899 AH.— OCT. 12TH. 1493 to OCT. 2ND. 1494 41
Abu-sa'id Mirza's eldest brother, aspired for his own part to rule. Having drawn a few adventurers and desperadoes to himself, they dribbled away^ from (SI. Ahmad Mirza's) camp and went to Samarkand. He was not able to effect anything, but he brought about his own death and that of several innocent persons of the ruling House.
At once on hearing of his brother's death, SI. Mahmud Mirza went off to Samarkand and there seated himself on the throne, without difficulty. Some of his doings soon disgusted and alienated high and low, soldier and peasant. The first of these was that he sent the above-named Malik-i-Muhammad to the Foi. 23b. Kuk-sarai,2 although he was his father's brother's son and his own son-in-law.2 With him he sent others, four Mirzas in all. Two of these he set aside ; Malik-i-Muhammad and one other he martyred. Some of the four were not even of ruling rank and had not the smallest aspiration to rule ; though Malik-i- Muhammad Mirza was a little in fault, in the rest there was no blame whatever. A second thing was that though his methods and regulations were excellent, and though he was expert in revenue matters and in the art of administration, his nature inclined to tyranny and vice. Directly he reached Samarkand, he began to make new regulations and arrangements and to rate and tax on a new basis. Moreover the dependants of his (late) Highness Khwaja 'Ubaid'I lah, under whose protection formerly many poor and destitute persons had lived free from the burden of dues and imposts, were now themselves treated with harshness and oppression. On what ground should hard- ship have touched them ? Nevertheless oppressive exactions were made from them, indeed from the Khwaja's very children. Yet another thing was that just as he was vicious and tyrannical, so were his begs, small and great, and his retainers and followers. The Hisaris and in particular the followers of Khusrau Shah
1 irildi. The departure can hardly have been open because Ahmad's begs favoured Mahmud ; Malik-i-Muhammad 's party would be likely to slip away in small companies.
2 This well-known Green, Grey or Blue palace or halting-place was within the citadel of Samarkand. Cf. f. 37. It served as a prison from which return was not expected.
3 Cf. f. 27. He married a full-sister of Bai-sunghar.
