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LIVES OF THE MOGHUL EMPERORS. 
CHAPTER XI. 
a.d. 1399 — 1404 . 
On his way to his own capital, the emperor was 
attacked in the hands and feet with painful ulcers, 
which affected him to such a degree that he was 
obliged to be carried in a litter. Before he reached 
the plains, he is said to have crossed one stream eight- 
and-forty times. On the 16th of April he entered 
Samerkund, where he erected a magnificent mosque as 
a memorial of his victory over the unbelievers. His 
repose in the capital was of short duration. Hearing 
that his son Miran Shah, whom he had left in the 
government of Persia, was labouring under mental de- 
rangement in consequence of a fall from his horse, and 
that the affairs of the government under that prince’s 
charge were consequently in great disorder, he issued 
a proclamation that his troops should be collected for 
another campaign of seven years. At the age of sixty- 
four he retained the same vigour both of mind and 
body as had hitherto so eminently distinguished his 
victorious career. The troops in the provinces were 
commanded to assemble at Ispahan, and await the 
arrival of the imperial standard. Upon reaching that 
capital, Timur put to death several persons who had 
taken advantage of his son’s mental infirmity, and 
