Part 30

[74] Of this expression only the word _longa_ (_lenga_) can be identified with the Italian.

[75] A harbor-town in Persia, in the vicinity of Beluchistan.

[76] _Rectius_: Kidj-Mekran (Marco Polo's Kesmacoran), as Yule rightly observes, situated on the coast of that part of Kerman, then belonging to India. See "Travels of Marco Polo."

[77] On our modern maps given as Shabar, which is the name of the bay as well as of the place.

[78] Guador, on the west coast of Beluchistan, belonging to the Indian Empire.

[79] Zofar, or Dhofar, to the east of Shar. In the Middle Ages there was a city of that name, as mentioned by Marco Polo and Ibn Batuta.

[80] Literally, "Elephant's flood."

[81] Here follow some nautical expressions which I do not understand.

[82] Perhaps meant for Manglaus, Menglaur, in the District of Sahranpur.

[83] Somenat Somnath, a town in the south of the peninsula of Kathiawar, also the name of the District.

[84] More correctly Diu, an island belonging to the Portuguese in West India, separated from Kathiawar by a narrow stroke of land, with about 13,000 inhabitants, and politically under Goa. (See "Imperial Gazetteer of India," IV., p. 305.)

[85] Daman, a Portuguese possession in the bay of Cambay, with about 50,000 inhabitants; was pillaged first in the year 1531, and retaken in 1553.

[86] Compare the Persian _badzed_, "whirlwind," "tempest"; more correctly "gust of wind," from _Bad_, "wind," and _Zeden_, "to strike."

[87] In the text _Djonk_, "a large ship," used principally in China. First mentioned by the Monk Odorico di Pordenone in 1331.

[88] Compare "dingy," "dinghy." Literally, the name of a ship or large boat, on the coast of Mekran; the word is also known in English, but it originates from Beluchistan. Correctly speaking, it means a pilot-ship.

[89] _Kotwal, kutwal_, "commander of a fortress," also "policeman". Of Turkish origin, from the word kut, "to guard," "to watch"; would be more correctly, _kuteol_, meaning "guardian."

[90] _Cheter Kaldirmak_ means, literally, "to raise the sunshade" (umbrella), this being the symbol of sovereignty in India.

[91] More correctly Broatsh, a place northwest of Surat, in the province of Gujarat, on the right bank of the Nerbudda. This place has from time immemorial belonged to the Moslem rulers of Ahmedabad, and has twice been pillaged by the Portuguese (in 1536 and 1546).

[92] In the text, _Provador_, meaning "Admiral."

[93] Ahmedabad, the chief town of the Province of that name, 310 miles north of Bombay.

[94] More correctly Balotra, a town in Jodpur (Radjhputana).

[95] Champanir, a mountain fortress in Gujarat, in the Province of Pendj-Mahal, 250 miles northeast of Bombay.

[96] Compare Tuba-tree, with the Sidra-trees of the Mohammedan paradise.

[97] _Zokum_, a tree which, according to the Koran, grows only in hell. Its fruit resembles the plantain and serves as food for the condemned.

[98] At present there is only a place of that name known in Oudh, but not in Gujarat.

[99] _Bir Katar deve_, "a team of camels." _Katar_, "team," means "ten camels."

[100] Very characteristic is the piece of poetry here introduced. It is probably a Turkish sea-song of that time. It says:

"We roam the waters far and wide, And bring confusion upon our enemies; Revenge and hatred is our motto, For we are Khairreddin's troops."

(Khairreddin Pasha was Suleiman's renowned Admiral, known in Europe as Barbarossa.)

[101] In the text _Bami_ may possibly be a slip of the pen and intended for "Brahmin."

[102] _Banians_, "Indian merchants," more especially from the Province of Gujarat, who from time immemorial have traded with the harbor-towns of Arabia.

[103] _Rajput_, a warlike race, probably descended from the ural-Altaic race.

[104] This can not be the town of that name in Bengal, as this lies more to the south and could not be reached from Ahmedabad in five days.

[105] Radhanpur, the capital of the district of that name in the Presidency of Bombay.

[106] More correctly Parkar or Nagar-Parkar, the name of a district and a place in the Presidency of Bombay.

[107] _Muhre_, "a stone," which, so says the legend, is found in the head of the serpent and the dragon, and possesses miraculous power. Many Dervishes carry one of these stones in their girdle to trade upon the superstition of the ignorant people.

[108] As a town, Wanga is unknown to me, unless it be intended for Wanna, in the district of Cathiawar in the Presidency of Bombay.

[109] More correctly Junaghar, the name of a Province and town in Cathiawar, Presidency of Bombay.

[110] The Indus.

[111] Tatta (Thats, or Nagar Thats), in the District of Karachi.

[112] _Nakara_, "a band of music," was formerly considered in Central Asia as a sign of sovereignty.

[113] _Serpay vermek_, "to distribute festive apparel," is a great mark of distinction in Central Asia, but as the expression is unknown in Turkey the author has had to circumscribe it.

[114] "He gave us the name of: a mystic army,"

[115] Literally, "there should be no dragonstone, _i.e._, sorcery, in your guns."

[116] Argun and Tarkhan are two Turkish tribes in Central Asia, direct descendants of the Transoxanian warriors, which came with Baber to India.

[117] Now Nasirabad, the name of several places in Sind.

[118] Perhaps meant for Sehivan in Naushar on the Indus.

[119] Patri, now a station on the railway-line to Bombay, Baroda, and Central India; also the name of a small State belonging to Kathiawar.

[120] Our author, according to the spirit of the age, was not only a brave warrior and sailor, but also a poet, using the East-Turkish Dialect (Djagatai). His muse has no special features, and with regard to his choice of words they betray a strong tendency toward the Osmanli dialect. It is nevertheless interesting to note in how short a time he mastered this dialect and that, more than 100 years after Baber, the Djagatai tongue maintained itself as the court-and-book-language in India. In our translation we necessarily omit these poetic effusions as irrelevant.

[121] Literally, "wandering."

[122] In the text _Kheime_ we _shamiane_, the latter being more a kind of large sunshade.

[123] As there are several places called Sultanpoor and Mav, the stations here mentioned are difficult to identify on the map.

[124] Utch, a small place on the left bank of the Pendtjend, a tributary of the Indus.

[125] On modern maps of India it is marked as Gharra, by which name the Sutlej is also known.

[126] On the way from Utch to Multan there is a river called Trimba. But I have not anywhere come upon a river called Machvara.

[127] Sambal, a place in the District of Muradabad, in the northeast of India.

[128] Also called Firuzpoor, in Punjab.

[129] _I.e._, Khan of the Khans, like the Mirimiran of the Persians, and the Beglerbeghi of the Turks.

[130] Correctly, _Kurur_, that is, 10,000,000 rupees, equivalent to about $5,000,000.

[131] _Birshegal_, probably a Hindustani word.

[132] In the text _Kish_, _i.e._, "winter," also "bad weather," "rainy season." Compare _Kish Kiamet_, _i.e._, "very foul weather."

[133] Opinions differ as to the exact nature of the _Tughra_ (signature of Turkish rulers: more correctly, _tora_, meaning "decree"). Some say that it is merely a flourish, others hold that it is the impression of the hand. In Central Asia, Turkish monarchs used to dip their hand in blood, hence the expression _al-tamga_, "red seal." The descendants of Baber first introduced into India the use of the yellow dye, saffron.

[134] Mir Ali Shir, the greatest poet of the Turks in Central Asia, was born, according to Khondemir, in the year 844 (1440) and died in H. 906 (1500). He wrote under the name of _Newai_. His compositions, which are unquestionably superior to any other East Turkish productions, enjoy to this day great popularity amongst the Turks of the interior of Asia.

[135] _Afetabe_, "water-basin," and _Afetabedji_, "he who holds the water-basin"; a high court dignity in Central Asia, and later on also among the Moguls in India. The former Khans of Khokand had received the title of Afetabedji from the Sultan of Turkey.

[136] Our author means by Siwas the old seat of the Osmans, but in India and in Central Asia, _Rum_ is generally understood to stand for the West, and more particularly for the Ottoman Empire.

[137] As the Turks never conquered Vienna, this is a mere boast on the part of the Turkish Admiral. Possibly, in the Far East the news of the conquest of Vienna may have found credence, for the campaigns of Suleiman against Vienna fall about this time.

[138] Khatib is the name of the Mollah who on Fridays says the _Khutbe_, or Friday prayer, in which the names of the Caliph and of the local ruler are inserted.

[139] Mir Khosru Dehlevi (_i.e._, from Delhi), one of the greatest poets of India, born 1253, died 1324. He wrote in Persian, which language had been introduced into India with the spread of Islam.

[140] Elphinstone in the "History of India" relates his death as follows: "He had been walking on the terrace of his library, and was descending the stairs (which in such situations are narrow steps on the outside of the building and only guarded by an ornamental parapet about a foot high). Hearing the call to prayers from the minarets, he stopped, as is usual on such occasions, repeated the creed, and sat down on the steps till the crier had done. He then endeavored to rise, supporting himself on his staff; the staff slipped on the polished marble of the steps, and the King fell headlong over the parapet. He was stunned at the time and, although he soon recovered his senses, the injury he had received was beyond cure. On the fourth day after his accident he expired in the forty-ninth year of his age and the twenty-sixth of his reign, including the 16 years of his banishment from his capital."

[141] This is meant for Bairam Khan, the faithful follower of Humayun, and, later on, the Atabek (tutor) of Ekber.

[142] On modern English maps of India, these names are given as Sonpat, Panipat, Karnal, Tanesar, and Samani, in the same order on the way from Delhi to Lahore.

[143] Very striking is the want of reserve wherewith this lie is spread to serve a political purpose.

[144] Matchivara, a town in Punjab in Ludiana.

[145] Perhaps Bachrewan, a town in the province of Oudh.

[146] A stronghold built by Selim Shah on the boundary mountains of Sewalik, against the Sakkars.

[147] Elphinstone, "History of India," calls this man Pir Mohammed, the teacher or tutor of Ekber, while our author calls him Khodja Bairam Khan.

[148] Ebul Maali, a Said from Kashgar, who had entered the service of Humayun in 1551. He had rebelled against Ekber and had taken possession of Kabul, where he was afterward defeated and imprisoned in Lahore. He died in 1563.

[149] Literally, "Believers in the Book"; these, therefore, have none of the four Sacred Books, viz., Koran, Tevrat, Gospels, and Psalms. Consequently they are heathen.

[150] The burning of widows (Suttee) has in recent times been put a stop to by the English, and it is very characteristic that the Moguls had, long before that time, endeavored to check the custom.

[151] Also called _khutaz_ and _kudaz_, a kind of horned cattle. Their tail is used as an ornament to hang round the horse's neck.

[152] It appears from this passage that the Emperor's guests only received the gifts allotted to them when on their return journey; had, in fact, to collect them from the authorities of the districts through which they passed.

[153] Khoshab, the name of a town in Punjab, situated on the river Djehlam, and not the name of the river itself, as our author states.

[154] Nilab, "blue water," can not possibly be the river Kabul.

[155] Bakhtar-Zemin, or Bakhtarland, _i.e._, Bactria.

[156] Generally translated by "rhinoceros." Baber (1356) makes mention of this animal under the name of _gherek_, and he describes it as being about the size of a buffalo.

[157] Perhaps more correctly Lughman, east of Kabul.

[158] Hezare is the name of the mountainous region, northeast of Peshawur; also the name of an Iranian Mongol tribe, dwelling between Herat and Kabul.

[159] _Luli_ is, in Central Asia, the name given to the Gipsies, to which tribe the dancing and singing damsels and the prostitutes generally belonged. This used also to be the case in Turkey; compare _Tchenghi_, "musician," "dancing girl," and _Tchingane_, "Gipsy."

[160] Kara-bag (black garden), marked on the maps merely as Bag (garden). Tcliarikar lies north of Kabul, and Pervane lies in the same direction as the pass of that name at the foot of the Hindu Kush. Our author did not take the route now generally used, across the Dendanshiken (tooth-breaker), but the other, which lies more to the east, and which was the one followed by Baber. This is one of the Pervan passes, which, starting from the place of that same name, leads to Badjgah, and from there into the valley of Enderab.

[161] Suleiman Shah was the son of Khan Mirza the Wise, a cousin of Baber's. He had usurped the throne of Bedakhshan in 1508, and was afterward established by Humayun as ruler over the whole of the Upper-Oxus territory.

[162] From the political condition already referred to, it is quite evident why our author chose this very difficult, roundabout route past Badakhshan, the same route which was taken by Sheibani Khan, Baber's adversary, during his campaign against Khosru Shah. Part of ancient Khatlan, also called Khotl, is now included in the Province of Kulab.

[163] Feizabad is now the capital of Badakhshan. It was Suleiman Shah, who made Kishm his residence.

[164] Kalai Zafar (castle of victory) is situated on the Kotchke, a tributary of the Oxus.

[165] Now Semti, on the left side of the Pendje.

[166] Now Kulab (1,810 feet above the sea), situated on a tributary of the Oxus.

[167] Neither Charsui nor Pul-i-Senghin are to be found on any modern map, but as the author identifies Hissar with Chaganian, _i.e._, places the former in the dominion of the latter province, we may take it that the Kafirnihan river was then the boundary-line of Transoxania.

[168] Hissar, situated at the confluence of the Ilek and the Khanka-Derya, formerly known as Hissar-i-Shadman.

[169] Probably an ancient title, which, in its present form, is not mentioned in any lexicons or vocabularies.

[170] Senghirdek is mentioned on the modern maps of Central Asia, between Sehri-Sebz and Sari-Asiya (Yellow Mill), as the name of a stream and of a place, but not as the name of a mountain. _Sengghirdek_ means "a stone tent."

[171] This must be Mount Karatepe (Black Hill), (5181 feet).

[172] Borak Khan, a son of Mahmud Khan, who was defeated by Sheibani. He was a native of the steppes in the northeast of Transoxania, and, favored by the bad government of Burhan Khan, he and his horsemen, consisting of Kirghises and Kalmuks, invaded the land, and took possession of the capital, Samarkand. He died in the year 1555. The incidents connected with his reign, which our author mentions, are the more valuable to us as we find no mention of them anywhere else.

[173] He died in the year 1551.

[174] Called by abbreviation Burhan Khan, an uncle of Obeidullah. He reigned only a short time, and died in 1556.

[175] Aga of the Osmans was the title of a commander of the Janissaries which Sultan Suleiman had sent from Constantinople to Samarkand to support the authority of the Eastern Turks. Our author, therefore, came here unexpectedly in contact with his countrymen.

[176] Khodja Ahmed Jesewi, the patron saint of Turkestan, whose grave in Aulia Ata is to this day eagerly visited by pilgrims.

[177] When in Samarkand I could learn nothing about the cloak and the _Naalin_ (wooden shoes) of the Prophet, but the copy of the Koran here referred to was extant in the Mausoleum of Timur. This latter, however, although a very old manuscript in Kufi letters, has not descended from Caliph Ali, nor yet from Caliph Osman; it has been brought to Turkestan by the descendants of Khodja Ahrar, and from Samarkand the Russians took it to St. Petersburg.

[178] Consequently they belonged at that time still to the Shaman faith, an interesting fact and easily explained when we consider that, at the time of Timur, both Kirghizes and Turkomans are described as heathen.

[179] Its name is Zerefshan, or Kohik.

[180] Ghidjduvan, the most northerly town of the Khanate on the Wafkend river.

[181] May stand for colored coat, and merely indicates the distinguishing color of the regiment.

[182] Literally, "Red feet," meaning people that go barefoot, hence the expressions, "vagabond," and "vagrant."

[183] Tchardjui (more correctly Tchihar-djui, meaning "four brooks," after four tributaries of the Oxus which are there) was at that time Persian territory, and came only to be reckoned to Bokhara after the seizure of Abdullah Khan.

[184] Name of the Shiite saint in Meshed.

[185] Consequently the left side of the river.

[186] Curious it seems that 300 years ago lions were so plentiful in those parts, while in modern times there has been no sign of them in the steppes of Turkestan.

[187] In the text called Hezarus, by mistake.

[188] Dost Mohammed Khan, or simply Dost, who was then the ruler of Kharezm, and his brother Esh-Sultan, were both sons of Budjuga Khan. Their rival to the throne was Hadjim Khan, who conquered both in turn and put them to death.

[189] The tribe of the Manghit, now belonging to the settled population of Khiwa, seems at that time still to have led a nomadic life, inhabiting the steppe between the Aral and the Caspian Sea, now the home of the Kirghizes.

[190] The Nomads of Central Asia feared the Russians, for three years before that time (1554) Czar Ivan Wassilyewich had conquered Astrakhan.

[191] By Deshti-Kipchak, _i.e._, the steppe of the Kipchaks, Oriental writers understand the steppe situated between Kharezm and the Volga territory. Ibn Batuta likewise accomplished the distance between Kharezm (now Urghendj) and Saraidjik in 30 days.

[192] Saraidjik, small palace on the bank of the Ural, about one hour's distance from the Caspian Sea. Jenkinson in 1558 found the place still intact, but Pallas in the past century found only extensive ruins to indicate the place.

[193] Ancient Theodosia in the Crimea.

[194] At that time the King of Persia was Thamasp Shah, and it so happened that he was on friendly terms with Sultan Suleiman, for about this time a gorgeous ambassy was sent by the ruler of the Ottoman Empire to Kazvin, as recorded by Rauzat es Sefa in the Seventh Book.

[195] _Istikhare_, "horoscope," is consulted by opening the Koran at hazard and the passage at which it opens gives the answer. Another way is by the throwing of dice, or by seizing the rosary (_Tesbih_) at hazard, when the even or uneven number of the beads decides the question.

[196] This passage is of special geographical interest. As our author came from Kharezm, on the left shore of the Oxus, and crossed the river on his way to Khorassan, he refers here undoubtedly to the old course of this river, mentioned by Abulgazi. As the Oxus, in its course down-stream from Tchardjui, reveals several old river-beds, the direction here indicated by Sidi Ali must be one of the two courses which ran either from Hezaresp or from Khanka in southwesterly direction into the Caspian Sea. Most likely it was the latter branch, as it was at that time the more important of the two, and, according to Abulgazi, culture had reached a considerable height along its shores.

[197] This is Derum, frequently mentioned by Abulgazi, as situated on the old road from Kharezm to Khorassan.

[198] Bagwai, on the same road, but is now no longer marked on the map.

[199] Nesa, frequently mentioned in the Middle Ages, situated in the north of Persia. Its ruins have been visited by many modern travelers in the neighborhood of Ashkabad.

[200] Abiwerd is more correct; it is the modern Kahka, a station on the Trans-Caspian line.

[201] Curiously enough, the same custom still prevails in Persia, for when I visited this land three hundred years later, disguised as an Osmanli, I had much to suffer from the indiscretion of the Shiite fanatics. By night and by day, on the march and at rest, it was always this same vexed question of the succession, which had to be discussed.

[202] _Murabba_, "quatrain," a poem consisting of four-line verses.

[203] Ashura days, the first ten days of the month Muharram, which, especially in the Shiite part of Persia, were kept as holy days.

[204] _Boluk-Bashi_, a degree of rank amongst the Janissaries; literally, "captain of a division."

[205] In the immediate vicinity of Teheran.

[206] _Kurdji-bashi_, "chief armor-bearer."

[207] This surely must mean a month and a half after entering Persia, for the distance from Rei (Teheran) to Kazvin can easily be accomplished in two or three days. Kazvin was at that time the capital of Persia.

[208] _Divan Bey_, "first secretary."

[209] _Ishik Agasi_, "chief porter," a sort of master of ceremonies.

[210] Literally, "representative"; at the court of the Shah it is also the title of the overseer over the culinary department.

[211] _Tumen_ means "ducat" in Persian, but as the word is here used in the dative it would appear that something has been omitted.

[212] The Circassians were at that time not yet Mohammedans, for they were converted later on by Ferrukh Pasha.

It appears from this passage that the Pilgrims' route from Central Asia to Mecca led in those days past Astrakhan, _i.e._, by Kharezm and the lower Volga, and from there across the Caucasus via Constantinople to Arabia, about the same as in modern times, when pilgrims travel by the Trans-Caspian line, via Batum Baku and Constantinople to Mecca.

[213] Lakh, about $500,000, a sum only used in India.

[214] Our author refers here to the Feudal system still in use in Central Asia at the time that I was there, and he rightly criticizes the limited power of the rulers, which is the necessary result of it. In Persia the relation between the Khans and the Shah was based upon this principle till quite within modern times. The Sultans of Turkey, when at the zenith of their power, were absolute sovereigns of their land. But at the commencement of the decline the same relationship was established there, as we see from the conduct of the Derebeys.

[215] _Demtiz_ means "some one possessing strong, _i.e._, active or powerful _dem_ or _nefes_ (breath)."

[216] _Huma_, name of a mythical bird, a kind of Phoenix, which, as the legend says, lives in the air and never touches the earth, and is held to be a good omen. Thus, for instance, any one who has been overshadowed by this bird is destined to be a ruler. Hence the word _Humayun_, _i.e._, "Imperial," an epithet applied to royal persons.

[217] _Tokuz Olum_, signifying "nine fords" (if _Olum_ be taken for the Turkoman word of the same meaning), is not known as the name of a great river, because, besides the Tigris, there are no large rivers in the neighborhood of Bagdad.

[218] _Chashneghir_, _i.e._, "cup-bearer," probably the name of the builder.

[219] Iznikmid, now Ismid, has better preserved the ancient Greek name.

[220] _Timar Defterdarlighi_, _i.e._, superintendent of the finances of the army.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation spelling, punctuation, hyphenation and accents remain unchanged.

Italics are represented thus _italic_,.

ON page 338 section IV of THE MIRROR OF COUNTRIES OF THE ADVENTURES OF SIDI ALI Reis “12 large boats and 22 _gurabs_, 32 vessels in all,” has been corrected to 34 vessels.