The Rashīdī History 54.5

54.5

When Amir Sayyid Ali arrived at Samarkand with his companion, he gathered from the behaviour of the latter that he was not going to be well treated. When they had entered the town, his companion placed him in a house, and himself went before the governor. No sooner was he gone than the Amir left the house, on foot, and proceeded to Tashkand. When the man returned to the house from visiting the governor, he found the Amir's horse, and arms, and servants, but the Amir himself had disappeared. They inquired after him from his servants, who replied that he had just departed on foot. They then searched carefully for the Amir, but could not find him. Meanwhile the Amir had fallen in with some Kalandars on the road, and having dressed himself as one of them, arrived in safety at Tashkand. The Kalandars gave the Amir the name of Ashtar Abdal, and bestowed on him some of the provisions out of their wallets. Thus, in the guise of a Kalandar, he reached Taraz, which is another name for Yangi, where he was recognised by the Shaikh of the "Shrine of the Companions of the Cave," which is called in Moghulistan "Mamlakat Ata." The Shaikh sent his son Shadika with the Amir, and caused him to be conducted into Moghulistan and brought before Amir Khudaidad. This Shaikh Shadika became one of the Amir's intimates, and gained the title [lakab] of Vafadar [the Faithful]. There are descendants of his still alive, but they have not attained to any celebrity.