The Rashīdī History 54.3

54.3

At this time a certain Ahmad Mirza, one of the Timuri Mirzds of the line of Mirzd Shah Rukh, having fled [from his own country] had come [to Moghulistdn]. He had [with him] a sister, for whom Amir Sayyid Ali conceived a great affection; so much so that Amir Khuddidd and others begged her to become Amir Sayyid Ali's wife. She, however, refused, saying : " I cannot stay in Moghulistdn, but if he will accompany me to my own country, it can be arranged." She then immediately set out for her own country, accompanied by Amir Sayyid Ali. When she arrived at Andijdn, Mirzd Ulugh Beg despatched a man to kill Ahmad Mirza, and himself married his sister, at the same time throwing Amir Sayyid Ali into prison at Samarkand, where he remained one year. Here he fell sick of dysentery, and when on the point of dying, Amir Ulugh Beg sent for the doctors, whose remedies, however, were all without effect. One day somebody brought some kumiz. The Mirza implored the doctors, saying : " As the medicines have done me no good, I should much like to try a little kumiz, for which I have a great craving." They at last agreed [to grant his request] as a desperate experiment, saying : " It will very likely give him strength." They then gave him as much kumiz as he wanted, and from that moment he began to show signs of recovery. On the following day they gave him some more, and he became perfectly well.