The Rashīdī History 112.2.6

112.2.6

When these dastardly men heard of their arrival, they came with unbounded impudence before him, not observing any of those marks of respect which are customary among the Moghuls. Then Khwája Ali addressing them said: "All adventurous persons who have obtained their desires, have watched for a favourable opportunity to seize with both hands the skirts of men of power." While his words were yet unfinished, they cried out: "Down with this babbler of idle words! What use has a Khán for a hundred households? We have nothing to offer him!" So saying they drove the Khán back to his friends, and seized Khwaja Ali; they took away the led horse of the Khán, which he was holding, and threw its bridle towards the Khan. On seizing Khwaja Ali, they carried him off to their tents. The Khan, in alarm for his life, fled back with all speed, fearing lest they might take him and deliver him into the hands of Aba Bakr. Being terrified at this idea, he hastened to rejoin his men, looking round him on all sides as he went [to see whether he was being pursued]. Once, when the Khán was relating this story, I asked him: "Did you not dread [the thought of] solitude and desolation?" He replied: "Not so very much, for I had once before been left alone in Moghulistan, and had spent some days in solitude, in the same way, but afterwards joined my people again." When he had gone a short way, he perceived something black in the distance;