I must add that Professor Vambery does not assent to the form Keshikan,
on the ground that this Persian plural is impossible in an old Tartar
dialect, and he supposes the true word to be Kechilan or Kechiklen,
"the night-watchers," from Kiche or Kichek (Chag. and Uighur), =
"night."
I believe, however, that Persian was the colloquial language of foreigners
at the Kaan's court, who would not scruple to make a Persian plural when
wanted; whilst Rashid has exemplified the actual use of this one.
(D'Ohsson, IV. 410; Gold. Horde, 228, 238; Ilch. II. 184; Q. R.
pp. 308-309; Ayeen Akb. I. 270, and Blochmann's, p. 115; J. As. ser.
IV. tom. xix. 276; Olearius, ed. 1659, I. 656; Cathay, 135; De
Mailla, ix. 106; Gaubil, p. 6; Pallas, Samml. I. 35.)
["By Keshican in Colonel Yule's Marco Polo, Keshikten is evidently
meant. This is a general Mongol term to designate the Khan's lifeguard. It
is derived from the word Keshik, meaning a guard by turns; a corps on
tour of duty. Keshik is one of the archaisms of the Mongol language, for
now this word has another meaning in Mongol. Colonel Yule has brought
together several explanations of the term. It seems to me that among his
suppositions the following is the most consistent with the ancient meaning
of the word: -
"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....
The royal guards in Persia, who watch the King's person at night, are
termed Keshikchi."
"The Keshikten was divided into a day-watch called Turgaut and a
night-watch Kebteul.
