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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(OCTOBER, 1884.
of the citizens. The troops also went over to that Bahai-u'l-Mulk had deceived them put him him, so that he found himself at the head of to death, and then withdrew. Majir-ul-Mulk 7,000 or 8,000 men, and at length Buka himself now sent troops to Sarakhs, where the Kadhi was constrained to submit. Mujir-ul-Mulk now Shems-u'd-din was seized, and accused of taking aspired to a higher position than that of vizier. presents to Chepe, and of having accepted the He pretended to be of the royal stock, his government of the town from the Mongols. He mother having belonged to Muhammad's harem, was handed over to the son of pahluvan Abubakr and having been enceinte when she was given Diwaneh, whose father he had killed, and was in marriage to the person who passed for his put to death. Meanwhile, as no news of the father." He also had a large property and a Mongols arrived, Mujir-ul-Mulk allowed himself palace at Mery. The Sheikh-ul-Islâm of Merv, to be lulled into a false security, until IkhtiyarShems-u'd-din Harisi, who was a partizanu'd-din, the governor of Amuyah, who was a of the Mongols, sent a message secretly to his Turkoman, arrived with the news that they had relative, the Kadhi of Sarakhs, whose inhabi- | crossed the Oxas at Amayah, and were investing tants had submitted to them, and sought to Kala-i-Nau. A party of 800 of them, accord. embroil him with Mujir-ul-Mulk. The latter ingly were attacked in rear by 2,000 Khuêsuspected his treason, but did not move until rezmians onder Shekh Khan and Aghul he, in fact, confessed it by pronouncing as he the Hajib, and all killed, except 30, who were preached in the mosque the phrase, “May all captured, paraded about the town, and then put the enemies of the Mongols perish." The people to death, after which the Turcomans were so who heard the words were enraged. He then elated that having chosen Ikhtiyar-u'd-dîn as tried to evade them by saying the words had their leader, they refused to obey Mujir-ulpassed his lips contrary to his will. Shortly after, Malk, and failing to surprise the town plundered one of his letters to the Kadhi of Sarakhs was its environs." intercepted. When charged he denied the trea- Erdmann tells a different story. He says that Bon, but was convicted by the production of the the Khuárezmians numbered 10,000 men, and letter. He was put to death, and his body was were commanded by Shekh Khan and Aghul dragged through the city at a horse's tail, and Sahib, that they were the beaten party and left to the dogs."
were nearly exterminated, and that their two Meanwhile the Sultan's deputy, Bahai-ul- chiefs were forced to seek shelter at Destejerd." Mulk, went from Alatagh to Mazanderan, and This was only the Mongol advance guard. there made terms with the Mongols, offering However, Tului, whose people were now to hand over the city to them, and to pay masters of Sarakhs, Nissa, Abiverd, and other them a tribute in cotton cloth if they would places in the neighbourhood, with a force of give him the command of it. They accordingly 70,000 men, was close behind. We are told, let him go, with a Mongol escort of 7,000 how 400 (? 4,000) of his men, who went out to men. When he arrived at Shahristan he heard reconnoitre, attacked and dispersed 12,000 !!! of the revolution which had taken place at Turkomans, who were encamped at a place called Merv, and wrote to Mujir-ul-Mulk, who was Kiul "like wolves dispersing a herd of sheep.' at the head of 80,000 men, that it was no use They committed a great slaughter, women and resisting the Mongols, whose power was over- children sharing the fate of men-and they whelming, that 7,000 of them with 10,000 captured 60,000 head of cattle, without countlight troops were marching on Merv, and ing sheep." The following day, that is to say, that he wished to warn him before it was too on the lst of February 1221, they appeared late. This news caused terror in the town, the before the Firuz gate of the city, having been two messengers who took the letter were ques- guided by a shepherd named Rani, and Tului tioned about it, and confessed its truth. They made a circuit about it at the head of 500 were killed, and detachments sent out to scour horsemen. A week later the main army took the roads. The Mongols, on their part, finding up its quarters there. I will continue the story
" D'Ohason, vol. I, pp. 279 and 281 : Erdmann, pp. 398 0 D'Ohsson, vol. I, p. 984; Tabakat-i-Nasiri, p. 1030 and 399: De la Croix, p. 293 Tabakat-i-Nasiri, p. 1029 note. note.
" D'Ohsson, vol. I, p. 282; Erdurann, p. 399; Tabakat- 61 Op. cit., p. 401. i-Naciri, p. 1029 note.
** Erdmann, p. 418; Tabakat-i-Nasiri, p. 1031 note.
