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 128

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[APRIL, 1884.
Kankhasi," and the Tuba or Tabasi. These 1407, when we are told that Toktamish was various tribes doubtless lived on the upper killed in the Siberian land by Shadibeg." Irtish. Some of their names are probably Shortly after wegeta longer notice in the pages corrupt; we have them preserved not in of the Bavarian Schiltberger, whose romantic the text of the Yuan-ch'ao-fi-shi, printed by travels cover the years between 1394-1427. Palladius, but in the epitome of that work." He tells us of a land called Ibis sibur, whither When the tonic text, of which we are promised the famous chief and king-maker among the an edition by Mr. Podsneyef, is published, Mongols of the Golden Horde, Idiku, retired. we shall be in a better position to criticize In that land, he says, is a mountain which is them.
two and thirty days journey in length (P the To continue, however : on the arrival of Juchi Urals), beyond which, according to the report of and Bakha at the residence of the tribes of the inhabitants, is a great desert, where nothing "Van Kirghiz," their ruler, Yediinal, with can live, reaching to the end of the world. others, submitted and appeared before Juchi In this mountain there dwell a wild people who with a white falcon, a white net and black lived apart from other nations, only their sables. Juchi subdued all the people living in hands and faces being free from hair. They the forest, from Shibir to the south. This is hunted wild animals in the mountains, and also the first mention known to me of this famous
fed on leaves and grass, and whatever they topographical name.
met with. The ruler of the country sent There is a notice of this campaign also in the Idiku a wild man and woman, who had been Yuan-shi, where we are told that Tutukha moved captured there. The horses there were of the from Kholin," and reached in the spring the size of asses. There were in that land dogs river Kian," along which he travelled for which drew carts and sledges, containing several days to the Kiligisi, and subdued all clothes. They were as large as asses, and were the five tribes." Well may Palladius, who also eaten. Schiltberger reports the inhabitants quotes this passage, say that the accounts as Christians, and makes their country the vary. The first mention of Siberia in a contem- land of the Three Kings. The inhabitants of porary document must excuse & slight digres- this land were called Uguie." It was custosion on this important name. On a later mary in that country, when a young man died occasion, we are told in the Yuan-shi how the unmarried, to dress him in his best clothes, to armies of Khubilai reached Ibir Shibir." hold a feast, lay his corpse on a bier, and then Rashid speaks of the land als Abir u Sibir, raise a canopy over it. This was carried in and Abir u Sabir, and Quatremère connects procession, accompanied by the young people in the two names with the allied tribes of the their best clothes, behind went the father and Avars and Sa biri, who invaded Europe in mother and other relatives making lamenta the 6th century. The author of the Mesalektions. When they reached the grave they Alabsar speaks of the country of Sabiru held a funeral feast, the young folk sitting A bar, and tells us how & terrible cold round, playing, eating, and drinking, while prevailed there, the snow falling for six months the father, mother, and friends sat wailing consecutively, the plains and mountains being until the food was consumed, when they were covered with it, the flocks being few and the escorted home, &c." means of subsistence scarce." In a passage Schiltberger reports these matters as having of the Matla Alsaadein, we read that the come within his own observation. They may Mirza Alau'd-daulah lived in the country of be compared with the account given by Marco Abar u Sabir, situated at the extremity Polo of the dominions of king Conchi," and of the land of the Uzbegs." Siberia is first of the Land of Darkness, as described by Ibn mentioned in the Russian annals in January Batata. " The Kemkomjut.
13 Palladius, op. cit. note 500. · Doubtless the Tuwalas of Rashidu'd-din, and classed " Quatremère, op. cit. 413 nota. by him with the Burkhat, perhaps the dwellers on the
15 Id. 414 note. Tuba are meant.
Lehrberg, Altere Geschichte Russlande, pp. 76, 77, * See Palladius, note 197. 10 Karakorum. * I.e. the Kem.
1 Schiltberger's Travels, ed. Neumann, pp. 88-90. " Yuan-ch'ao pi-shi, note 498.
"Op. cit. Yale's ed. vol. II, p. 478, &c.
11 Ugrians.