[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Kashmir](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir) › [Tārīkh-i Rashīdī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi) › [The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross) › 157 # The Rashīdī History 157: RETURN TO THE GENERAL NARRATIVE. The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 157 - **Language:** English ### RETURN TO THE GENERAL NARRATIVE. ### [157.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.1) I HAD brought the Khdn's history down to the point where he, having left the province of Farghana, set out for Kashghar by way of Moghulistan. As soon as Mirza Aba Bakr heard of this, he built the citadel of Kashghar in seven days, and placed in it one thousand horse and foot, with provisions for several years, giving his own son Yusfan command over them. Then, having settled whatever business he had there as best he could, he started for Yangi-Hissar, which he also supplied with provisions, arms, and siege implements, and finally went on to Yarkand. In the meanwhile the Khan reached Atu Bum Bashi, which is one of the frontiers of Moghulistan on the side of Kashghar. Leaving his family and baggage there, to follow slowly after, he marched forward with an unencumbered army. On the first night he encamped at a place called Mirzi Turki; on the second day he halted at Tushku, arriving at Artuj on the third day, and there he performed the circuit \[tawaf\] of the shrine of Shaikh Habib, an eminent Shaikh. The miracle is recorded of him that in building the monastery, one of the beams \[chub\] was found too short, and that he pulled it, and extended it \[to the required length\]. This beam \[the Khan\] saw, and having repeated verses from the Koran and uttered prayers, he begged that he might profit by the spirit of the Shaikh. ### [157.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.2) On the following day, when the troops of the east put to rout the army of the west, and in one moment seized the rays of the lights of the world \[when the sun rose, etc. . . . Two couplets\], they set out from Artuj and came to Uch Barkhan, a village near which the river Yutun Bashi \[or Tuyun B.\], which flows down from the valley of Kalik Kiya \[or Kaba\], must be crossed by travellers. There is some rising ground above it, from the top of which Kashghar, which is exactly three statute farsakhs distant, is visible. On this eminence Mirza Aba Bakr constructed a wall with battlements, reaching from the highest point of the hill down to the ravine which overhangs the river, and there he placed a gate. Implicit orders were issued that the commanders \[torah\] should take up their stand in that narrow passage \[tangi\] and count the army. The troops passed through the defile \[tangi\] regiment by regiment, and as they passed, the tavdji counted them and the scribes \[bakhshi\] wrote down the numbers. Besides those who stayed behind with the women and children and the baggage, and those who were strong enough to guard the roads, there were inscribed four thousand seven hundred and odd. ### [157.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.3) Though the number is small, it was composed entirely of famous generals \[sar'dmdr\], mighty Amirs, wise councillors and brave warriors, who were ripe in experience and well tried in adversity. From the date of the devastation of Tashkand in 908, corresponding to the year of the Hog \[of the Moghul cycle\], to the present date 920, corresponding \[again\] to the year of the Hog — that is for twelve years — they had been persecuted by evil fortune, and had been continually engaged in warfare and contests and disputes. Of the four \[great\] tribes, three — namely the Uzbeg, the Chaghatdi, and the Moghuls — had always been at variance, \[Couplet . . . \] as has been explained above. During those twelve years, these people had been subject to many vicissitudes and changes of fortune, and had endured innumerable reverses and trials, so that each one of them had gained great experience, and was acquainted with all the details of the art of war, such as marches and countermarches and forced marches. Nor was this knowledge peculiar to the Amirs — nay, rather, in every tribe of the Moghuls many men were to be found in whose judgment and advice every one placed reliance. The following is a short account of some of those who passed in review that day, as well as I can call them to memory. First of all the family of Dughlat, of whom the leader — the most noble and the eldest—was my uncle, Sayyid Muhammad Mirza. He was at that time about forty-one years of age. ### [157.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.4) He was the prop and stay and overseer of the whole of that army. His wisdom and foresight were well known, and he was famed for perception and penetration. His story, and all that he did, has been already related. He was conspicuous among his contemporaries, and without an equal among the tribesmen. According to the reckoning then drawn up, he had one hundred and eighty men in his following. Next \[in standing\] was Kara Kulak Mirza, who has been mentioned above, in connection with the Khan's adventures in Moghulistan. During those events, this Kara Kulak Mirza held, at one time, the dignity of Amir, and at another, fell into the most abject poverty, until at last, leaving the Khan, he went to Andijan and there managed to live with the Uzbeg, in some way or another, exchanging the bitterness of poverty for the sweets of commerce. At the time the Khan captured Andijan, he again entered his service. In a word, this Kara Kulak Mirza was renowned both for his courage and sound judgment, and great reliance was placed in him. In the enumeration \[of the army\], one hundred followers were entered in his name. \[Another was\] his brother, Shah Nazar Mirza, who had precedence over his elder brother in all matters. His retainers were entered as sixty in number. Another was Mirza Ali Taghai; the wiles this man could devise after a moment's reflection, could not have been invented by a cunning Delilah after years of deep thought. ### [157.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.5) The hump-backed old woman \[who personifies\] deception used to come to learn wiles and tricks from him, and to serve him in order to learn how to stir up sedition. This will be explained, in the account of the end of the Khan's days. Ninety men were entered in the list under his name. Another was his brother, Kutluk Mirak Mirza, of whom everyone expected great achievements. Seventy persons came under his name. Another was Bahrika Mirza, who was of the military caste \[ahl-i-kalam\], and he had forty followers. Another was the compiler of these pages and the chronicler of this history, your humble servant. The dawn of childhood had not yet changed to the morning of youth, nor was my intelligence yet fully developed. I was but fifteen years of age. Although the Khan had honoured me with the title of Kurkan, yet on account of my youth, and immaturity, both physical and mental, I was not able to participate fully in that dignity. I however carried out as much as was possible. The retainers and followers of my father, as many as had remained behind, supported and aided me nobly in every way, so that in spite of the general scarcity of attendants upon the Moghuls, one hundred and twenty persons were entered in my name. There were many nobles \[mirzadas\] of the Dughlat family, who were entered as single individuals, since by reason of their poverty they had no retinue. All those who were Amirs, and had a following and attendants, were mentioned \[in the lists\]. ### [157.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.6) In this way, I propose to speak of all the families of the Moghul Amirs. Another family \[tabaka\] was that of the Dukhtui, whose chief was Amir Daim Ali. At that time his brothers, Ahmad Ali and Mahmud Kuli, had not yet come. This Amir Daim Ali was one of the least worthy of the great Amirs. He will be frequently mentioned hereafter in this book. There was a serious dispute between him and \[the family of\] Barlas as to precedence, which was at that time still undecided. But Amir Daim Ali took precedence whenever he could, till on the first occasion of the meeting with Mansur Khan, which shall be spoken of. The question was referred to Amir Jabar Birdi, who was a Dughlat, and of whom I have spoken above, and he decided that the Dukhtui should have precedence. After that the right of Amir Daim Ali over the Barlas was established. I do not recollect precisely, but I think there were more than two hundred persons recorded in the list of this family. Another family was the Barlas, whose leader was Ali Mirak Mirza, the maternal uncle of my paternal uncle. He had both sons and brothers. One of his sons, named Muhammad, will be mentioned later. ### [157.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.7) There were many of the Moghul Amirs and notables who were very aged, older indeed than any one else at that time in the Moghul Ulus; upon all matters such as the Tura and the Tuzuk they were consulted, and reliance was placed in their discretion and judgment in all important consultations and councils. Of these old men was Ali Mirak Mirza; among others were Kaka Beg, Kara Bash Mirza, Sayyid Ali Agha, Allah Kuli Kukildash, and Abdul Aziz Mirza. Among this group of aged men too, was Ali Mirak Mirza himself. Like the rest of the old men, he was much enfeebled by age, both physically and mentally, but his courage was still firm. In spite of his having both brothers and sons, he conducted all his own affairs, civil as well as military. In the list, the number of his retainers is nearly as great as those of Mir Daim Ali. Another \[of them\] was Haji Mirza, who was renowned for his valour. He had more than one hundred in his train. ### [157.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.8) Another family was that of Barki, of whom the first and eldest was Mir Raka. But his extreme old age prevented him from taking part any longer in the hardships of warfare, so he entrusted his affairs to his son Mir Kambar. Many conspicuous and able men of the Barki family accompanied the Khan from Kunduz to Andijan, and numbers of them fell in the battles that took place in Andijan. When no more of these were left, the management of the affairs \[of the family\] devolved upon Mir Kambar. His brothers Maksud, Hafiz, and Tuluk, were in immediate attendance upon the Khan. The following of Mir Kambar was larger than that of Haji Mirza; I cannot, however, recall the exact number. Another family was that of the Urdubegi; their leader was Kara Bash Mirza, who has been mentioned in the list of old men. His sons and brothers were men of note, such as Gadai Mirza, Sabur Mirza, Muhammad Haji Mirza, and Muhammad Yali Mirza. Another family was that of Itarji. Their chief was Bish Ka Mirza, who had some capable sons and also some brothers. Their retinue numbered about one hundred men. Another family was that of Kunji, whose chief Amir at that time was Mir Jánaka. Mir Sharan, Kul Nazar Mirza, Mir Mazid, and Mir Jaka had not yet arrived. His retinue exceeded that of Bish Ka Mirza in numbers. ### [157.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.9) Another family was the Jaras, at the head of whom was Munka Beg, a man distinguished among his equals for his bravery. His suite numbered more than one hundred men. He had a brother named Bábá Sarik Mirzá, who was a man of a similar nature to the above-mentioned Kara Kulák Mirzá and Mirza Ali Taghai. All that is said of them applies equally to him. His following was not less than that of Munka Beg. He had a brother named Shahbáz Mirza, who, in the conduct of affairs, was not inferior to his brother. Another family was the Begjik. The chief among them was Mir Ayub, whose history has been related in connection with Bábar Pádisháh and Ubaid Ullah Khan. He is one of the most distinguished of all the famous Moghul Amirs. During those twelve years of disturbances, wherever he was, he took the lead. Indeed, he was a man admirably qualified in every respect to bear the dignity of Amir. Nearly two hundred men were entered in his name. His brother Muhammad Beg was an extremely calm and polite man, of noble birth and breeding. His mother was a Sayyida of Tirmiz. ### [157.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.10) \[Of the same family\] was Sultan Ali Mirza, whom I have mentioned above, in speaking of the Khan. Also Yádgár Mirza, who, soon after this event, left the Khan's service, made the Holy Pilgrimage, and then rejoined the Khán, by whom he was highly honoured. After this he again made the Pilgrimage, and he is at the present time a recluse, having dealings with no man and disturbed by none. \[Of these too\] was Nazar Mirza. Each of them had a following of one hundred men or less. Another was Mirzá Muhammad, who had exercised the authority of Amir among the Begjik and the Tumán of Mir Ayub, before the arrival of this latter. But when Mir Ayub came, being the elder brother, all the duties of Amir were passed over to him; he \[Mirza Muhammad\] submitted to Mir Ayub, and in the administration of business was associated with him. His followers were better equipped than those of Amir Ayub. Another was Beg Muhammad, the same young man whose excellent qualities were alluded to in the account of the Khan's doings in Kábul. Among all the young men he had not his equal in courage. He had one hundred well armed retainers. ### [157.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.11) There were violent disputes between the families of Járás and Begjik on the question of priority. On this account, the elder Amirs assembled and held an inquiry. It was at length ascertained that, in the time of each Khan, priority and inferiority had been decided by the favour \[ináyat\] of that Khán. Therefore the Khán now issued the following mandate \[yárligh\]: "I will not at present determine your precedence. You must decide it among yourselves. You must take it by turns, year by year, and whichever family shows the greatest valour, that one will take precedence." They carried out the order, but the dispute exists to the present day, and has found no settlement. ### [157.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.12) All the above-mentioned men were Amirs and commanders of regiments and detachments. There was another set of men, who, although not Mirs or sons of Amirs, had yet each his own tribe and following. They had been at the head of some of the Moghul tribes during those twelve eventful years, and having directed their affairs, had thereby gained so much experience that every one placed confidence in their advice and opinions. Among them was Khwaja Ali Bahadur, of whose valuable services to the Khán in his early days in Moghulistan, I have spoken above. Another was Beg Kuli, whose name was mentioned in the history of Shahi Beg Khan. At the time when the Emperor was defeated at Kul Malik by Ubaid Ullah Khan, and retired from Samarkand, this Beg Kuli, placing himself at the head of 3000 men, came and joined the Khan. He was a trustworthy man. Another was Ishak Bahadur, renowned for his valour and his sound judgment. Others were, Marik Bahadur, Putaji Bahadur, Kara-Uchunghal, Shabán, Sultakár, Tufta Kuli, and Uzun Sakal Tufta Kuli. \[Each of these was head of a tribe\] and all were trustworthy and experienced men. Another was Tuman Bahadur, leader \[sar-khail\] of the Kaluchi, and one of the most notable generals of his time. He will be mentioned in the account of the Khan's last days. Another was Malik Ali, commander \[sirdar\] of the tribe of Kárluk and a brave soldier. Another, Kulka, head \[sar khail\] of the Makrit. Another, Omar Shaikh, chief \[kalántar\] of the Shulkarchi. ### [157.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157.13) All these were chiefs of tribes, and each had a retinue. There was yet another class of men, who had no following, but were quite alone; yet they had distinguished themselves above the rest, by their courage in many battles and engagements, and thus they had acquired the name of "heroes" \[bahádur\]. Some of their deeds of warlike valour will be mentioned below. A list of the names of a few of them follows: Midaka \[Bahadur\], Abdul Vahid \[Bahádur\], Khudai Kuli \[Bahadur\], Shakaval, Yusuf Bakaval, Muhammad Ali Tumán, Kishkui Divána, Kara Dana Kuli, Shaikh Nazar Yasaval, Barka Yasával, Hakk Nazar Divana, Ali Kurchi, Shah Mirak Kalandar, Baba Kulághan, Tangri Bardi, Bái Tisha, Hakk Nazar Kughuchi, Pak \[or Jabak\] Mir Akhur, Palicha Mir Akhur, Bar Mazid Mankish, Sukár Kaluchi, Sukar Ukhsi, Bábarin Azuk Mirza, and others. They were the talk of their time, and all of them heroes like Rustam, Zal, and Afrasiab the brazen-bodied. I have mentioned a few of them, but it would be tedious to mention them all; moreover many of them have no place in this history—no connection with the main events. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.157) · Pramāṇa