TIMUR BEG. 
69 
to ride than to walk,, they generally contrive to obtain 
from some pious follower, blessed with the gift of cha- 
rity, a bullock, which they adorn with certain orna- 
ments that procure for the sacred beasts a sort of reli- 
gious veneration from all devout Mussulmauns, as well 
as for the greater brute by whom it is bestrode. A 
bell is always hung round the ox’s neck, which, like 
that of the bell-wether of our own country, keeps up 
a monotonous tinkling as the animal proceeds : — its 
hocks are likewise adorned with rings of brass. 
When these fakeers are met singly, they more gene- 
rally resort to importunity than to force in obtaining 
alms : but should their importunities be disregarded, 
the bitterest curses invariably follow; yet no true Mo- 
hammedan ever dares to retaliate, such is the awe in 
which these licentious devotees are universally held 
among the more rigid followers of their religious creed. 
During the year after Timur’s entrance into Kho- 
rassan he besieged the strong fortress of Fushenj in 
that province, which capitulated after a vigorous re- 
sistance, While his troops assaulted the walls, the 
emperor, riding round them to encourage his soldiers, 
was severely wounded. Meanwhile the wall was 
scaled, the gate forced, and the fortress taken. The 
army marched thence to Herat, then a city of consi- 
derable importance and strongly fortified, which capi- 
tulated at the first summons. The conqueror seized 
the treasures, levied heavy contributions upon the 
inhabitants, and commanded the walls to be razed ; 
after which he quitted the place, to enrich himself 
with other conquests. 
Being master of Khorassan, the emperor placed 
