Civilizations in Contact

Clavijo (Le Strange translation) -- Chapter 13, pp. 237-256

SAMARQAND

The Camp of the Horde outside Samarqand - The Pavilion of State in the Enclosure - The great round text - The feast given by the Princess Khánzádeh - Drinking bouts and drunkeness - Clavijo for himself refuses wine - The marriage feast of Timur's grandson - His Highness's methods of justice - His grandson Prince Pir Muhammad - How Timur conquered India

Wonderful Tents Erected for the Great Feast

ON Monday the 6th of October Timur gave orders for a grand feast to be made at his camp in the Horde, and this same is known as the Royal Camp. To this feast his Highness had invited all his wives and the members of his family, namely his sons and grandsons at that time resident with him together with their wives. Further the lords who were of the court all were bidden, as also all those chiefs who were in the various encampments stationed round and about the city, these having been brought in by special command. As regards us ambassadors we were that day taken over to the Horde, and in the great camp we found they had erected an innumerable number of extra tents all very beautiful to see, and for the most part these were erected on the bank beside the river [Zarafshán]. These tents were marvellously fine, all one beside the other very closely pitched, and thither they conducted us through a roadway where all sorts of goods were exposed on sale suitable to the needs of those who might be about later to set forth on the march of the army. As soon as we had come near to where Timur was in residence in the royal tents, they left us for a season to rest in the shade under a spacious awning. This we found to be made of a white linen stuff overset and let in with coloured embroidery, and the awning had wooden poles at the back which supported it by means of cords holding it taut. The like awnings were to be seen in many other parts of the camp and they are fashioned long and high in order to be open to the sun and to catch the breeze. [237]

The Construction of a Great Pavilion Described

Nearby this awning where we were seated stood a very large high pavilion, in fact a very huge tent, and it was four square in shape. In height it was the measure of three long lances such as used by a horse soldier, and the side was a hundred paces from angle to angle, it being as said four cornered. The ceiling of the pavilion was made circular to form a dome, and the pores supporting it were twelve in number each as thick round as is the chest of a man breast high. These poles were painted in colours blue and gold and otherwise, and of these twelve great tent poles four were placed at the corners with two others in between on the side. Each pole was made up of three lengths which were firmly jointed together to form the whole. When they had to be set the work people made use of a windlass as big as a cart wheel thus to hoist them up: further they have shackles of cord bands that are attached in various parts and which serve to ease the strain. From each of these poles at its summit in the dome shaped ceiling there hangs one end of a great curtain in silk cloth that is thereto attached, and these curtains are looped up running from pole to pole, so as to make four archways. Round outside the four walls of the main tent of the pavilion there are low galleries like porticoes, and these likewise form a square, and above they join on to the tent wall of the pavilion. The outer tent walls of these four porticoes just described are supported on twenty four small wooden masts which are by no means as thick as the twelve poles of the inner pavilion, the whole number of these poles and masts together being thirty six, which serve to raise up and support the great structure, which is stayed by upwards of five hundred ropes, and these are coloured red.

The Textiles Used to Decorate the Great Pavilion

The inner walls of the pavilion are lined with crimson tapestry very beautifully woven in patterns of diverse designs, further it is hung with silk stuffs of many [238] colours in places worked over with embroidery of gold thread. The ceiling of the pavilion is its mark of greatest beauty for at the four corners are figured four eagles sitting with their wings closed. The exterior walls of the pavilion are made of a silk cloth woven in bands of white and black and yellow that to us appeared made of silk sarsenet.

From a Distance the Pavilion Looks Like a Castle

Outside at each corner there is set a very tall staff capped with an apple of burnished copper above which is a crescent. The summit of the pavilion further is square shaped with four tall staves at the corners, each with its apple and crescent. These staves are set at a great height, being also of considerable size, and they form the framework of what is like a turret made of silk cloth, set with what simulates battlements. There is a gangway from below to come up into the turret, for should the force of the wind disarrange any part of the upper works of the pavilion, or cause damage to the poles, men go up thither and walking afoot on the canvas screens repair the fault. From a distance indeed this great tent would appear to be a castle, it is so immensely broad and high. It is a wonder to behold, and magnificent beyond description.[1]

Timur’s Dais for Giving Audience

Inside within the pavilion there is set a dais, in one part, it is flat and covered over with a carpet on which have been placed three or four mattresses one above the other. This is the seat where his Highness takes his place giving audience. To the left, as you face this, is a second dais also flat and covered with a carpet; it is at some distance apart from the main dais, and beyond it again is a third dais which is lower than the others.

The Great Enclosure or Wall of Cloth

Round and about the pavilion on the ground outside is erected a wall of cloth, as might be otherwise the wall of a town or castle, and the cloth is of many coloured silks in diverse patterns. Along the wall top are battlements, and it is stayed without and within by ropes stretching up from the ground, and on the inner [239] side stand poles which support the same. This encircling canvas wall goes round a space of ground measuring across, may be, some 300 paces, and the wall itself is as high as a man on horse back may reach up to. There is an arched gateway to it, with double doors without and within, all made of canvas as above described. This entrance gate is very high, and it is capable of being barred and locked. Above the gateway rises a square tower of canvas with battlements, and as forsooth the encircling wall makes grand display of patterns and ornamentation in the stuff of which it is made, so too the gateway arch and tower just described have even more ornamented work on them than is the case of the walls. This forms the great Enclosure surrounding and shutting in the pavilion. It is known by the name of the Sarápardeh[2] and within its circuit stand many other tents and awnings pitched diversely and at intervals.

A Domed Circular Tent

Among the rest we noted here a very lofty circular tent of another kind, for this is not stayed with ropes, the wall being supported by poles of the size and thickness of our lances, which are wrought into the canvas wall, as might be to form a netting cross wise. Above those of the side walls, rise other long poles which hold up the upper part of the tent forming the domed ceiling. The tent walls above and below are held together the one above the other by a series of staying bands, a hand breadth across. These pass down to the ground and are secured by stakes, or tent pegs, and they hold the walls of the tent stretched taut: but indeed it is a marvel to note how such thin stays can hold up so high a canvas wall.

The Walls of the Tent and their Decorative Bands

Above this wall is made of crimson tapestry, but below the material of the wall is strengthened by a cotton stuffing like that of a coverlet, this being added that the heat of the sun's rays may not pass through. The walls of these tents we are now describing are not ornamented with any pattern work [240] or figures as elsewhere may be seen, their only ornament being bands of white which go all round the back up to about half way of the height, thus engirdling the walls outside. But further these bands are ornamented with spangles of silver gilt, each of the size of an open hand, and in these have been set jewel stones of diverse sorts. Again round the back part of the tent is to be noted half way up a linen band, set over in small loose pleats, as may be the facings of a woman's gown, and these are all embroidered with a pattern in gold thread; and as the wind blows these loose pleats set on the linen band wave to and fro in a manner pleasant to see. This particular tent that we have been describing had a high entrance, shut by doors, and these were made of red tapestry stretched over a framework of small canes.

A Second Enclosure Belonging to Timur’s Second Wife

Nearby again stood another tent but of the kind stayed with ropes. It was very richly made, the stuff being a red tapestry like shag velvet. Then in a row there were four tents that were connected together by a passage way going from one to the other, by which one could pass as might be through a corridor, and this corridor was covered in above by a ceiling. Within this same great Enclosure we noticed quite a number of other tents, and nearby was another a second Enclosure like the first, and as large in extent, shut in by an encircling wall of silk stuff, woven to look as though it were the pattern on a tile. In this wall there were opened at intervals window frames with shutters, but these window openings could not be passed through from without by any one, for each was guarded by a netting of thin silk tape.

A Red and Silver Tent Decorated with an Eagle and Falcons

In the middle of this second Enclosure stood a tent like that other one, very high and on the model that has been just described, and made of a similar red cloth, ornamented with spangles of silver as was that former tent. All these tents are indeed very tall, rising to the height of three full lance lengths or even more. High up, in the [241] ceiling of the cupola of the tent we are now describing, is seen the figure of an eagle in silver gilt, it is of a great size and its wings are open. Then a fathom and a half below, on the tent wall they have figured three falcons in silver gilt, one on the one side and the other two beyond: these are very skillfully wrought, they have their wings open as though they were in flight from the eagle, their heads being turned back to look at him, with their wings extended for flying. The eagle is represented as though about to pounce on one of the falcons. All these birds are extraordinarily well figured, and they are set here as though some special purpose were intended.

The First Enclosure of the Great Khanum

In front of the doorway of this tent is erected an awning of many coloured silk cloth: this shades the door, and prevents the sun from shining on any one at the place of entrance: further this awning can be moved about to face this way or that, and so keep the sun's rays from falling within the tent. Of these two great Enclosures with many tents within them as we have described the first Enclosure is that belonging to the chief wife of Timur, who is known as the Great Khánum or Lady, while that second Enclosure belongs to his second wife who is called the Kuchik Khánum, meaning the Little Lady.[3] Alongside these first two Enclosures there is a third with canvas walls of a different make, with many tents and awnings pitched within the Enclosure circuit, and here too there is a chief tent likewise made very high after the fashion of those already described.

Eleven More Enclosures for Other Wives and Princesses

Further we noticed many other such Enclosures beyond and about, which same as already said go by the name of Sarápardeh, and we counted of these to the number of eleven in all. Each was of its own colour and design, and in each might be seen one great tent, of the kind set up without tent-ropes to stay it, as has been explained above, each Enclosure having walls of red tapestry similar to those [242] we have already described, with many smaller tents and awnings set about the main central tent. These eleven Enclosures were indeed standing so near one to the other that between their outer walls, from the one to the next, the space was only sufficient for the width of a roadway: and they were indeed, as we came thus to view them, one beyond the other, all of a most noble appearance. All these Enclosures aforesaid were occupied either by the wives of Timur, or by the wives of his grandsons, and these princes and princesses have their abode therein, as does also his Highness likewise, both summer and winter.

More Feasts

On the day of which we are now speaking Timur came out into the royal Enclosure at mid day and proceeded to his Great Pavilion, whither he sent and had us brought. Here they served us with a feast, and we dined on mutton and horse flesh, with the usual abundance, and the meal being over we returned back to our lodgings. Next day Tuesday the 7th of October Timur commanded another feast to be prepared in the Horde, to which we ambassadors again were bidden, and this feast was served in one of those Enclosures that we have described. Being sent for by his Highness we were brought thither, and we found him seated in the main tent of the Enclosure. We were again formally introduced, and then partook of the feast, which was ordered after the usual fashion.

Gifts Offered in Groups of Nine

When the entertainment was over two of the lords of the court who were the intimate attendants of his Highness their names were Sháh Melik Mirza and Núr ad Dín Mirza that day were permitted to present Timur with a gift, and the several items now were brought before him. Their present was a great number of trenchers in silver, each standing on its tall feet, and on these trenchers were set comfits and cakes of sugar with raisins, almonds and pistachio nuts. Further each trencher was covered over by a [243] piece of silk stuff. On this occasion these trenchers were laid down, nine by nine, such being the custom when any gift is offered to his Highness, for all such must be in groups of nine pieces in any sort of the thing presented. On the present occasion Timur immediately portioned what had been given him as gifts among the courtiers and lords who were present: and to us ambassadors his Highness gave award, bestowing on us two of those trenchers each covered with its silken cloth. As we arose to depart the attendants threw over us and the folk round and about a shower of silver coin, with among the rest small thin patens of gold each with a turquoise set in the centre. With this that festival came to an end and the guests departed home.

The Princess Khanzadeh Gives a Wedding Feast

On the next day which was Wednesday his Highness had arranged to give another feast to which likewise we were bidden: but that day there arose a great wind blowing fiercely, which caused Timur to keep to the palace indoors and he did not appear at the public reception. He had commanded none the less that those who had come invited should be served with all that had been prepared for the feast: but we two ambassadors, who had been instructed to attend now excused ourselves from remaining to dine and returned home to our lodgings. On Thursday the 9th of October, which was the morrow, the Princess Khánzádeh, the wife of Mírán Sháh Timur's eldest [surviving] son, made a great feast and we were both invited thereto.[4] The feast was held in one of those Enclosures with their tents which the Princess occupied as her abode and these tents were very magnificent. As we approached her pavilion we noticed that here and there on the ground were set many jars of wine, and of this we all partook later abundantly. The Princess on our arrival commanded us to be brought before her, and after being duly presented we were [244] accommodated on a low dais that faced her seat, and this had been set under an awning. Khánzádeh herself with many guests and the other ladies who were in attendance on her, all were seated on a low dais before the door of one of those great tents under an awning. In front of her seat were placed some three or four small mattresses one set above the other, over which she could lean forward at will to take her ease.

Description of the Princess Khanzadeh and the Entertainment

This feast to which we were here bidden was given to celebrate the royal wedding of a kinsman where the bride also was her relation. We noticed that Khánzádeh herself was a princess now some forty years of age: she was fair of complexion and fat. At the feast on the ground before her were set many of those jars of wine already mentioned, and there were also other jars that held a beverage which the Tartars drink called Busa, made from mare's milk sweetened with sugar. Present sitting near the princess were many of the relatives of her highness, and some lords were in attendance, also there were standing in the tent ballad singers who played to their singing an accompaniment on musical instruments. As we came up and were presented the Princess and the company were already drinking wine, and the custom in this case is as follows.

Etiquette for Serving the Princess with Wine

One of the lords, a man of a certain age, of those who are related to Timur in blood, attended by two youths who were also of the family of his Highness, all three would come forward to serve her with the wine cup, likewise serving the other dames there seated her guests. The servers each carried in his hand a white cloth as might be a napkin, while those who had to pour out the wine now filled various small gold cups therewith and set each on a small flat golden platter that was placed ready to hand. The old lord and the two youths who were to serve the wine now came forward, being followed by the attendants who had [245] already poured full the cups that were set each on its platter, and all advancing when they came half way up to the Princess bent the right knee kneeling to the ground before her. This they did three times over, kneeling and rising up again but keeping to the same spot where they had at first knelt. Then the old lord and the youths took a cup each, as set on its little platter from the attendants, and the three came forward near to where the Princess was seated, each with the cup he had brought but holding it with the napkin round it that his hand might not touch the metal. Then again they knelt, but this time immediately in front of the Princess or such one of the ladies as each was serving, and to whom he now gave the cup of wine to drink. This done, each server would get up from his knees holding in his hand the platter, and would return to his former place, but this he did ceremoniously so as to keep facing the dame as he went back. Then at a certain spot he would halt and again kneel, the right knee to the ground, and so wait until each dame had drunk her wine. Then her server would rise from his knee and advance to receive the cup which the lady would place on the gold platter that he carried, who would then retire but again carefully avoid to turn his back to her.

The Men Boast of their Drinking Feats

Now you must understand that this method of drinking wine was not carried through and done within a brief space but went on for a long time, and all the dames drank without previously having eaten of the feast. Every now and then one of these ladies as her server was standing before her with the wine cup, would order that he himself should drink of the same, on which the server would put down the platter and drink off the draught of wine. Then turning the cup upside down to show his dame that not a drop had been left in the bottom, would boast of his feats of drinking, and of how much wine he could put away, whereat the [246] ladies would merrily laugh. At this feast that we are now describing the Great Khanum, the chief wife of Timur, was present, and at one time she and these dames would drink wine, and next they would call for that mare's milk beverage of which we have spoken above.

The Great Khanum Tries to Make Clavijo Drink Wine

After this manner of drinking had gone on for some considerable space of time, the Great Khanum commanded that we the ambassadors should come forward, when with her own hand she offered us the wine cup, and persisted in the attempt to make me Ruy González drink of the same but I would not, though scarcely could she be brought to believe and understand that I never did drink wine. Now when this drinking of theirs had now gone on for some considerable time, many of the men present sitting before the Princess were beginning to show signs of being in their cups, and some indeed were already dead drunk. This state forsooth they deem a sign of manliness, and at none of their feasts do they consider hilarity is attained unless many guests are properly in drink.

The Menu of the Feast

Shortly on this the food was brought in, an abun¬dance of roast mutton and horse flesh, with various meat stews. All began and set to to eat with much talking and joking, where one would snatch a piece of meat from another and all the guests were very merry. This eating of meat, however, lasted but a short while, and then they brought in dishes of rice made up in various fashions, also thin cakes of bread sugared over, and some vegetables. The meat dishes for the most part were served on their separate trenchers, but they also carried the joints in on those leather mats that we have described, and served them to the guests after cutting up.

Princess Khanzadeh

The Princess Khánzádeh is as already said the wife of Prince Mírán Sháh whom she has brought back into favour with his father. She is herself descended from a prince who was the fore¬father of Timur, and for this reason enjoys great [247] respect at the hands of her father in law. Prince Mírán Sháh has a son by her who is now a young man about twenty years of age and his name is Khalíl Sultán. Now on that Thursday the 9th of 0ctober Timur commanded a feast to be made in honour of one of his grandsons whose marriage was about to be celebrated.[5] We ambassadors again were invited, the entertainment taking place in one of those Enclosures set about with many fine tents. On this occasion too the Great Khan, Timur's chief wife and the Princess Khánzádeh both again were present with other dames and lords besides much folk in attendance. The amount they did eat this day of mutton and horse meat was enormous as is their custom, and they drank wine and were exceeding merry. All the ladies likewise partook of the wine, it being served to them after the fashion described at the feast of the previous day.

A Great Fair to Celebrate the Royal Wedding

Further to celebrate this day of the royal wedding his Highness had given command by proclamation throughout the city of Samarqand that all the trading folk of the town, namely those who sold stuffs and those who sold jewels, with the hucksters and merchants for sale of goods of all and every sort, together with the cooks, butchers, bakers, tailors and shoemakers, in short all the craftsmen who were inhabitants of the capital, should betake themselves out for that day to the meadows where the great Horde was encamped. They were at the same time under obligation to bring out their tents to this camping place, and to sell there the goods and produce each of his trade, and thus the city was to remain empty of them all. The order further was given that each trade and craft should next arrange a gala show, where each man should display his skill making an exhibition throughout the Horde for the pleasure of all spectators. Further it was ordered that none were to return to their homes in [248] Samarqand until they had received his Highness's leave and permission. Thus the proclamation took effect, and all the craftsmen and tradesmen migrated from the city to the camp bringing with then their goods and wares to sell. The whole Horde was filled with them, each craft and trade being allotted a street where the men of the same, each separately and in due order, displayed their art. Further in every craft there was set up an exhibition or separate show to display their skill in the matter in hand, and these shows perambulated throughout the whole of the Horde for the entertainment of the people.[6]

Executions

Again in those quarters where the trades were thus congregated, and at several central points where the diverse exhibition tents were numerous, Timur had commanded that great gallows should be set up. By proclamation at the same time he let it be known that whereas he intended thus to gratify and give enjoyment to all the common folk at his festival, he also intended to give a warning and example of those who had offended him and done evil deeds, and he would proceed to the public execution of the criminals.

The Mayor of Samarqand Hanged

The first of those to suffer his justice was the Mayor in Chief of Samarqand, a man whose name was Dina, a personage the greatest in all that land of his Empire. Aforetime when Timur had set out on his late expedition, namely six years and eleven months before this present date at which we were come, this man had been appointed to be the chief magistrate, and Timur had left him to be governor of Samarqand. But his Highness since his return had come to know that this man had betrayed his trust using his office to misgovern and oppress the people. He therefore now commanded this Dina the Chief Mayor to be brought before him, and after judgment forthwith he was taken out and without delay hanged; all the wealth that he had so unjustly gathered to himself being forfeited to [249] the state. This act of high justice condemning so great a personage to death, made all men to tremble, and notably he had been one in whom his Highness had reposed much confidence. Then again in regard to a certain man the friend of that Dina and who had sought to intercede with Timur for his pardon, his Highness likewise caused him now to be hanged, thus sharing the fate of his companion. There was also a privileged and very favourite courtier of his Highness, whose name was Burunday Mirza[7] and he too had interceded with Timur seeking to obtain the pardon of the Chief Mayor. To this intent he had offered his Highness to pay in ransom a sum of 400,000 Pesantes, and each of these Pesantes is of the value of a silver real [which may be four shillings]. Forthwith Timur had answered that gladly he would accept the gift, but the moneys had no sooner come into his treasury than he ordered torture to be given to that unhappy man, if possible to get more money from him, and when none could be obtained it was ordered that he be hung on the gallows by the feet head downwards till he died.

Profiteers Hanged

Next his Highness had ordered justice to be meted to a certain great lord of the court in whose care had been left three thousand horses of the government stud when Timur had set out on the late campaign. Because on his return those 3,000 were not yet all present that lord was now condemned to the gallows, and it served him for naught that he had promised, if time were granted him, in place of those 3,000 he would soon have 6,000 to bring before his Highness. It was ever after this or a similar fashion that Timur administered justice. For instance he had recently caused certain butchers to be put to death who were caught selling meat at an excessive price. Then, when but just arrived back from his last campaign, he had ordered penalties to be laid on various shoemakers [250] and those who sold sandals and other such like trade folk, and that they should be mulcted of their illicit gains, seeing that they were over charging for their wares. But these various penalties and punishments now caused those traders who, as we have explained, had lately been ordered out from Samarqand city and established in the camp of the Horde, to deem that this had only been done the better to rob them of their livelihood.

Hanging More Honourable than Beheading

Now in High Justice as regards the death penalty, it is the custom among these Tartars if the culprit be a person of rank to put him to death by hanging, but if he be but a man of the people they behead him, for they hold decapitation to be a dreadful deed and a matter of much dishonour.

Beautiful Tents and Textiles Described

The following Monday which was the 13th of October Timur made another great feast to which as usual we ambassadors were invited. As we presented ourselves with the other bidden guests and came to where that great Pavilion stood, as already described where his Highness was wont to dine in state, we perceived that on either side of the Pavilion two other Enclosures had now been set up with many tents after the fashion that has been described on a previous page. But here there was a notable variation, for each of these two newly established Enclosures with their tents were even more skillfully wrought than those we had as yet seen, and the stuffs used were more costly than in the former case. Thus the enclosing wall of each of these, that had been newly pitched surpassed in magnificence all that we had yet seen: for this wall was made entirely of crimson tapestry embroidered over with patterns in gold thread that was most marvellously beautiful. The outer walls here were far higher than had been the case with the other Enclosures and each gateway far more lofty. Each gate was an archway domed above, and crowning the arch was a high centre piece, the stuffs of which both center [251] piece and arch were made being embroidered over with fine patterns in gold thread. The doors closing the gateway were made with the like tapestry also embroidered in gold thread. The centre piece above the gateway consisted of a square tower with battlements this too made of the same tapestry in all ways similar to that of the rest of the gateway. The walls of the one as of the other Enclosure were all along the summit crowned by battlements of that tapestry stuff embroidered over. In these walls were set at intervals windows with nettings over the openings made with silken cords worked into the tapestry, the window openings having shutters to close them made likewise in tapestry. Within the one Enclosure had been pitched many tents, each magnificently wrought and richly adorned in diverse ways. The second Enclosure was nearby the first and its walls were of white Zaytuni silk stuff plain and unornamented. This Enclosure too had a gateway and windows in the walls like the other; while within were tents of many fashions, and from the one Enclosure to the other you could pass conveniently by a passageway with a closing gate.

Two New Enclosures

These two Enclosures just described and newly made we were not allowed to enter and see this day of the feast which Timur presided over and gave in his great Pavilion: but on the following day we were again brought hither when we were taken over both these new Enclosures and shown the tents and other matters pertaining to them. And further in front of their walls that we have described was erected a second great pavilion, exactly similar to the State Pavilion already so frequently mentioned where Timur was wont ordinarily to make his feast, but this other one was constructed of a white silk stuff which without as within was overlaid with coloured cloths that showed embroidered patterns and worked insets.

Guards and Wine Jars

This day on arrival at the appointed place for the [252] feast, we were left for a time to sit under an awning placed at some distance from the great Pavilion where we had been entertained on the previous occasion. Further we noticed that in the field lying round the tents and the great Pavilion of his Highness there had now been placed a number of great jars containing wine. These were stood at intervals, between each being the distance that one might cast a stone, and thus they surrounded the field aforesaid where the circuit may have been upwards of half a league in extent. In the field space lying between this line of jars and the great Pavilion no one was allowed to pass, and men on horse back were on guard here armed with bow and arrows, also they carried maces and if anyone ever approached to come within the line of jars these men would shoot him with their arrows, or strike him down with their maces. We noticed indeed that many thus had been wounded for their inadvertence, and some had been thrown out almost for dead men and were lying at the gates of the Enclosure, for thus those guards were ordered to do no matter who it might be who trespassed. In this field round and beyond a vast number of people had now assembled awaiting the coming forth of his Highness to take his seat in the great Pavilion. Round this and encircling it had been set up many awnings, and under each awning had been placed one of those big wine jars, and the same indeed was of such size as to hold at least the measure of fifteen cantaras of wine, [which is equivalent to about sixty gallons].

The Ambassadors Pay their Respects to Timur’s grandson, Pir Muhammad

As explained above we had sat waiting in this place under the awning for some space when they came and took us thence, for they told us that we should now go and pay our respects to a grandson of Timur, who a day or two before this had arrived in Samarqand from India the Less [namely Afghanistan] where he was Governor General: he having been sent for by Timur to come to him, his grandfather not having seen his [253] face for seven years past. This young prince was the son of Timur's eldest son who had died many years since, whose name had been Jahángír. Timur had loved his son Jahángír very dearly and he now loved this grandson likewise for his father's sake: and the name of the young prince was Pír Muhammad. To his presence we were now taken and we found him in a tent of red tapestry seated on a low dais, round and about which many lords and a great number of folk were standing in attendance on him. As we approached outside the tent two of the lords in waiting came out to us, and taking us under the arms they made us kneel on the ground, and then getting up we advanced a few steps, when we again knelt: and on this we were ushered into the tent. We here made the customary reverence, which was to put the right knee to the ground crossing at the same time our arms over the breast, and bowing with the head. All this we duly performed and stood, when after an interval those lords who had brought us in carried us forth, taking us back to where we had before been seated under the awning.

Pir Muhammad’s Costume

This young prince was as we noticed very sumptuously attired as is the Tartar custom, he was wearing a robe of blue [Chinese] Zaytuni silk embroidered in gold circles; like small wheels, which back and front covered his chest and shoulders and passed down the material of the sleeves. On his head he wore a hat garnished with many great pearls and precious stones, and on the top was displayed a fine clear balas ruby. The people whom we found in attendance on him all paid him the utmost deference.

Wrestlers

While we were there the Prince was being entertained with the display of two men who were wrestling. These wrestlers were dressed each in a leathern garment like a sleeveless jerkin, and at first struggling together it seemed as though neither could overcome the other. It was commanded them however to have done, and [254] then one quickly threw his opponent, holding him down for a long space of time and preventing his getting up, for had he been able to get up again it would have been held that his fall was not a defeat.

Timur’s Campaigns in India

That same day all the foreign ambassadors present came and made their obeisance before this prince Timur's grandson. He was we noted a young man of about twenty two years of age, swarthy and yellow of skin and he had no beard. He bore the title, we were informed, of Lord of Lesser India but this indeed is not consonant with the true facts, for he who is now native lord and king of India is indeed a Christian, whose exact name is So and So being unknown to me.[8] According to what we heard later the chief and capital city of India is Delhi, and the lord thereof did battle against Timur when some time since he invaded that country. The king of India then possessed an immense army and besides warriors there were over fifty war elephants, fully armed and such as are called tuskers. At the first battle Timur suffered defeat at the hands of the king of India by reason of the charge of these same elephants. On the morrow however Timur returned to give battle and this time he had marshalled a squadron of camels; these he sent forward each bearing a load of dry grass to oppose the elephants. No sooner had the fight begun than fire was set to these loads of inflammable stuff when the camels all in flames did so terrify the elephants that all took to flight. It appears indeed that the elephant especially fears fire, and the reason given is that his eyes are exceedingly small.

India

Thus on this occasion that lord of India suffered defeat, and Timur next took from him all the country of the upper plains of India the Less which march with the lands of the Empire of Samarqand. The most part of the land of Lesser India is a rugged and mountainous country, but none the less it is well populated having many great cities and rich hamlets, the soil [255] being very fertile. When the King of India found himself thus worsted in the fight he betook himself to the mountain fastnesses, once more gathering round him his hosts for battle. Timur however had no mind again to give battle, he assembled his host and all his people, then retired returning to the upper plains of the north whither the King of India saw fit not to follow. But this country of the high mountain plains, which Timur then conquered and took from the King of India, [and which is Afghanistan called India the Less], is now under the government of his grandson the young prince of whom we have been speaking. Its southern border extends [down to the shores of the Persian Gulf namely] to Ormuz, which is a very great and rich city. The major part of that India [which is Greater India] the king thereof still keeps in possession, and did not lose when defeated at that battle, which we have spoken of, and this took place some twelve years ago. Since then neither Timur nor the Prince his grandson has ever sought again to invade that country. The people of Greater India are Christians for the most part as is also their king, but they are of the Greek rite, though among them are found other Christians who mark their faces with fire, and have different beliefs from the rest.[9] These latter folk who bear the mark of fire are looked down upon by their neighbours. Among the Indians Jews and Moors also are to be met with, but these live here in subjection to the Christians. [256]

Notes

1. For these huge pavilions, and the tents in Kibitka form spoken of subsequently, see Marco Polo (1875) 1, pp. 244, 390, 394, and William of Rubruck (Rockhill, Hakluyt Society), p. 54.

2. Sarápardeh means in Persian a Curtain or Veil, but in its technical sense is the Enclosure (curtained round) where the monarch sits in state or where his women abide protected from the public gaze. In this sense it is often used by 'Ali of Yezd. Timur Bec IV, p. 183.

3. As will be more fully explained in the next chapter, at this date Timur was the husband of eight wives, double the number allowed by Moslem law, but a matter for which doubtless he granted himself a dispensation as in the case of drinking wine. The two Khanums were his chief wives, and the Little Khanum was niece to the other, being the daughter of her brother the Amír Músá, their father having been Kázán Khán, a former Sultan of Samarqand. Timur Bec 1, pp. 124,125, 298.

4. See above, Chapter VIII, note 8, p. 353. The princess Khánzádeh was now living at Samarqand apart from her husband, and at her father in law's court.

5. According to 'Ali of Yezd these feastings, at which the Spanish envoys were now taking part, had been arranged by Timur to celebrate the nuptials of six of his grandsons, namely Ulugh Beg and Ibráhím Sultán the sons of Sháh Rukh, of Prince Aidgel the son of Mírán Sháh, and of Ahmad, Sayyid Ahmad and Bikrah all three the sons of the late Mirza Omar Shaykh (Timur Bec IV, p. 189). The date for this feast given above is Thursday the 9th, but this was the date of Khánzádeh’s feast which according to what follows took [pp. 359-360] place one day before. Timur's great feast therefore probably was on Friday the 10th, if indeed he gave this festival on a Friday, when he should have been at Mosque.

6. For these shows see the description by 'Ali of Yezd. Timur Bec IV, pp. 185 189.

7. See pp. 220 and 315. The name is variously spelt, Burodo, Borundo, or Butudo. He was Timur's nephew.

8. For Zaytúní see above, Chapter VI, note 3, p. 350.

9. This account would appear to be derived from some echo of the Prester John legend.

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