TIMUR BEG. 
77 
with snow, though it was the summer season, 
which relieved both the soldiers and cattle. Timur, 
in defiance of the difficulties that opposed his progress, 
reached the capital of Jetah, which opened its gates. 
The subjugation of the whole district quickly followed. 
The sovereign of the country was forced to abandon his 
kingdom, after undergoing innumerable hardships. All 
his bravest soldiers had been either slain or taken 
prisoners, his wives and children, together with the 
chief inhabitants, made captives, his entire territory re- 
duced to a state of deplorable devastation, the houses 
pillaged, and the cattle driven away. Timur having 
now completed the overthrow of his enemies, and 
travelled above three thousand miles, quitted Yal- 
duz, on the road from Russia to China, according to 
La Croix, and four hundred and eighty leagues from 
Samerkund, which city he reached after a rapid march 
of twenty-two days, being at the rate of twenty- 
four miles a day. 
In the autumn of the year 1390, Timur invaded 
the country of Kipchak with his victorious squadrons. 
Upon his arrival, Toktamish Khan, who held the 
sovereignty of that extensive empire, endeavoured to 
propitiate his formidable enemy, to whom he had 
been indebted for his crown. The latter, however, 
proceeded on his way, and reaching the desert, 
his troops were so straitened for provisions, that 
a pound of bread was sold for sixty-seven dinars,^ 
and the soldiers were obliged to hunt for food. At 
length Timur encountered the Kipchak forces and 
* The gold dinar is worth about nine shillings, the silver dinar 
about three and sixpence. 
H 3 
