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

R.K. numerous disputes, and much inconvenience, orders were issued for placing them
under severe restrictions ; and the operation of these regulations soon led to their
discontinuance.
Towards the close of the Youan dynasty, about the middle of the fourteenth
century, the country was disturbed by anarchy, and the trade route remained closed till
the restoration of order in the beginning of the following century, when trade again
flowed in the old channels. It was the re-opening of the commercial intercourse
which had been closed for half a century, and the insecurity attending the journey by
caravan at first, that led to the device of the trading embassies abovementioned.
I have introduced the preceding notes on the history of Khutan, as furnished
by Chinese records, because they serve in some measure to dispel the general obscurity
that veils the course of events in this region during the long period of its rule
under the Chinese Governors, and, subsequently, under the petty independent Princes
who had thrown off their subjection to that Empire; and because they help to eluci-
date and confirm the later history of the region, which only begins to clear up on
the arrival of the Arabs in the fertile and populous valley of the Oxus, when the
chain of events becomes more connected with the succeeding establishment of their
rule and religion there.
The astonishing successes of these wild sons of the desert in their conquering
career through Persia were hardly more wonderful than the rapid domination of
their arms, and its concurrent supremacy of creed in the very heart of Asia. So
early as the 53rd year of the Hira=673 A.D., the Khálif M'uáwya sent forward
his General, 'Abdulla Ziyád, to the conquest of Khurásán, which at that period
included Bukhárá, notwithstanding its position beyond the Oxus, the recognized
ancient limit of the province.
N. The city of Bukhárá, which in ancient times was known by the names of
Namajkat, and Barmaskat, and Cuhnduz, was at this period in the hands of a Turk
Prince called Baydon, and entitled Bukhár-Khidát. He died about the time of the
appearance of the Arabs on the borders of Khurásán, and was succeeded in the
Government by his widow, the Queen Kháton, who reigned fifteen years during the
infancy of her son Tughshéda. She was celebrated alike for her beauty, wealth,
and talents, and, as history records, for her amours. Her rule was popular, her Court
magnificent, and her wealth prodigious. She is described as daily riding out from
her palace to her Court in the Registán, forenoon and afternoon, attended by a
gorgeous retinue of slave-girls and eunuchs, for the transaction of public business,
the dispatch of justice, and the distribution of rewards and punishments. In the
interval between the two sessions she retired to her palace, whence long files of
servants presently issued with trays of food and delicacies for the refection of her
courtiers. The royal guard at the Court comprised a choice band of two hundred
noble youths, all richly clad and fully armed, who came in rotation daily from the
townships around, so that it fell to the lot of each to attend the Court on this duty
four times in the year.
It was during the reign of this Queen that the Arabs first crossed the Jyhon or
Oxus. The rapid approach of 'Abdulla Ziyád with his terrible warriors filled the
people with apprehension and alarm. Queen Kháton sent off messengers in hot haste
for aid from Turkistan, north and east, and meanwhile sought to keep off the invader
by rich gifts and sweet words. Her summoned allies arrived opportunely, and at
once fell upon the enemy, who was already in the suburbs of the capital spreading
fire and sword amongst the unwarlike and terrified farmers. The Arabs were now
vastly outnumbered by the hosts of their assailants, but the impetuous fury of their
warriors counterbalanced the paucity of numbers, and the Turk army in this their
first encounter with the soldiers of the west received an unexpected check, and defeat.
'Abdulla captured Bekand and Rámetan, and then set siege to Bukhárá. The
Queen, who had escaped from the battle field with the loss of a richly bejewelled
boot, valued at 10,000 diram, fortified herself in the citadel, whilst her allies from
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