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0226 Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 / Page 226 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000196
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government of his crushed and crippled people, married his daughter, and, leaving T.R. the main army with its train of captives to follow, set off with a party of light horse on the 15th; Niacin and arrived at Samarcand 7th Ramazân 791H., thus accomplishing a journey of three months in as many weeks.

In this campaign the divisions operating on the north of the Alatagh overran the whole country between the sandy steppes on the north and the green vallies of Yuldûz on the south. They took the royal city of Aymil Guja, which, according to Yule, was probably built on the bank of the Aymil river from the Alakol, and was the original capital of the refugee Khitay, who founded the Kara Khitay empire, and is now represented by, probably, Chughuchak of Turbagha.tai.

One more expedition was sent in the following spring against Anga Tora of Z.N.T. Karatal, an active ally of Khizr in the last campaign. The invaders devastated afresh the country up to Almaligh, and, driving Anga Tora from his capital, pursued him to the River Irtish, beyond which he escaped into the county of Tolus, whence come the Sumûr = sable, Ca'cûrn = otter, and other furs.

After this Tymûr was occupied for many years in his western conquests, and the invasion of India. On his return to Samarcand, for the nineteenth time, with the spoils and treasures of one-half the Asiatic continent, his insatiable pride and ambition led him to undertake the conquest of the other.

Amongst the vast preparations set on foot for the conquest of China, he sent T.R. orders to Khizr Khoja, his feudatory in Mogholistan, to sow the land at Kok-tappa with corn, and there to collect cattle for his army about to march that way. Khizr was there with the Amir Khudada.d, in the early spring of 807 H.= 1405 A.D., to superintend the collection of supplies for the advancing host. One day as he and his friend were seated in their camp discussing affairs over a social cup of cumiz = fermented mare's milk, a figure in white, mounted on a black horse, suddenly dashed past the guards, and galloping into camp made for the spot where they were seated, and announcing in a loud voice " Amir Tymûr lies dead at Atrar," suddenly disappeared from sight before the guards running up from all sides could stop him. A jinn=' ghost' most likely" remarks the historian I quote, " for confirmation of the fact was not received till forty-five days later." Tymûr crossed the Syhon on the ice, and was obliged to halt at Atrar, also called Tarab, on account of an inflammation of the lungs. The disease rapidly increased, and after a delay here of seven or eight days he died from its effects on the 71k Skûbân 807 H. =17th February 1405 A.D. (V.B.)

Khizr Khoja ruled independently for several years after this, and was succeeded by his son, Muhammad Khan, who was the last of the Moghol Khacan. He was a wealthy, just, and powerful Prince, and converted all his people to Islam, yet so jealous was he of the turban, the outward emblem of the Faith, being worn by any but the priesthood and his own officials, that he punished any of the Tartar peasantry who dared to desecrate the sacred head-piece, by securing their own national fur caps upon their heads by horse shoes pegged to their skulls.

The Moghol have no record of the date of his birth or death; but, Ulugh Beg in Mawaranahar, and Shahrtikh in Khurasan, were his contemporaries. He was succeeded by his son Sher Muhammad Khan, during whose reign the country enjoyed security and prosperity. His brother, Sher Ali Oghlan, died aged eighteen years during his life, and left a son named Wais Khan. He rebelled against his uncle, and formed a band of cazzctc = robber, with whom he harried the Mawaranahar border. He was joined by adventurers and discontents from all parts of the country, and, amongst others of note, by Syad Ali, the grandson of Khudadad, as will be presently related.

On the death of Tymûr, his only surviving son, Shahrizkh, was at Herat, so he V.B. appointed his grandson, Pir Muhammad, as his successor. But, whilst he was debauching at Kabul, Sultan Khalil, the son of Miranshah, who happened to be with the army, got possession of Samarcand. Pir Muhammad now contested the