Indian Antiquary Vol 13

SR No.: 032505
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 492
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 127

APRIL, 1884.)
CHINGHIZ KHÅN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
113
day. He was about to attack them when the Mongol chief" son of Chingbiz, sent him word that their two kingdoms were not at war, and that he had received orders to treat the Khuarezmian troops he might meet in this district well, and offered him a portion of the prisoners and booty he had captured from the Merkits. Muhammad, whose troops were more numerous than those of his opponent, did not heed these friendly approaches. "If Chinghiz Khân has not ordered you to fight me, God has ordered me to attack you, and I shall deserve His favours in destroying the infidels." A struggle thereupon commenced, the Mongols dispersed the left wing of the Khuarezmian army, and charged the centre under Muhammad, and would have also broken it if Jelalu'd-din, Mohammad's son, had not rushed from the right wing, which had been victorious, to his father's suocour, and thus restored the fight, which continued until nightfall. At night the Mongols having lighted some fires hastily withdrew, so that by morning they had covered two days' march. This encounter gave Muhammad a good notion of the manner of men they were whom he had so heedlessly provoked."
In the Yuan-shi-lei pen we have an incident of this battle reported which is not named by the Western writers. We read that Pitu, the son of Yeliu Liuku who had been appointed king of Liau-tung by Chinghiz Khan, took part in this fight, on the side of the Mongols, as did his relative Yeliu Kohay. The former was badly wounded, but seeing Juchi, Chingbiz Khan's eldest son, surrounded by the enemy, he rushed to the rescue, and both managed to force their way out.*
While Chepe and Subutai were engaged in subdaing the empire of Kara Khitai and the Merkit chiefs, Chinghiz Khân himself apparently had another campaign against Hia or Tangut. Li-tsun-hien, called Li-tsun-sian by Hyacinthe, who had succeeded his father Li
ngan-chuen, as king of Hia, was besieged in his capital, and eventually fled to Si-leang."
Chinghiz now sent his son Juchi to subdue the tribes of Siberia. The Huang-yuan and Rashidu'd-din tell us that in view of the war with the Tumats, previously named, Chinghiz had sent to collect some troops from among the Kirghiz. They would not provide any, and even rebelled, whereupon he, in the New year, 1219, sent his eldest son Juchi against them. He crossed the Kem Kemjut and other rivers on the ice, and forced the Kirghises to submit. Talun, surnamed Bukha, who commanded the advance guard having pursued the Kirghises, returned from the river Heshim (i.e. the well-known tributary of the Irtish, called the Ishim, which was doubtless beyond the frontiers of the Kirghises, who had been pursued beyond their own borders).
The Kirghises now sent three of their chiefs, 'named Urukha Alju, Alibeg Timur, and Atk herakh, with white-eyed falcons. The Huang-yuan says they pursued them to the river Imar and then returned. The eldest prince, i.e. Juchi, then crossed the river Kiano" at a ford and descending it subdued the tribes, Kergis," Khankhasi, Telyanu, Keshidimi Khoino and the Irgan (?).
This interesting notice of the conquest of some of the Siberian tribes is given in greater detail in the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, which has, however, apparently confused this with the earlier campaign against the Kirghiz. We there read that in 1207 Chinghiz ordered Juchi to march against the forest people, with the division of the right hand, and commanded Bukha to pioneer the way. Khudukha-beki, the ruler of the Uirads, acted as his guide. When he arrived at the place Shikhshit, i. e, no doubt the tribatary of the Kem or Upper Yenisei, called Shiskit, the Uirnds and other tribes submitted. These other tribes are thus enumerated : Bulia, Barkhun, the Ursu." The Khakhanasi," the
* Muhammad of Nissa and Ibn-al-athir say this chief was Juchi.
53 Erdmann, pp. 365 and 6; D'Ohsson, vol. I, pp. 208210; Abalghazi, pp. 106 and 107. ** Graubil, p. 86.
56 The modern Leang-chau-fu in Kansuh. This campaign is dated by DeMailla in 1218. DeMailla, tome IX, p. 84: Douglas, p. 88; Hyacinthe, p. 91 ; D'Ohason, vol. I, p. 162.
56 Erdmann says Tukha; Quatremère, op. cit. pp. 411 and 19 notes: Erdmann, p. 362-3; D'Oharon, p. 1.157.
57 i.e. the Kem. Op. cit. 191. i.e. The Kirghis. 69 .e. Kemkemjut.
00 (.e. The Telenguts. oli.e, The Kishtimis.
i.e. the Urianguts.
63 Or Buria ? the Buriats.
84 P The Burkhut of Rashidu'd-din, so called, he says, from their living on this side, i.e. went of the Selinga and the district of Burkhajin Tugrum. Erdmann, Temudachin, p. 189.
65 Doubtless the Urasut of Rashidu'd-din who, he says, were very like the Mongols, and were well acquainted with the medicines used by them. They were also, he says, called the forest people, as they lived in the forests on the borders of the Kirghines and Kemkemjats.id.
MP A corruption of the Kishtimis or Kestimis, who are named with the Urasut by Rashidu'd-din-il.
p. 191.