The Chiefs immediately called out, Amyr Hussyn has been found guilty by the law, and worthy of death, it is therefore improper that Timūr should delay his punishment. I however requested that they would permit me to postpone it, in hopes that I might by some means save his life. But as it did not please Providence to permit the continuance of Hussyn’s existence, Amyr Ky Khuserū who sought retaliation for the murder of his brother, with Aljaitū and Muhammed Shāh assaulted the unfortunate Hussyn, and he, washing his hands of life, struck at them with his fists, got out of the Assembly and fled as far as the tomb of Khuajē Akāshā, there these three Chiefs overtook and put him to death, and having returned from thence, they murdered his two sons Khān Saiid and Nurūz Sultān, two other sons named Jehān Mulk and Khelyl Sultān made their escape and fled towards India. I was much affected by this melancholy catastrophe, and went to see his body, repeated the funeral prayers over it and ordered it to be buried with all due respect. Having then taken possession of all Amyr Hussyn’s treasure, which he had accumulated by so much covetousness and avarice, I divided it among the Chiefs. The next day I called a general assembly, and gave orders for all his followers and attendants to be taken care of, and directed that his women and children should be sent to Samerkund.[99] It happened that one of the persons who attended the Assembly was cloathed in black. I asked him why he was so, he replied, “I have lost a friend, but it was I who killed him, and for grief have put on mourning.” One of the learned said, “if it had not been his fate to have been killed, how could you kill him, therefore why do you grieve.” I then addressed the learned body and asked them, “what is the very worst thing in this world,” some of them said one thing, some another. I then continued, “the _best_ thing in this world is a good man, that is a person endued with excellent qualities, consequently the _worst_ thing in this world, must be a bad man, imbued with every vice, who like Amyr Hussyn is a tyrant, miserly, covetous, and ignorant, and who fears not God.” The whole Assembly praised my definition and offered up prayers for my prosperity. ----- Footnote 96: The letter is given in the text, but it is merely a repetition of what has been stated. Footnote 97: This differs from Sherif Addeen’s History. Footnote 98: I doubt whether this is a proper name, or signifies an officer of the court of justice. Footnote 99: In Sherif Addeen’s History, it is stated, that he took four of the ladies himself and divided the others among his Chiefs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEMOIRS OF TIMŪR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOOK VI.