Untitled

ISKAFI'S CONCISE DESPATCH
a
, '17
march against him wl'th seven thousand horsemen, suppress this
rebellion, and put an end to this formfdable insurrection in whatever
way he deemed most expedient.
Now Tash was mighty sagacious, and clear in judgement,
rashly involving himself in and skilfuljy extricating himself from
the straitest passes ever victorious in ;
warfare, and never turning*
back disappointed fronji any enterprize, nor defeated from any
campaign. While he lived, the dominion of the House of Saman
enjoyed the greatest brilliancy, and their affairs the utmost
i
prosperity.
On this occasion, then, the Amir, being mightily preoccupied
aad distressed in mind, sent a messenger to summon Iskafi, and
"
held a private interview wkh him. I am greatly troubled,"
said he, "
by this business for Makan is a brave ; man, endowed
with courage and manhood, and hath both ability, and generosity,
so that there have been few like him amongst the B&ylamis. You
must co-operate with Tash, and whatever is lacking to him in
military strength at this crisis, you must make good by your
counsels. And I will establish myself at Nishapur, so that the
army may be supported from the base, and the foeman discouraged.
Every day a swift messenger with a concise despatch 1
from you must come to. me and in this you must set forth the
pith of what may have happened, so that my anxieties may, vbe
assuaged." Iskafi bowed and said, " I will obey."
So next day Tash unfurled his standard, sounded his drums,
and set out for the front from Bukhara, crossing the Oxus with
seven 'thousand horsemen; while the Amir followed him with the
remainder of the army to Nishapur. There he invested Tash and
the army with robes of honour; and Tash marched out ar^d
entered Bayhaq, and went forth into Kumish setting his face(\i)
towards Ray with fixed purpose and firm resolve.
Meanwhile Makan,. with ten thousand mailed , warriors, was
encamped at the gates of Ray, which he had made his base.
Tash arrived, passed by the city, and encamped over against
him. Then messengers began to pass to and fro between them,
but no. settlement was effected, for Makan was puffed up with
pride on apcount of that high-hea/ted army which he had gathered
together from every quarter. It was therefore decided that they
should join battle.
NQW Tdsh was an old wolf who for forty years had held the
positioji of Commander-in-chief, and had witnessed many such
it that when the two armies
engagements; and he so arranged
confronted one another, and the doughty warriors and champions
1
Mirza* Muhammad \
(p. 1 of the Persian notes) has investigated the precise
meajring of the* word mulattafa, here translated "concise despatch," and shews by
quotations that it is used for a minutely and concisely written note capable of being
easily concealed and secretly carried.
13.