National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

T.B.K. sought to kill him. The infant's mother bid them wait till he grew up, and then to
kill him if he turned Musalmán.
Sátuk was six years old when his father, Tangri Kadír Bughra Khan, died (during
an expedition against Bukhárá). His widowed mother and himself then passed to
the protection of Harún Bughra Khan, the surviving brother and successor to the
throne. He educated his nephew as an idolator till he was twelve years old. At this
time Sátuk, with forty attendants, one day went out a hunting. A hare started from
under a thorny bush, and Sátuk, bow in hand, giving chase, got separated from the
others. The hare now suddenly stopped, and assumed the form of a man, and thus
addressed the youth :—"Come, my son! I am waiting for you. God be praised! I
have found you alone. Come nigh me. I have a few words to say. Dismount."
Sátuk, amazed at what he saw and heard, dismounted, and knelt before the figure,
which speaking, said, "My son! Why continue in such idolatry? You know that
your Creator's name is Muhammad. Walk in his way."
Sátuk considered within himself "What man is this who speaks thus? There is
no such person here. Where does he come from?" Wondering in this fashion he
turned to the figure and said, "What have you been saying to me? Oh venerable
sage!" The figure replied, "My son! Oh blessed youth! I wish not your tender
body in hell fire. The thought grieves me." Sátuk enquiring asked, "Oh venerable
sage! What sort of place is hell?" And the sage replied, "My child! Hell is a
place of much fire, and full of scorpions, where unbelievers and sinners are consigned,
and tortured in all manners of ways."
Fear seized the heart of Sátuk, and he said, "Speak! Venerable sage! I will
repeat what you say." The sage pronounced the form of creed, "there is no God
but God, and Mahomed is the prophet of God." Sátuk in return asked, "What are
these words, and what do they mean?" The sage, in answer, said, "My son! Repeat-
ing these words you become a Musalmán, and go to Paradise, where are beautiful
maids and youths, and wine. Refusing them you go to hell, and suffer all its terrible
torments." Sátuk thereupon repeated the creed, and accepted Islám. The sage then
informed him that there was much to learn as he grew up, and that his teacher
would shortly arrive and conduct him into the perfect way. Some say that this
sage was Dajál-ul-ghaib Khoja Zanda, the Wazír or Minister of Iskandar Pádshah,
and others that he was an angel; but the truth is, he was the prophet Khizr.
And he suddenly vanished from the sight of the bewildered Sátuk, who was now
rejoined by his attendants, from whom he kept the occurrence secret.
Some days later Sátuk again went a hunting with his forty attendants to the
Uston Artosh or "Upper Artosh," and at Búcú found a caravan of well clad and
highly favoured foreigners camped on the meadow. He drew near to see who they
were, and one of their party, followed by a few attendants, came forward to meet
him. This was Abú Nasr who, at once recognizing the object of his search, turned
to his followers, and, praising God, told them that the sole purpose of his journey
was to meet this noble youth, and that now the whole desire of his heart was accom-
plished. He bid them open their loads and bring out some offerings worthy the
acceptance of the illustrious Prince. In the midst of this was heard the sonorous
chaunt of the 'azán or Muhammadan "call to prayer." The boxes and loads were
instantly left open as they happened to be, and the strangers assembled round a leader
to perform their devotions. Abú Nasr, on their conclusion, returned to Sátuk, whom
he found dismounted, and standing lost in mute amazement. He approached and
gave him the salám, and then, respectfully embracing the noble youth, invited him
to his tent, where he presented some rarities as an offering of good-will.
Sátuk accepted the presents, and asked the donor's name. On hearing it he at once
knew him as "the teacher" the prophet Khizr had spoken of, and he straightway
sought an explanation of the extraordinary and impressive sight he had witnessed;
asking what was the meaning of the prayers and genuflexions, and adorations which
the whole company, leaving their property open and unguarded in a strange place
and foreign country, had assembled to perform together.
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