There are gate-openings about
the middle of the east and west sides, but no barbicans." (4th
December 1873.)
CHAPTER XII.
HOW THE GREAT KAAN MAINTAINS A GUARD OF TWELVE THOUSAND HORSE, WHICH ARE
CALLED KESHICAN.
You must know that the Great Kaan, to maintain his state, hath a guard of
twelve thousand horsemen, who are styled KESHICAN, which is as much as to
say "Knights devoted to their Lord." Not that he keeps these for fear of
any man whatever, but merely because of his own exalted dignity. These
12,000 men have four captains, each of whom is in command of 3000; and
each body of 3000 takes a turn of three days and nights to guard the
palace, where they also take their meals. After the expiration of three
days and nights they are relieved by another 3000, who mount guard for the
same space of time, and then another body takes its turn, so that there
are always 3000 on guard. Thus it goes until the whole 12,000, who are
styled (as I said) Keshican, have been on duty; and then the tour begins
again, and so runs on from year's end to year's end.[NOTE 1]
NOTE 1. - I have deduced a reading for the word Quescican (Keshican),
which is not found precisely in any text. Pauthier reads Questiau and
Quesitau; the G. Text has Quesitam and Quecitain; the Crusca Questi
Tan; Ramusio, Casitan; the Riccardiana, Quescitam. Recollecting the
constant clerical confusion between c and t, what follows will leave
no doubt I think that the true reading to which all these variations point
is Quescican.[1]
In the Institutes of Ghazan Khan, we find established among other
formalities for the authentication of the royal orders, that they should
be stamped on the back, in black ink, with the seals of the Four
Commanders of the Four Kiziks, or Corps of the Life Guard.
Wassaf also, in detailing the different classes of the great dignitaries
of the Mongol monarchy, names (1) the Noyans of the Ulus, or princes of
the blood; (2) the great chiefs of the tribes; (3) the Amirs of the four
Keshik, or Corps of the Body Guard; (4) the officers of the army,
commanding ten thousands, thousands, and so on.
Moreover, in Rashiduddin, we find the identical plural form used by our
author. He says that, after the sack of Baghdad, Hulaku, who had escaped
from the polluted atmosphere of the city, sent "Ilka Noyan and Karabuga,
with 3000 Moghul horse into Baghdad, in order to have the buildings
repaired, and to put things generally in order. These chiefs posted
sentries from the KISHIKAN ([Arabic]), and from their own followings in
the different quarters of the town, had the carcases of beasts removed
from the streets, and caused the bazaars to be rebuilt."
We find Kishik still used at the court of Hindustan, under the great
kings of Timur's House, for the corps on tour of duty at the palace; and
even for the sets of matchlocks and sabres, which were changed weekly from
Akbar's armoury for the royal use.
