went out one day after a few marauders, crossed the Khujandwater by Bachrata, met in with a few of Tambal's men and was made prisoner.
When Tambal heard that our army was disbanded and was assured of The Khan's help by the arrival of his brother, Beg Tilba, who had talked with The Khan, he rode from Auzkint into Between-the-two-rivers. Meantime safe news had come to us from Kasan that The Khan had appointed his son, SI. Muh. Khanika, commonly known as Sultanim,1 and Ahmad Beg, with 5 or 6000 men, to help Tambal, that they had crossed by the Archa-klnt road2 and were laying siege to Kasan. Hereupon we, without delay, without a glance at our absent men, just with those there were, in the hard cold of winter, put our trust in God and rode off by the Band-i-salar road to oppose them. That night we stopped no-where; on we went through the darkness till, at dawn, we dismounted in Akhsi.3 So mightily bitter was the cold that night that it bit the hands and feet of several men and swelled up the ears of many, each ear like an apple. We made no stay in Akhsi but leaving there Yarak Taghai, temporarily also, in Qasim-i-'ajab's place, passed on for Kasan. Two miles from Kasan news came that on hearing of our approach, Ahmad Beg and Sultanim had hurried off in disorder.
(m. Bdbur and Tambal again opposed.)
Tambal must have had news of our getting to horse for he had hurried to help his elder brother.4 Somewhere between the two Prayers of the day,5 his blackness6 became visible towards Nu-kint. Astonished and perplexed by his elder brother's light departure and by our quick arrival, he stopped short. Said we, ' It is God has brought them in this fashion ! here they have come with their horses' necks at full stretch;7
1 Cf. f. 15, note to Taghai.
2 Apparently not the usual Kindir-lik pass but one n.w. of Kasan.
3 A ride of at least 40 miles, followed by one of 20 to Kasan.
4 Cf. f. 72 and f. 726. Tilba would seem to have left Tambal.
5 Tarnbalning qarasi.
i.e. the Other (Mid-aftemoon) Prayer.
* dtinlng buinini qdtib. Qdtmiq has also the here-appropriate meaning of to stiffen.
