Page 74 - History of Portuguese in the Gulf_Neat

m-
182 APPENDIX A.
muz, proclaimed himself king,1 and sent speedy notice of his
accession to all its dependencies, calling on the wazirs and
governors to acknowledge him, and promising them his gratitude
for their homage. But none came into him, except some towns
of Hirahistan,2 who received his message. And even these, in
the summer, sent to ask for troops to defend their palm-orchards
against Kodbadin’s men, who harassed them, so that they could
not gather in their dates, the staple food of those lands. And
they gave him warning that if he made any delay they must
needs submit to Kodbadin. Nazomadin, advised of their mind,
made up his own to pass over to the mainland; and first he
tempted all the wazirs and chiefs who were with Kodbadin. But
none of these accepted his promises, except one Homer Soiadin,
chief gateward, and one of Kodbadin’s commanders.3 When
Nazomadin had secured this officer in his interest, he crossed
over to Persia and marched towards Kolongon. Kodbadin
marched to meet him; they fought a drawn battle, and Homer
Soiadin, with the most and best of his troops, went over to
Nazomadin. Xa Kodbadin, seeing this, retreated towards
Iasquez, a place on the Persian shore, forty leagues from where
he had lost the battle.
Thence he crossed the narrow sea to Arabia, and landed in
Kalayate, where he stayed for a year, and the port gained much
by his presence, for he detained there the ships bound from
India to Harmuz.4 Here he received news of the death of
Nazomadin,3 and that in his will he had strictly ordered the elder
of his two sons, Xambe and Xadi, to go presently to Kalayate,
submit to Xa Kodbadin, and deliver to him the kingdom, as his
by right. But the young men did much the contrary.
According to Barros and Couto (ubi supm\ “ Cobadim” or “ Coba-
dixa”was succeeded on his death by his elder son “Ceifadim” or
“ Ceifadixa,” who reigned twenty years.—D. F.
2 There seems to be little evidence as to these towns, but probably
they were on the Persian mainland, east or north of the Strait of
Hormuz, and west or north of Jask.
3 «
Macslre dc campo.” The translation may seem to exaggerate
this officer’s rank, but the sequel shows his importa nee.
4 I bn Batiita {op. cit., tom. ii, p. 200) says that when he was at
Dhofdr he was told “ that the Sultan Kutbuddin Tamahtan (Tali am tan)?
son of Turrin Shdh, lord of Hormuz, once attacked it by land and
sea ; but that God most high unchained against him a violent wind.
His vessels were shattered ; he thereupon abandoned the siege of the
town, and made peace with its king.” If this incident actually
occurred, it may have taken place at the time when Kutbuddin was
staying at Kalhdt, as above mentioned.—D. F.
6 Nothing is said here of the poisoning of Nizdmuddm, as related
by Ibn Batuta {infra, p. 184//.). If the latter’s story be true, Kutb-
uddfn’s expressions of sorrow must have been mere hypocrisy.—D. F.
KINGS OF HORMUZ. i83
Kodbadin showed much grief at his brother’s death, and cele­
brated funeral rites1 very handsomely after their fashion, putting
himself and all his people into mourning. And he wrote to his
nephews most affectionate letters of condolence, offering to hold
them as his own sons. But they paid no attention to him, and
managed their government in such fashion, that their follies and
oppressions were a scandal to the whole kingdom. When
Kodbadin understood them ill-disposed, he made ready to invade
them, and sailed with his fleet to Iaguin, a town and port on the
Persian coast,2 then inhabited by Arabs, like many others there­
abouts. Here he was opposed by the very numerous and well-
appointed fleet ol his nephews, which he engaged and destroyed,
with great slaughter of the crews.
After this victory he sailed to Costek, whence came out to
meet him Amir Aieb Xam^adin, a captain of his own, who had
come from Old Harmuz with a considerable reinforcement for his
expedition. Thence he sailed for Harmuz, or Gerun, and anchored
off Karu, a beach of that isle,3 on which he landed and took
possession of it by force of arms. When his nephews saw that
they were ruined, and could neither fight nor fly, they used
influential mediators and put themselves in their uncle’s hands,
asking only that some convenient arrangement might be made
for their living. The king agreed to this, and gave them the
Isle of Barhen for a residence for themselves and their depend-
ents.
With Kodbadin’s return matters were greatly mended in Gerun,
which had been in great misery and vexation under the rule of the
brothers. The peace was kept, and justice administered ; and the
price of provisions, till then scarce and dear, went down. Those
who had been banished by order of the tyrants, or had fled for
fear of them, were reinstated in their houses and property.
Meanwhile, the brothers Xambd and Xady had gone to Barhen,
and once there—for they could not be quiet—set about raising
men and ships to invade Harmuz. King Kodbadin, when he knew
of this, embarked and went against them, with all the force he
could muster.4 On arrival at Keys, where Xady then was, he
1 These, of course, were only ceremonial. It does not appear where
Nizdmuddfn was buried, but it certainly was not at Kalhdt.
2 Jaguin, or Jegfn, is still on our maps, a few miles east of Jask.
3 See note on p. 170, supj'u.—D. F.
4 Ibn Batuta, who calls the Sultan of Hormuz Kutbuddin Tamahtan
(Tahemtan), son of Tiirdn Shdh,” and describes him as an old man,
dirtily clad, but very pious, says : “ When we entered his island, we
found him prepared for war, in which he was engaged against the two
sons of his brother, Nizdmuddi'n. Every night lie made ready for
battle, although scarcity reigned in the isle. His wazir, Shamsuddm
Muhammad, son of ’Ali, his kddi, Imdduddfn Achchcwankdri, and