TIMUR BEG. 
23 
repel him by open force, bribed with costly presents 
the officers of the invader’s army, who agreed to sus- 
pend operations. Their prince, Toghluk Timur Khan, 
was so incensed at their treachery that he command- 
ed the presents which they had received to be depo- 
sited in his treasury. This gave such offence to his 
officers, that they raised the standard of rebellion. 
He was in consequence obliged to withdraw his troops 
from the invasion of Transoxiana. Timur’s conduct 
afforded such satisfaction to the people, that with 
one voice they proclaimed him sole sovereign of the 
country. He was now an absolute monarch, and 
fairly on the road to more extended dominion. 
“ At this time,” he says in his Memoirs,* “ Kyku- 
bad, who was called the murderer of kings, waited on 
me, and began to flatter me ; but, as I had no confi- 
dence in him, I put him to death.” Here the despot 
began to be apparent. His punishments were as 
summary as his disposition was sanguinary. About 
this period he delivered his brother-in-law, Amyr 
Hussyn, from a powerful enemy who threatened Ba- 
dukhshan, then subject to Hussyn ; and leaving him 
in the quiet exercise of his sovereignty, returned to 
his own country, where he found that his uncle, 
Hajy Berlas, with whom he had been originally asso- 
ciated in the government, had assembled a large army 
to dispute his authority. The prince immediately 
formed his troops in order of battle; and having, after 
a short struggle, put the enemy to flight, he was left 
in undisturbed possession of his government. 
After this defeat, Hajy Berlas was joined by Baye- 
