The Rashīdī History 196.3

196.3

Having delivered the Khanim into the hands of the people, I hastened on to join the army, and came up with them the same day that they left that stage. I had the felicity of kissing the stirrup of Khwaja Nura, who then turned back. The Khan [at the same time] pushed forward, and in twelve days accomplished forty days' journey. The details of the matter are as follows. When we reached Ak Kumas, the Khan sent me with 5000 men to accompany Rashid Sultan against the Kirghiz, who were then in Arish Lar. On arriving at this place, we found their camp and their tents left standing. It was clear that they had fled and got away. Some of their arms and baggage were lying tumbled about. We concluded that they got news of [our approach]. As we proceeded, we came across some dead bodies, and several horses, wounded or killed by arrows, besides many broken arrows. After careful search, we discovered a man who was half-dead, from whom we learnt that Babajak Sultan had come from Kusan, and attacked the Kirghiz; that three days previous to our arrival a fierce battle had been fought, resulting in the defeat of Babajak Sultan. The Kirghiz, having despatched their families towards the Uzbeg, had then gone in pursuit of Babajak Sultan.