony, Amyr Hussyn returned to Sali Seray,
and I proceeded to Kesh.
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Footnote 91:
It is situated on the N. E. bank of the Sihūn, Lat. 42,40, N. Lon.
64,48, E.
Footnote 92:
The ten thousand Jetes that were coming to his assistance, were
Idolaters, and would have done much injury to the Muselmāns.
Footnote 93:
This passage differs from Sherif Addeen’s History, who says, the
ceremony was performed by deputies. Petis de la Croix’s History, page
159.