servient to us; the Prince Syurughtumush Aghlān, is of the posterity of Jengyz, place him on the throne of sovereignty, and let the Amyr Timur be his deputy and Commander in Chief, and we will be obedient to him."

Abū al Berkāt replied," it is contrary to the religion of Muhammed, that his followers should be subservient to you who are infidels; Jengyz was an inhabitant of the desert, who by violence and the force of his sword formerly gained a superiority over the Muselmans, at present the sword of the Amyr Timur is not inferior to what Jengyz Khan's sword was; When you all fled from Hussyn, and concealed yourselves in the desert; it was not till Timur advanced alone against him, that any of you dared to quit your hiding corners; he did not want your assistance to subdue his enemy, nor does he now want it;" after a long discourse he thus concluded, " I have hitherto spoken to you as Tūrks, but I know that you are Musselmāns and believe in the religion of Muhammed, now it is evident to all the followers of the Prophet, on whom be the grace of God, that he conquered the world from the unbelievers from Polytheists, from Jews, and from Christians, by the force of his victorious sword, therefore he (Muhammed) became sole proprietor of the terrestrial globe, after him the succession fell to the illustrious Khalifs, who with their followers spread the religion of Islam over the face of the earth, after them the property descended to the posterity of the Prophet, who having legally obtained the inheritance, may appoint whomever they choose for their deputy. I, who am the lineal descendant of Hussyn, the Grandson of Muhammed, in conjunction with all the Syeds of Mecca and Medina, do consider and esteem Amyr Timur as the deputy of the illustrious Khalifs. We therefore do appoint him to be Ruler over all the Muselmāns in the territory of Turān.”

When the Assembly heard that the Muselmans were unanimous and agreed in their choice, and that the people were inclined to me, Amyr Ky Khuseru said, "let us draw lots for the sovereignty, and let us solemnly promise that we will be obedient on whomsoever the lot shall fall;" in consequence of this proposal, Abū al Berkāt wrote my name, and the name of the other three competitors (on slips of paper) and placed them under the (Musella) carpet for prayer, he then said to them, "thrust your hands under the carpet and take out the lots," they did so three times, and the lot of sovereignty came forth in my name : they were all ashamed, but they could not deny their agreement.

The next day all the Chiefs of the hordes and tribes came in a body to my tent, and the three competitors also entered and made their obeisance to me, after them came the Amyrs Aljaitu, Sar Bugha and Daoud, and bent their knees; when these illustrious Chiefs had paid their respects, the Assembly con

gratulated me, and Abū al Berkāt, with the syeds of Termuz offered up prayers for my prosperity. Then the abovementioned chieftains with the twelve chiefs of the hordes stood up and formed half circles to the right and left of my seat; after which Abū al Berkāt thus addressed the Assembly; "O Assembly of Muselmāns, the Prophet hath said, I bequeath to my people two illustrious things; first, the sacred volume; secondly, my descendants; now these bequests are in the hands of the Amyr Timur, those who obey him shall be fortunate in this world, and happy in the next; but those who disobey him will be unfortunate in this world, and miserable in futurity." He then took up the Korān which was lying before me, and placed it on the head of each person, saying, “let those who choose to enter (into this covenant) come, and those who choose to fall off, let them fall;" each person replied, "we have heard and do obey;" thus they all agreed to my sovereignty, and inaugurated me."

CHAPTER II.

A. D. 1369.

In the year 771, I entered my thirty-fifth year of age, on which occasion four of the most revered Syeds, viz. Abū al Berkāt, Abū al Muāly, Zynaddyn, and Aly Akber, having chosen a fortunate hour, took me by the arms, and placed me on the throne of sovereignty: after I was seated on the throne, I opened the Korān, which was my constant companion, to search for an omen whether my government would endure, and this verse came forth, "Say, God is the master of the world, he gives the kingdom to whom he chooses, and takes it away from those he chooses." The learned body who were standing at the foot of my throne, wrote the interpretation of this verse, and read prayers for the perpetuity of my dominion. In the same manner all the people, both great and low, held up their hands in prayer for my prosperity; after which all the nobles bent their knees and congratulated me; then all the chiefs and officers of the hordes payed their respects; then all the people, whether soldiers or citizens, called out, " may your good fortune endure.”

Previous to the day of my coronation I had formed regulations for my courts; I assigned to the Syeds, to the prelates and learned body a place on my right hand, to my sons and relations and nobles, that they should be seated in a half circle round my throne, the (Kurjyans) life guards were to be placed behind the throne, the commanders of divisions to be in front, facing me, the twelve (Yusuval) aides de camp or orderlies, were to stand three in front, three on each side, and three behind the Kur,* and the other officers and soldiers to be seated

* The Kūr is a railing which surrounds the throne.

according to their respective ranks. After forming the court in this manner I sent for all the treasure and valuables that I possessed and distributed them amongst the nobles, the officers and soldiers, according to their respective ranks, and I then gave away to the persons assembled, all my ready money, my horses, swords, caps; so that all that remained were the clothes on my back and two horses in my stable, and even of these Amyr Jaku asked for one, which I gave him, by which means all I kept to myself was one horse, one sword, one shield, one spear, one quiver with its bow and arrows.

When the nobles of the hordes and tribes witnessed my liberality and generosity they came and bent their knees, and said, you are well entitled to the throne and sovereignty. At this time one of my confidential servants said to me, "there is not a single article left in your store." I replied, " if I am a King all the wealth of the world is mine; whatever property my subjects possess is mine, they are merely my repositories; and if I am not a King, whatever I may now have will not remain."

I then commanded a proclamation to be made, that "all people whether great or low, Turks or Persians, Noble or Mean, Officer or Soldier, were in perfect security from me, and I issued edicts through all parts of my dominion, stating that I had pardoned all guilty persons of every description; that all those who had drawn their swords against me, done evil to me, or had excited enmity against me, I now considered as my friends, and that I had eradicated from my bosom all animosity or revenge, that they might feel confident and happy, and whatever property of mine had been stolen or plundered during the disturbances, I freely gave to the possessor; that I forgave all the followers of Amyr Hussyn, and that they might remain secure wherever they were dispersed, and keep whatever property of his they had."

I then issued orders to all the Chieftains on the boundaries and the Governors of the fortresses of Shadman, Kunduz, Badukhshān, Andijān, Tūrkistān, Kabulistan, Kashghur, Tashkund, Khujend and the confines of the Desht Kipchak and Khuarizm, confirming them in their governments and commands and assuring them that they need not harbour an idea of any change.

When the (Eid) festival of the month of Ramzan arrived, I went to the great Mosque of Balkh and performed my prayers. The Muselmans invited me to commence the service. I replied that I did not consider myself worthy of acting as (Imam) president. They said we consider your Highness as the successor of the illustrious Khalifs and the (Muruvij) Patron of the Muhammedan religion, the Guardian of the holy land, the Protector of the servants of God, the Respecter of his Saints, it is therefore proper that you should preside.

The (Khētyb) Preacher then mounted the pulpit, and after offering up glory and thanksgiving to God and the Prophet, and praise of the illustrious Khalifs (Khulfā Rashidyn*) may Paradise be their dwelling, he commenced the Khutbeh in my name, in these words, " O Lord, assist the Muselman armies and camps wherever they are, or wherever they may be, whether in the East or in the West, by the good fortune of the just Sultan, the illustrious Khākān, (title of the Turkish Sovereign) the renowned Emperor, the exalted Prince, the Khākān son of the Khākān Amyr Timur Gurghān, may God Almighty perpetuate his dominion and government, and extend his beneficence and justice to all Muselmāns." After the conclusion of this speech all the Nobles and principal persons of Jagtay and the Chiefs of the tribes and hordes came up and congratulated me.

When I quitted the Mosque I placed my foot in the stirrup, and attended by all the Commanders and Officers I proceeded to the (Kytul) palace, I then politely took leave of them, sent each of them a feast on account of the Eid, and dismissed them to their respective homes.

Some days after I appointed Murad Behader, son of Chughan Berlās, to be governor of Balkh, and gave him a written code of regulations for his guidance, pointing out to him how he was to behave himself, both to soldiers and subjects and in what style he should live and conduct himself on all occasions.

On the 2d day of the month of Shū,āl, A. H. 771, being then thirty-five years of age, having selected a fortunate moment, I marched from Balkh and proceeded towards the capital, Samerkund; the first day I encamped on the banks of the Jihun, which was seven Fersukh (twenty-one miles) from Balkh, and enjoyed myself there, till my family and all the heavy baggage of the army came up.

At one of the assemblies Shykh Hussyn Sufy‡ who had arrived from Khuarizm, came and joined me: I asked him, "how will the Almighty reproach tyrants in the day of Judgment?" he replied, "God hath said to them (by his Prophets) 'don't think of me; if you do so, I will curse you;' this is a sufficient indication of their lot, the tyrant shall be seized both in this world and the next by his injustice." He then added," the punishment of an infidel King, provided he is just, shall be less than that of a Muselman Monarch who is a tyrant; also the torments of a generous unbeliever shall be fewer than those of an avaricious believer." On hearing these words I determined as long as I lived to make justice and liberality my constant practice.

* The four first Khalifs.

† Resembles the prayer read in cathedrals before the sermon.

This was the celebrated saint mentioned in the Appendix, No. 7. See also Sufy, Richardson's Persian Dictionary.

T

All my people having now joined the camp, I crossed the river Jihun and encamped in the plains of Kesh, where I halted for some time and was waited upon by all the Nobles and principal inhabitants of the towns, and by all the Chiefs of the hordes and tribes: whether formerly friends or enemies all came and claimed my protection. From thence I marched to the vicinity of Samerkund and was there met by all the Nobles and persons of note, by all the prelates and learned body of that city, who congratulated me and made offerings (Nesar) for my prosperity.

That very day being Friday, I went to the great Mosque and said my prayers with a very numerous congregation, after which the Khutbeh was read for my success from the pulpit of Samerkund, being now the capital of my empire. But Khuaje Abyd Allah, who was the most celebrated theologist of the age, refused to join in the blessing. Here follows the anecdote related in page 12 of the Omens, &c.

In consequence of this manifestation of the Prophet's regard, I ordered that another large mosque should be built in Samerkund, also a monastery, and houses for the Dervishes and pious Muselmāns.

CHAPTER III.

After I had mounted the throne in my capital of Samerkund, I formed a council and drew up a code of regulations for my goverment, I then ordered a general proclamation to be made, that whoever had any claims on me should come forward and make them known; and every person that I had been intimate with from the days of my childhood to the present time, I called by his name, and conferred favours on him; and with whomsoever I had been acquainted either as friend or enemy, I acted in a uniform manner to all, and bound them in the ties of gratitude.

I gave injunctions to all my servants, that they were never on any account to change or alter the orders that I should issue; and that if any minister or officer should be guilty of deviation from this rule, he should be punished; because one of the rights of Princes is, that their words and orders should be the law of the land.

I ordered that a code of regulations should be formed for the payment of the officers and soldiers and their allowance of provisions; also rules for conferring titles and the high offices of generals and ministers, which were to be considered as a standing order and guidance of their conduct. In the same manner I directed