VI - Journey from the river Oxus to Samarcand, and festivities at the Court of Timour

Summary

The lord Timour Beg, as soon as he had gained the government of Samarcand, desired to pass over this great river, to conquer the land of Khorassan. He therefore caused a great bridge of timber to be made, supported by boats ; and when his army had crossed, the bridge was destroyed ; but, on his return to Samarcand, he ordered it to be made again, for the passage of himself and his host; and the ambassadors crossed over on this bridge ; and they said that the lord had given an order to destroy the bridge, as soon as all his host had passed over. Near this great river Alexander fought a battle with Porus, king of India, and defeated him.

On the Thursday that the ambassadors reached this great river, they crossed to the other side, and, in the afternoon, they arrived at a great city called Termit, which once belonged to India the Less, but is now in the territory of Samarcand, having been conquered by Timour Beg, and from this place the empire of Samarcand begins. The territory of this empire of Samarcand is called Mongolia, and the language of the people is Mongol, so that those on the other side of the river do not know it, as they speak Persian: and the handwriting which they use on the Samarcand side of the river, is not understood by those on the other side. The lord has certain scribes who read and write this Mongol writing. The land of Samarcand is very populous, and very rich and fertile.