The Rashīdī History 7.3.7

7.3.7

and subsequently (early in the fifteenth century) changed that of the whole country from 'Bishbálik' into 'Ili-balik.' The town of Bishbalik was situated on, or near, the site of the modern Urumtsi, and the country of which it was the chief place, extended to the westward and north-westward, as well as beyond the southern slopes of the Tian Shan. Like the rest of this part of Asia, it fell into the empire of Chingiz Khan, and, after his death, passed to his son Chaghatai. Later again, in the time of the Chinese Mings, the official historians of that dynasty described the limits of the region in such a way, as to leave no doubt that the country they termed Bishbalik was, indeed, Moghulistan. "Bie-shi-ba-li," says the Ming Shi, "is a great empire in the Si Yu [countries of the west]. It is bordered on the south by Yu-tien [Khotan], on the north by the country of the Wa-la [the Oirat Kalmaks], on the west by Sa-ma-rh-han [Samarkand], and to the east it is contiguous with Huo-chou [Kara Khoja]. It is distant [probably the ordu of the Khan is meant] from Kia-Yu-Kuan in the southeast, 3700 li. It is believed that Bie-shi-ba-li occupies the same tracts as, in ancient times, Yenki or Kui-tsz." As a description of the land and people, the Ming history adds:—"The country of Ili-ba-li is surrounded by deserts. It extends 8000 li from east to west and 2000 li from north to south. There are no cities or palace buildings.