The Rashīdī History 9.2.2

9.2.2

The next reigning chief mentioned is one Ba-la-ma-rh, on whom the Ming Emperor bestowed presents in 1441, on the occasion of the Egyptian envoy passing through Turfan on his way homeward from Peking. It was about this time—the middle of the fifteenth century—that the Turfan chief, one Ye-mi-li Khoja (Imil Khwaja?) took possession of Kara-Khoja and Lu-kotsin and assumed the title of Wang, or 'Prince.' Previous to this, says the Ming historian, Turfan was of little account, but it now became powerful, and appears to have extended its territory, for he incidentally mentions that it was bordered on one side by Moghulistan, and on another by Khotan. The rise in power of the Turfan chiefs did not prevent them from continuing to send tribute to China, and it was shortly afterwards (in 1465) settled that a mission should be despatched regularly once every five years. The particulars of these missions, the demands they made at the Ming court, and the concessions granted from time to time by the Emperor, need not be followed here. One of them which appeared at Peking in 1469 reported that the Turfan chief had taken the title of 'Sultan,' and the name of this personage is recorded to have been Ali. In the Tarikh-i-Rashidi no mention is made of the name of Ali, in connection with Uighuristan. The date points to Kabak Sultan, as well as the title;