The Rashīdī History 129: CHAPTER XX. · EXPEDITION OF SHAHI BEG KHAN AGAINST THE KAZAK, AND THE BEGINNING OF HIS DECLINE.

129

As Shahi Beg Khan had filled the cups of the Khans and my father with the wine of martyrdom, and had made them drink it to the last dreg, so also was his own cup of life full, and his fortune departed ; for has it not been said : "The wine which thou hast made others drink, that must thou also drink of in the end" ? The goblet of his prosperity was upset, and that which he had caused others to taste, he was himself, in turn, obliged to drink to the dregs. To be brief, as soon as he had set his mind at rest concerning the Khans and my father, Shahi Beg Khán carried devastation in all directions. In the year 915 [1509 A.D.] he proceeded against the Kazáks. At that time, although Baranduk was Khan, yet all the business of government was conducted by Kasim Khan. In spite of his great power, Shahi Beg Khán had not force enough to withstand Kasim Beg. At that period, the numbers of his army exceeded 20,000. In winter time every one stayed in some place where there was fodder for the cattle. In the middle of the winter, Shahi Beg Khán was engaged in plundering on every side, but he soon returned, his object being not to remain too far from his own country. About the time above mentioned, he made his last expedition, but the strength of his horses and soldiers was quite exhausted ; he himself remained in the district of Kuk Kashana, and having detached a force, whose horses had some strength left, sent them forward. This party fell in with a few men, whom they despoiled and made prisoners. One day they had halted for the sake of feeding their horses, when news came that Kasim Khan was close at hand. This news alarmed them. Buyun Pir Hasan, one of Kasim Khan's Amirs, having heard of the invasion of the Shaiban, advanced against them with his own followers; he spread the report that Kasim Khan was approaching, and had let himself be seen in the distance. Shahi Beg Khan's men, being fully persuaded that Kasim Khan was really upon them, abandoned all they had seized—nay, even all they had brought with them—and retreated, in the utmost disorder and confusion, to Shahi Beg Khan, bearing the news of Kasim Khan's approach. Shahi Beg Khan at once ordered them to sound the drum of departure, without paying attention to anything [but getting away]. Those who liked stayed, those who wished to go went. Broken and in disorder, they reached Samarkand at the end of the winter. [Shahi Beg Khan] himself went on to Khorasan, where he spent the spring.
In the beginning of autumn [aVi/iaA] he led an army against the Hazara; but search as he might, he could not find a trace of them in the Hazara mountains. For they had crept into hiding, so that it was impossible to find them. He returned by way of the passes, and along the bottom of a ravine where flows the River Halman [Helmand]. There were but few roads by which it was possible to descend the ravine, and these were extremely difficult. It was well nigh impossible for an army of that magnitude to pass by one or two paths, or to carry away [sufficient] water [or to water the horses and beasts of burden]. They marched as they could for several days, but from want of water they lost their courage. Numbers of the cattle perished; and this army, too, having received the decree of defeat, returned to Khorasan. As it was winter, and as two armies in succession had fared thus badly, he gave his soldiers a general leave of absence [allowing every man] to return to his own home and country, whether he came from the confines of Turkistan or the farthest extremity of Irak and Kirman. At this juncture, news came that Shah Ismail was advancing on Khorasan. Now, as the army was dispersed, Shahi Beg Khan did not think it advisable to remain in Herat. He sent messengers to the surrounding districts, to summon the Sultans and Amirs to assemble in Merv, whilst he himself proceeded thither; and when he reached Merv he found Shah Ismail was already close upon him, as shall be presently related.