1886.] Gha^nams in Mdward-un-Nalir and part of Khurasan. 103 
kand and sent back to Bukhara with Tnrkistan troops, the newly made 
Amir retiring to Amnl. At Fayik’s solicitation he came back again, en¬ 
trusting the command that had formerly been Mahmud’s to a courtier 
named Baktuziin. These two worthies conspired together to dethrone 
him, which they did taking him from Bukhara to Balldi and thence by 
Merv to Sarrakhs, where they put out his eyes, and set up in his place 
Abii-l-Fawdris ’Abd-ul Malik, his brother, a mere child with whom they 
went back to Merv. 
’Abd-ul-Malik II 389 H. 
^Abd-ul-Malik the second, cannot be said to have ever ruled, but 
briefly to trace his fortunes, and the still more exciting adventures of 
his brother Ibrahim, will perhaps be the most convenient way of dealing 
with the events that followed. Mahmud who had disposed of the claims 
of his brother Isma’il at Ghaznin, was already on the march with an 
army to lOiurasan, and made the treatment of Mansur an excuse for 
interference. By the time Fayik and Baktuziin had nominated ’Abd- 
ul-Malik Amir, he had arrived at Balkh, from whence a very short time 
brought him to the gates of Merv. The conspirators fought and fled, 
but subsequently negotiated an arrangement by whith Hirat and Balkh 
should be held by Mahmud, Merv and Mshapur by them, the date of 
the arrangement being given as 26th Jamadi-ul-awwal, 389 H. Mahmud 
giving the command of his troops to his brother ISTasr, making Balkh the 
capital of his provinces west of the Kohi Baba, “ the Father of Moun¬ 
tains.” Hot, however, before inflicting a severe defeat on a body of Samani 
nobles collected under Dara bin Kabiis, bin VFashmgir, the governor of 
Gurgan, that had followed his army in hopes of plunder. ’Abd-ul-Malik 
and Fayik returned to Bukhara, where shortly after in the month of 
Sha’ban the latter died, ” deeply regretting and heartily repenting of all 
the treachery he had committed, a contrition,” as Minhaj adds “ that came 
too late.” The adherents of the Samani dynasty were all dispersed. 
In the meantime Ilak had also moved uninvited to chastise the 
enemies of order in his neighbour’s country, and revenge the cruelties 
practised on Mansiir. He advanced from Farghana to Bukhara in the 
month Zi Ka’dah of the same year giving out that his object was to render 
aid to the Amir, and at the same time seizing and putting in irons a 
deputation of nobles who came out to meet him. He entered the city on 
the lOth of the month, any pretence was no longer necessary, the four 
sons of Huh, their uncles and all other representatives of the Samani 
