The Rashīdī History 50.6

50.6

Scarcely had he done speaking, when they saw advancing rapidly from the shore of Lake Karas, a man mounted on a black horse, and clothed in white robes. He rode on as far as the executioner's tent, where it is customary to dismount. This man, however, rode on without stopping, right past the station of the guards who were sitting in a line. The chamberlains ran up from every side to try and stop him in his course, but he did not slacken his speed till he came up to where the Khan was standing. Then he called out in a loud voice: "Amir Timur is no more, he has died at Otrar!" Having uttered these words he again rode off at full speed. Many horsemen were sent after him, but none could overtake him; and no other intimation of the news was received. However, after an interval of forty-five days, information came that Amir Timur had died at Otrar; so there no longer remained any doubt about the matter, and the Khan was relieved of all anxiety and distress. The Khan was born before the year 770 of the Hajra, and the above recorded events took place in 807 of the Hajra. But it is not known how long the Khan survived Amir Timur—God knows best.