The Rashīdī History 41: CHAPTER XVIII. · THE THIRD INVASION OF JATAH (THAT IS TO SAY MOGHULISTAN) BY AMIR TIMUR.
The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 41
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CHAPTER XVIII. · THE THIRD INVASION OF JATAH (THAT IS TO SAY MOGHULISTAN) BY AMIR TIMUR.
41.1
On Thursday, the first day of the month of Shaban of the year 776 of the Hajra [A.D. 1375], Amir Timur, having collected an army, marched out towards Jatah—which is equivalent to Moghulistan. On the route he encamped at the Rabat-i-Katan, when the coldness of the weather caused the sun suddenly to withdraw behind the veil of the clouds, and much rain and snow began to fall. [Verses]: No one ever yet saw so much snow. The world looked like a morsel in the snow's mouth. The violence of the storm deprived the soldiers of their strength, and they were soon no longer able to look after their horses, because of the risk they ran of losing their own lives; in this way many of the men died and a quantity of horses perished. Amir Timur, being moved to pity at this sad state of affairs, commanded them to break up the camp and return to Samarkand, where they remained about two months, until the rigour of the season had in some measure abated. On Monday, the 1st of the month Shawal, at the beginning of the year of the Hare (Tushkan), he again led out his army against the country of Jatah—which is equivalent to Moghulistan.
41.2
He sent Amir Zada Jahangir forward to reconnoitre; and to accompany him he sent Shaikh Muhammad Bayan Salduz and Adilshah, to whom he had entrusted the tribe of Jalair, on the death of the latter's father, Bahram Jalair. Having passed Sairam, they came to a place called Jarun, where they seized one of the soldiers of the army of Jatah and sent him on to Amir Timur. When he was asked for news of Kamaruddin, who was of the tribe [Umak] of Dughlat, he related that Kamaruddin had collected an army and was then stationed at Keuk Tubeh, waiting for Haji Beg, but that no news of the advance of Amir Timur had reached Kamaruddin. Timur then ordered the reconnoitring party to hasten forward, while he himself soon after followed them. When Kamaruddin heard of these doings, he withdrew his army to an inaccessible spot called Birkah-i-Ghurian [the Pond of the Ghuris]. In that place there are three very deep ravines, through which flow three great rivers. Kamaruddin having crossed two of these valleys with his army, pitched his camp in the third, protecting the approaches thereto with barricades and entrenchments. But Prince Jahangir marched forward at the head of his experienced soldiers, to the sound of the drums and war-trumpets. After they had wounded and killed many of the enemy with their arrows, they came to close quarters with them, and when night fell, all the enemy took to flight;
41.3
so that on the morrow not a single man of the army of Jatah—that is to say, Moghulistan—was found in the camp. But our victorious soldiers followed in their pursuit, and put to death many of those heretics. When the sun had risen, Amir Timur arrived on the spot with the rest of the army. He thereupon sent Amir Sayyid Daud, Husain and Uch Kara Bahadur in pursuit of the enemy. In accordance with his orders, they followed the course of the river, and Husain was drowned in the river. On reaching the enemy's country they began to ravage and pillage, and seized many of their horses. But they spared those Hazaras who submitted, and having disarmed them sent them on to Samarkand. Amir Timur advanced as far as Baitak with the purpose of meeting the enemy, while he sent Amir Zada Jahangir with one regiment to look for Kamaruddin, that he might defeat him and take him prisoner. The prince accordingly set out with a body of men, and laid waste the country of Uch and Firman. He came upon Kamaruddin in the mountains and pursued him beyond the limits of his own country; he also captured much booty and took many prisoners. Among the latter were Tuman Agha, the wife of Kamaruddin and her daughter, Dilshad Agha. The prince sent news of his success to Amir Timur, who during fifty-three days had not moved from Baitak. When, however, this joyful intelligence reached his ears he immediately set out for Kara Kasmak, which hill he ascended and awaited the happy return of his son Jahangir.
41.4
On his arrival, the latter, having respectfully kissed Amir Timur's feet, presented him with a quantity of booty, horses and sheep, after which he obtained for Dilshad Agha the honour of saluting the Emperor. [Verses.] ... Amir Timur, on leaving this encampment, descended to Atbashi and thence proceeded to Arpa Yazi, where he spent a few days in festivity and rejoicing. There, too, Mubarakshah Makrit, who was a commander of 9000, and one of Timur's oldest friends, showed his respect for the Amir by causing a grand festival (tui) to be organised in his honour. And he so gained Amir Timur's good graces that he obtained for his son, Khudaidad, the succession to the honours and titles of Salar Oghlan and of Husain, who had both perished in the late war.