TIMUR BEG. 
49 
refusing, Timur advanced with his squadrons, now 
amounting only to one thousand horse, close to the 
walls, with an intention of firing the gate. Hearing, 
however, that Hussyn was marching with a large 
army to its relief, he retreated to a station where the 
air was healthy and the water good, in order to 
refresh his troops. 
Timur, finding himself unable to cope with the 
numerous forces of his rival, determined, with the con- 
currence of his officers, whom he generally consulted 
when about to make any important movements, to quit 
the country for the present, and await a more favour- 
able opportunity of obtaining possession of Samerkund. 
He consequently retired to the banks of the Jaxartes, 
where he encamped. Here he married his eldest son, 
Jehangire, to the daughter of Ky Khusero, son-in-law 
of Toghluk Timur Khan, sovereign of Jeteh, and 
passed a month at Tashkund, a city on the Jaxartes, 
in celebrating the marriage. 
Scarcely had the month of rejoicing elapsed, when 
the prince received intelligence that his rival was ad- 
vancing towards him with an overwhelming force. 
The latter had despatched twenty thousand troops 
under the command of Amyr Musa, supported by his 
best generals, who had orders to gain possession of the 
different roads, and, having intercepted Timur’s pas- 
sage, surround him on all sides and compel him to sur- 
render. Timur, being informed of the exact disposition 
of the hostile forces, deliberated upon two plans, either 
to proceed directly forward, and attack Hussyn while 
separated from the main body of his army, or march 
against the several divisions and cut them off in de- 
F 
