46 
LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
CHAPTER V. 
a. d. 1366. 
Determined to obtain possession of the town and 
fortress of Karshy, Timur adopted a stratagem to de- 
ceive the commander of that place. Having stopped 
several caravans,, he gave them leave to depart ; at the 
same time marching himself towards Herat,, as if he 
intended to proceed to that city. Amyr Musa, the 
general of Amyr Hussyn, being informed by the mer- 
chants the route which Timur had taken, and conclud- 
ing that he could have no design upon Karshy, marched 
out of that fortress with seven thousand choice troops, 
and encamped on the plains at some distance from the 
town, allowing his soldiers to enjoy the pleasures of 
the chase, which was followed, as is usual upon all 
such occasions, by feasting and carousings. Timur, 
who had received information of this, immediately al- 
tered his line of march and returned to his old station. 
When assured that Amyr Musa had quitted Karshy, 
he proceeded thither with only three hundred and 
forty soldiers, on whose courage he could rely, though 
there were twelve thousand of the enemy’s troops en- 
camped in the neighbourhood. Having surprised a 
village near Karshy, made prisoners of all persons in 
the interest of Hussyn, and secured the road against 
