The Nāṣirī Generations 274: Anecdote.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 274
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Anecdote.
274.1
Trustworthy persons have related that Chaghatae used to regard Musalmans with hostility, and his mind constantly contemplated the shedding of Musalman blood, and not leaving one of that faith alive. Now the Chingiz Khan had instituted certain ordinances, the punishment for the infringement of some of which laws used to be death. For example: adultery and crimes of lust in general, theft, lying, and embezzlement, and the act of seizing a morsel from another’s mouth, were punishable with death; and whosoever should enter a piece of water, whether large or small, they were to kill him also, and likewise any one who should wash his face at the edge of any water, so that the water from the washed face of such person should enter that water. The punishment of any one who might be guilty of an offence less than one of all these was to be three or five, or ten, or more, stripes with a rod, but with the stipulation that, while punishment was being administered, the offender should be entirely stripped, and that the rod should be wielded with force and severity. To these ordinances they have applied the name of Yasah, in the Mughali language, that is to say, command, mandate, decree.
274.2
One day, both the brothers — Uktae and Chaghatae — were proceeding along a track into the open country. Uktae was in advance, and Chaghatae behind him, at the distance of a quarter of a farsang [league]. Suddenly, Uktae reached the head of a reservoir of water, and perceived therein a Musalman who was washing his head and body. When the eyes of Uktae fell upon that Musalman, he turned his face towards his personal attendants, and said: “Alas! this unfortunate Musalman will be forthwith put to death by the hand of my brother Chaghatae: what is advisable?” After that he inquired: “Hath any person among you an ingot of gold or of silver ready at hand?” One of his attendants bowed and said: “I have an ingot of silver with me.” Uktae said: “Give it to that Musalman, and tell him to throw it into the reservoir; and that, when my brother Chaghatae reaches this spot and sees him, and questions him, he must say: ‘An ingot of silver of mine hath fallen into the water, and I have entered the reservoir in order to search for it,’ so that he may escape being put to death.” Uktae’s attendants gave the ingot of silver to that Musalman, and he threw it into the water; and Uktae urged his horse onwards.
274.3
When Chaghatae reached the spot, he perceived that Musalman in the water, and commanded his attendants to seize him. He demanded of him, saying: “Since it is the yasah of the Khan that no living being should go into the water, why hast thou acted to the contrary? we must kill thee.” The Musalman represented: “An ingot of silver of mine hath fallen into this reservoir, and I have got into the water in order to seek for it.” Chaghatae directed so that a number of Mughals entered the water, and made search for the ingot, and having found it brought it; and by the expedient and kindness of that just and beneficent sovereign, Uktae, the Musalman escaped. May the Almighty lighten his punishment hereafter!
274.4
Through his efforts, numerous Musalmans escaped from the hands of the accursed tyrant, Chaghatae. A number of trustworthy persons have related after this manner, that, judging from the ancient chronicles of bygone times, and of past ages, that, in the states of Turkistan, and the countries of Chin, Tingit, and Tamghaj, no sovereign more beneficent nor of better disposition than Uktae ever placed foot in stirrup. When he became firmly established in the dominions of his father, and his brothers and the Nuyins and Khans of Turkistan, submitted to his authority, he girded up his loins, and organized and equipped his armies, and despatched them towards different countries. The Mughal Nu-yin, Jurmaghun, was despatched into ’Irak in the year 626 H., and the Nu-yin, Mangutah was sent towards Ghaznin; and, in the before-mentioned year, Uktae made over to his charge Tukharistan, Kunduz, and Tal-kan and the Maliks of Khurasan, Ghur, Kirman, and Pars, and those, who still continued in [possession of] different forts and strongholds, all proceeded to Kara-Kuram, to the presence of Uktae, and requested that Shahnahs [Intendants] might be sent to them; and different parts of Khurasan began to thrive again. Another anecdote of Uktae's countenance of Musalmans is apposite, and is [here] inserted.