TIMUR BEG. 
109 
had been instrumental in fomenting the disturbances 
which recalled the emperor from Samerkund. Among 
the persons who suffered upon this occasion was the 
celebrated Mulana Mohammed Kuhestani, a man 
distinguished for his knowledge of the sciences,, and so 
renowned as a poet that he was looked upon as the 
marvel of his age. 
In the beginning of the year 1400, the Mirza Peer 
Mohammed, who had fallen into disgrace, was deposed 
and brought in bonds to the imperial camp. His 
younger brother being appointed to succeed him, the 
emperor marched into Georgia, many of the cities in 
that country having revolted from their allegiance 
to the Jagatay dominion. Timur ravaged the borders 
of Georgia with his accustomed celerity, and entered 
the mountains. Upon his approach the people betook 
themselves to their strongholds, hiding in caverns and 
recesses in the hills. The Jagatay soldiers, undis- 
mayed by the danger, got into large wicker-baskets, 
which they caused to be lowered from the heights to 
the hiding-places of the fugitives, whom they put to 
death in great numbers. They thus became masters 
of fifteen strongholds : these they demolished, and, 
with the usual policy of their sanguinary master, but- 
chered all the inhabitants. 
Timur, having left a strong garrison at Teflis, quit- 
ted the hill-country and encamped in the plains. 
Throughout this flourishing district, cities and towns 
were razed, temples demolished, and mosques raised 
upon their sites. 
While he was encamped in the plains, the con- 
queror of the East gave audience to the ambassadors 
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