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

T.S. Later he destroyed the frontier fort of Peshágir, built by the Khokandis in 1819,
and erected the fort of Kuramma at two *farsakh* from Jizzák, and placing his own
garrison in it under *Mingbáshi* Gadáy Báy took up his residence at Orátappa where
he devoted himself to wine and women.
Baháḍúr Khán now jealous of his growing power, and incensed by his encroach-
ment upon the Bukhárá frontier, in 1839 took the field and marched against the new
Kuramma Fort. Gadáy Báy held out for fifteen days, and then, abandoning his charge,
fled and joined his master at Orátappa. Muhammad Ali Khán, now roused from his
pleasures by alarm for his throne, at once marched against the enemy, and camping at
a *farsakh* from the fort, in a fit of boldness inspired by an extra dose of *bháng*, came out
and challenged Baháḍúr Khán to meet him in single combat. His nobles, however,
intervening with professions of devotion to his service and person, persuaded him to
retire, and the would-be champion, on recovery from his intoxication, being seized by
sudden misgivings as to the loyalty of his nobles, abruptly quitted his army, and with
only fifty followers fled to Khokand, which he reached in eight days. His army
fought for three days and then followed the example of their Khán. Nasrulla pur-
sued the fugitives, and captured the forts of Zamin and Orátappa, and planting his
own garrisons in them returned to Bukhárá to watch the operations of the British
army in Afghanistan.
On his departure Muhammad Ali Khán returned, and, driving out the Bukhárá
troops, recovered Orátappa. But Nasrulla again took the field against him with a
numerous army, and in the spring of the following year, 1840, defeated Muhammad
Ali and dispersed his army. He followed up this victory by a succession of others,
and between September and November annexed Kuramma, Naó, Khujand, and
Táshkand, and the country beyond up to the Dasht Kapchak. He appointed his own
governors in most of these places, but gave the government of Khujand to Sultán
Mahmúd Khán, the brother and rival of Muhammad Ali Khán ; and then fearful
of the Russians who were pressing on the Jaxartes, and mistrustful of the British
who held on at Kabul with Sháh Shuja-ul-Mulk, hastened back to Bukhárá where,
during the preceding six years, he had received as envoys from Russia, Demaison in
1834, and Vitcovich in 1835 ; and as envoys from India, Stoddart in 1838, and Conolly
in 1840, both of whom he at this time held prisoners, and both of whom he sub-
sequently murdered—on the 17th June 1842.
V.B. On the departure of Nasrulla the two brothers immediately became reconciled,
and revolted ; consequently, again, in April 1841, Baháḍúr Khán set out with a
powerful army, breathing wrath and vowing the destruction of Khokand, which at
this time was an open town without any fortified walls. Muhammad Ali Khán here
held the enemy in check for seven days, and then fled with his family towards
Marghinán. At Yacca Tút they were all seized by Mahmúd Khoja, the governor,
and delivered over to Nasrulla by whom they were all immediately murdered. Thus
perished in 1258 H. (1841 A.D.) Muhammad Ali Khán, the most able and the most
powerful of all the Khokand Kháns, his mother, his wives, his brother Sultán Mahmúd
Khán, and his son Muhammad Amín Beg who was accused of incest with his mother.
His other sons, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Karím, Muhammad Rahím, Azím Beg,
and Abdulla Mirzá, with many nobles and principal officers, were sent away prisoners
to Bukhárá.
Satisfied with this extinction of the rival dynasty, Nasrulla spared Khokand the
threat he vowed against it, and instead established Ibrahím Khvál, Manghít,
formerly Governor of Marv, as his Governor in it, with a considerable garrison in
support. He then returned triumphant to his capital, more than ever puffed with
pride, and more than ever abandoned to his brutish lusts and inhuman cruelties.
Two months after the departure of the Amír with his Bukhárá army, Musal-
mán Culí, Kapchák, assembled the Kirghiz, Kapchák, Uzbek, and Tájik Chiefs, with
their respective contingents, at Namangán, and by their consent set Sher Ali, the
son of Hájí Beg, up as Khán. On the accession of Alím Khán to the throne, he had