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0229 Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1
Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 : vol.1 / Page 229 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000196
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V.B.

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throne, but was slain at Shuborghân, in 809 H.=1406 A.D., by his own Wazir, Pir Ali Tâz.

Khudâdâd then opposed Khalil, who had estranged the nobles from his support by his unseemly and infatuated love for Shâdulmulkh = " the country's joy ;" on whom, whilst neglecting for her service the affairs of his government, he squandered, to the just indignation and disgust of the royal ladies of the harem, the vast treasures left by Tymûr. Khalil by his folly, and the discontent it gave rise to, soon fell under the power of his rival, to whom he was delivered by his own Generals. Khudâdâd sent him to Kâshghar, and, taking possession of the capital, exposed to ridicule and insult in its streets the luxurious and fascinating Shâdulmulk, the former slave of Hâji Syfuddfn and now the wife of the infatuated Khalil, who, in his exile, instead of exerting himself to recover his independence and lost power, did nothing but waste his time in maudlin versification of the idol of his love. Shâhrûkh, hearing of the downfall of his • nephew, marched from Herat against Khudâdâd, who fled to Tâshkand and sought the aid of the Moghol King; but he killed him, and sent his head to Shâhrûkh as a token of friendship. Sbâhrtikh, having thus , secured the submission of all Mâwaranahar, recalled Khalil from Kâshghar, and, restoring to him his love, sent him to the government of Irâc, on • the way whither he died, 812 H.=1409 A.D. ; and appointed his own eldest son, the celebrated Ulugh Beg, to the government of Mâwarânahar.

At this time the Amir Khudâdâd was in attendance on Muhammad Khan in Mogholistân, and had left his son, Syad Ahmad, to govern at Kâshghar. He was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and was altogether a weak and unpopular ruler ; and was soon deposed by Khoja Sharff, one of the city magnates, who invited Ulugh Beg over, and delivered the city to him.

Ahmad fled to his father in Mogholistân, and died there soon after ; and the aged Khudâdâd then adopted his son, Syad Ali as his favourite. He was a fine soldierly youth, and a noted hunter, but, seemingly, as liable as others to the tender emotions of love. When Ahmad Mirzâ of the Tymnr family fled from Shâhrukh, he sought asylum with Amir Khudâdâd in Mogholistân. He was accompanied by his sister, and with this young lady Syad Ali fell in love. When they left on their return homewards he accompanied the refugees on a promise of marriage with the object of his affections. When they reached Andijân, however, they were all seized by order of Ulugh Beg, who killed Ahmad, married his sister, and sent Ali to prison at Samarcand. He nearly died there of dysentery, but recovered on getting some of his accustomed curniz, after he had been given up by the doctors; and when Ulugh, a year later, went to see his father at Herat, he took this gigantic Moghol with him as a specimen of the sort of people he had to deal with on the frontier. On the way, however, he took alarm at the size of his weapons, his arrows measuring sixteen palms, and, fearful lest they should be turned against himself, senthim back to the capital with secret orders for his execution.

Syad Ali, however, managed to effect his escape to Tâshkand, whence he found his way to Amfr Khudâdâd, who, to get him out of the way, sent him to Wais Khan, at that time wandering amongst the Kalmâk of Lob and Katak, and the Sârlgh Uighur. Wais received him well, and gave him hies sister, Oron, in marriage, and, Ali, with his bow, shot two stags for the wedding feast. From this region Wais and his new ally found their way to Turkistan. Here Wais allied with, and married, Sikanj, the sister of the Governor Shekh Niiruddfn, the son of Sârboghâ, Kapchâk, and the enemy of his uncle Sher Muhammad Khan, with whom he waged war, till on his death he succeeded to the government.

The reign of Wais Khân was characterized by a succession of unprofitable campaigns against the Budhist Kalmâk. He fought 61 actions against their Chief, Eshân Tâyshf, and only gained a single victory. He was on one occasion captured by the Kalmâk Chief, who not only spared his life, but saved him from drowning whilst crossing a river in retreat.