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| - Sometime in early 1124, an unknown trader appeared near Tashkent, staggering slowly toward the gates. A witness, most likely Aziz ibn Hafeez, wrote: "At noon, a man was seen stumbling toward the city gates. He appeared ill, almost lifeless. As he approached the gates he picked up speed, before vomiting blood which spewed over one of the guards. The guard, in his anger, immediately ended the man's life with his spear." That night a massacre occurred in the town. Many fled the city, amongst them was Aziz, who wrote: From there the plague spread like wildfire.
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abstract
| - Sometime in early 1124, an unknown trader appeared near Tashkent, staggering slowly toward the gates. A witness, most likely Aziz ibn Hafeez, wrote: "At noon, a man was seen stumbling toward the city gates. He appeared ill, almost lifeless. As he approached the gates he picked up speed, before vomiting blood which spewed over one of the guards. The guard, in his anger, immediately ended the man's life with his spear." That night a massacre occurred in the town. Many fled the city, amongst them was Aziz, who wrote: "The moon was full and bright. The market square was in utter silence, which was suddenly interrupted by loud screaming and the sound of flesh being ripped apart. Before anyone knew it, what appeared to be an angry mob was frantically running through the empty streets, breaking into all the buildings. The civilians of Tashkent, fearing this was an attempt to sack the city by invaders, left their homes and ran for the gates. There was a brutal bloodbath like the world had never seen before. Truly, this day belonged to Iblīs." It is believed that 10,000 people were killed at what has become known as the Tashkent massacre. From there the plague spread like wildfire.
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