The Rashīdī History 201.3

201.3

[The Khan on his departure] therefore left Rashid Sultan to guard and protect the province of Kashghar. On reaching Sarigh Chupan, the Khan sent me forward with an advance guard [manghalai], while he followed after. I arrived in Badakhshan and learnt that Hindal Mirza, the youngest of the Emperor's sons, had been sent from Kabul by Humayun Mirza; also that twelve days previous [to my arrival] he had reached and entered Kala Zafar. As it was the season of Capricorn and the middle of winter, to turn back would have been difficult. So [we were obliged to] go on to Kala Zafar, where we tried to enter into some negotiations, suggesting that some of the districts of Badakhshan should be given up to us, and at the close of the winter the Khan would again retire. But they did not trust us; nay, more, they suspected us of deceit. So we finally resolved upon pillage, and, until the Khan arrived, I scoured the whole country round Kala Zafar; I brought together both man and beast, and indeed all to which the word "thing" could be applied. At the end of a few days the Khan himself arrived, and during three months laid siege to Kala Zafar, while his men carried off, from the surrounding country, the little that I had left. Near the end of winter, many of the Amirs who had sent for the Khan, came and waited on him, representing, with profuse apologies, that if Hindal Mirza had not come, they would have hastened to meet and receive the Khan.