38 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
stratagem. Crossing the Oxus before daybreak with 
five hundred cavalry, he posted himself upon an emi- 
nence which overlooked the hostile camp. On the 
following night he ordered fires to be lighted upon 
different parts of the hill; this so alarmed the Jetes, 
who imagined themselves surrounded by a numerous 
army, that they fled with tumultuary precipitation. 
Being now joined by Amyr Hussyn, he pursued the 
enemy with great slaughter. 
The united armies of the two amyrs were soon 
increased to upwards of seven thousand effective men ; 
Timur therefore resolved to proceed towards Kesh, then 
in possession of the Jetes, and dispossess them. As 
their forces were numerous and well appointed, this 
was no easy enterprise. Having received information 
that the Jete general had sent a large body of troops 
into Kesh, and garrisoned all the strongholds of Trans- 
oxiana, Timur despatched two officers with a strong 
detachment to drive the enemy from his native pro- 
vince. Knowing their superior numerical strength, he 
commanded his two officers on arriving near Kesh to 
gallop their cavalry about so as to raise a great dust. 
The more effectually, however, to execute this com- 
mand of their prince, these officers ordered their men 
to cut down large branches of trees. These the latter 
fastened to the cruppers of their horses, which being 
urged to a gallop, dragged the branches along the 
ground, and produced such a prodigious cloud of dust, 
that the foe, supposing an immense army was ad- 
vancing against them, abandoned the neighbourhood 
with the utmost despatch. Timur followed them with 
only six thousand horse, and, after a desperate strug- 
