The Rashīdī History 154: CHAPTER XLI. · EXTRACT FROM THE JAHAN-KUSHAI.

The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 154

Language: English

CHAPTER XLI. · EXTRACT FROM THE JAHAN-KUSHAI.

154.1

When Chingiz Khan carried his victorious arms into the countries of the East, Kushluk, son of Tai Yáng Khan, fled by way of Bish Baligh, to the country of the Gur Khán. He wandered about among the hills, in great want, while those tribes who had accompanied him became scattered. Some people say that he was captured by a body of the Gur Khan's soldiers, who led him before their chief; another story is that he went and presented himself of his own accord. He at any rate remained some little time at the court of the Gur Khan. Sultán Muhammad Khwárizm Shah rose in revolt against the Gur Khán, while other Amirs in the eastern quarter, rebelled also, and put themselves under the protection of the Emperor of the world, Chingiz Khan, by whose favour they obtained immunity from the evil acts of the Gur Khán.

154.2

Kushluk then said to the Gur Khan: "My tribes are very numerous, and are scattered over all the territory of Imal, Kiyak, and Bish Báligh, where they meet with opposition from every one. If you will allow me, I will cause them to assemble and with their assistance [I will bring the rebels again under your authority]. Thus will I help the Gur Khan; and I will not in any way deviate from his commands." With such flattery and deceit did he throw the Gur Khan into the well of pride. Then having loaded him with gifts, he begged that the title of "Kushluk Khan" might be bestowed on him. The Gur Khan accepted the gifts and gave him the title he desired, whereupon, quick as an arrow shot from a bow, Kushluk left the territory of the Gur Khan and came to the country of Imal and Kiyak. When the report of the invasion of Kushluk got abroad, Tuktai, who was one of the Makrit Amirs, had fled and joined Kushluk. This was before the rumours of the conquests of the Emperor of the world, Chingiz Khan, had been spread abroad. And wherever they went, they were joined by bands of men, with whom they conducted forays — plundering and burning as they came and went.

154.3

When they heard of the successes of Muhammad Khwarizm Shah, they sent numerous ambassadors to persuade him to attack the Gur Khan from the west. Kushluk, at the same time, was to attack him from the east, so as to bring him out of the centre [of his dominions]. [The conditions were that] if Sultan Muhammad Khwarizm Shah should be the first to gain a victory, Almaligh, Khotan and Kashghar, which were in Kushluk's kingdom, should be ceded to him ; but if, on the other hand, Kushluk should have the first success, Kara Khitai as far as Finakand should be delivered over to him. These conditions having been agreed upon, a treaty was concluded between them. (Finakand means Shahrukhia.)

154.4

Thus the two armies set out for Kara Khitai from opposite directions. Kushluk arrived before Sultan Muhammad Khwarizm Shah [and defeated the Gur Khan], since the army of this Sultan was more distant. Then, having plundered his treasury, which was at Uzkand, he proceeded to Balasaghun, where the Gur Khan himself was, and a pitched battle was fought at Jinuj, in which Kushluk was, however, defeated, and most of his men being worn out [kufta] he retired and set about reorganising his army. He heard that the Gur Khan had returned from his war with Sultan Muhammad Khwârizm Shah, and had been ill-treating the people of the province; also that the army had returned to its own country. Then, like lightning from a cloud, he rushed out to meet him, and having seized his followers, brought his kingdom and his army under his own power ; he then demanded one of his daughters in marriage. Now the tribe of Naiman were mostly Christians [Tarsa], and when he took that daughter in marriage, he made her abandon Christianity and become an idol worshipper. After Kushluk had firmly established himself on the throne of Kara Khitai, he fought several battles with him [the Gur Khan ?] at Jam Báligh, and finally he surprised the Gur Khán on his hunting grounds, when having captured him, he put him to death. The chief men of Kashghar and Khotan had also become hostile. The Gur Khán had imprisoned the son of the Khán of Kashghar. [Kushluk] now set him at liberty and sent him back to Káshghar.

154.5

But the Amirs declined him, and before he had placed his foot within the city, they put him to death between the gates. At the time when the corn was ripe, Kushluk sent his army to eat or burn it. When the inhabitants had been deprived of three or four quarters of their income [dakhl] and corn, a famine broke out. The people of Káshghar suffered great distress, and had therefore to submit. After that, Kushluk marched away with his army. And his soldiers used to lodge in the houses of the people of Kashghar and mix with their families, so that [the Káshghari] had no homes left. [His troops] practised every form of violence and wickedness. They did everything to encourage idolatry, and no one was able to prevent them. They next went to Khotan, which they captured, and compelled all the inhabitants of the surrounding districts to abandon the religion of Muhammad, giving them the choice of becoming either Christians or idolaters. [Arabic quotation from Korán . . . .] Verily God is forgiving and merciful. Having adopted the garments of sin, the cry of the Muazzin and the confession of the Unity of the God of Believers was no longer heard. The mosques were closed and the schools abandoned. One day they conducted the Imáms of Khotan out into the plains and began to argue with them. Among their number was Imám Ala-ud-Din of Khotan. He was asked questions and gave answers, and at length they hanged him up over the door of a college. Of this matter I shall speak presently.

154.6

After this, the faith of Islam having lost all its splendour, the darkness of evil spread over all the servants of God, and they raised their supplications to heaven. [Five couplets in Arabic . . . .] The arrow of their entreaties reached the target, and God heard and answered them. When Kushluk was setting out to attack the kingdoms of Chingiz Khan, the latter sent a body of Nuin to check Kushluk's evil progress. He [Kushluk] was, at that time, in Kashghar. The chief men of Kashghar related that when [the Nuin] arrived, and before they had drawn up in line, Kushluk turned his back and fled, while the regiments that arrived one after the other, of the Moghuls [az Moghulán] demanded nothing of them but news of Kushluk. They sanctioned the "call to prayer" [Takbir] and the prayers [Azan]; and they issued a proclamation in the town, that every one might practise his own religion. The advent of those people was held to be an act of mercy and bounty from the Almighty. When Kushluk fled, every one who lived in a Musulman town or house, suddenly disappeared, like quicksilver; and the Moghul army went in pursuit of Kushluk. Wherever he halted, they came up behind him and drove him on, like a mad dog, until they reached the frontier of Badakhshán, which is called Darazukhán.

154.7

When he arrived at Sarigh Chupan, he missed the road, and entered a valley that had no egress. There happened to be a party of Badakhshani hunters in those hills, and when they saw [the fugitive party] they went towards them, while the Moghuls advanced from the other side. The valley being rough, the Moghuls found walking difficult, and came to an agreement with the hunters, saying: "This band, namely Kushluk and his followers, have escaped from us; if you will capture them and give them over to us, we will do them no harm." So they went and surrounded [Kushluk] and his party, and having bound him, delivered him up to the Moghuls, who cut off his head and carried it away with them. The Badakhshani, having found endless booty and precious stones, returned. How clear it is that no one can ever be victorious who opposes the religion of Ahmad and the Holy Law of Muhammad; while he who promotes it becomes more successful day by day!