The Rashīdī History 238.2

238.2

There yet remained with me more than a hundred men; these were all brave soldiers or commanders of battalions, whose service was hereditary, who had often distinguished themselves in battle, and had won juldu; each one also had been born to the title of Amir. Some of them were my [foster]-brothers, and were called [by me] Kukildash; from these I had no reason to expect opposition. But on the morrow I discovered that all my trusted men had disappeared, like the stars at dawn. After the sun had lit up the earth's dark surface, Jan Ahmad Ataka, who has been already mentioned as my foster-brother, came to me with a certain Shah Muhammad, a Kukildash, and one of the most distinguished of that band. With them they brought five followers. Thus was the fear of loneliness dispelled. After a while, Iskandar Sultan and my cousin Mahmud came back, and having collected about fifty men we proceeded towards Maryul.