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 169

CHINGHIZ KHAN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
MAY, 1884.]
the Ek-tagh range is high, especially the northern part of it, which in some places is covered with eternal snow. It is traversed by four passes, only one of which, namely, that of Urmogaiti, is practicable for riders. Dr. Bretschneider adds:"I have little doubt that Chinghiz with his armies passed by this defile. In his march to the west with a numerous cavalry he was always obliged to choose such roads as presented the most abundant pastures." This pass leads to the sources of the Kiran river, an affluent of the Black Irtish, and the road leads down along the Kiran, on which river some years ago a new town, Tulta, was founded by Chinese from Kulja expelled by the Tungans. It is situated in a fertile valley, with rich pastures. The valleys of the Irtish and its tributaries all present luxuriant pastures." It was in these pastures of the Irtish that Chinghiz Khân passed the summer of 1219. Rashid tells us expressly that he did so, and left for the west in the autumn of 1219. The Huang-Yuan says that in the year Si-mao (i.e., 1219), Chinghiz, at the head of his army, went to the western countries.""
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In the narrative of Ch'ang Ch'an he tells us that in 1219 the emperor was in the wu-li-do (i.e., ordu), of the Naimans, and Rashidu'd-din expressly puts the Naimans on the Irtish and the Ek-tagh Altai.
The Mongols were essentially an army of horsemen. Their horses were continually their first care, and it was always necessary they should find summer and winter quarters where forage was abundant. They found such quarters notably in these rich pastures of the Irtish, where they passed the summer of 1219. It was while he was there that Chinghiz sent to invite the famous sage, Ch'ang Ch'un, to go and visit him. We are told that he ordered his adjutant, Liu Chung-lu, to go and fetch him. Lui Chung-lu was a deserter from the Kin who entered the service of the Mongols when they invaded China, and he was valued by Chinghiz Khân for his skill in making
3 Id., p. 112, note.
D'Obsson, vol. I, pp. 212-216.
33 Id.
35 Op. cit., p. 191.
38 Ch'ang Ch'un," says Dr. Bretschneider, "in speaking of himself, always uses this modest expression of shan-ye, Savage of the mountains."
Bretschneider, Notes on Med. Travellers to the West, pp. 17 and 18.
In the biography of Jabar Khoja in the Yuan-shi he
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arrows. He reported that he had received orders to go on this errand in the fifth month. of 1219, when Chinghiz Khân was encamped at the ordu of the Naimans. Ch'ang Ch'un agreed to return with him, and chose nineteen of his disciples to accompany him. They set out in the early spring of 1220, and arrived at Yen or Peking in April. There he was received with great deference, and there he learnt that Chinghiz had already set out on his western campaign. Feeling afraid that at his great age he should not be able to bear such a long voyage, he wanted to stay till the great conqueror's retarn. He was also much troubled because Chung-lu had been ordered to escort in addition to himself, a number of young girls for Chinghiz Khan's harem, and he remarked, "Owing to actresses having been sent from the kingdom of Tsi to the kingdom of Lu, Confucius left Lu (which was his native country). Although I am only a savage of the mountains," how can I travel in the company of girls."
Chung-lu therefore despatched a courier with a report, and Ch'ang Ch'un also sent an address to Chinghiz." He did not wait for an answer, but set off, and we shall revert to him presently.
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It was apparently while wintering on the Irtish that Chinghiz Khân allotted sections of the peoples he had conquered to his mother, brothers, and children. He is reported in the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi to have said:"My mother with me created the empire. Of my children the eldest is Juchi, the youngest is Ochigin. He gave 10,000 houses or families to his mother and youngest brother. She was not content with this number, but said not a word. He gave 9,000 houses to his eldest son Juchi; to Chagatai 8,000; to Ogotai 5,000; to Tului 5,000; to his brother Khasar, 4,000; to Alchidai, 2,000; to Belgutei 1,500. Chinghiz had an uncle, Daritai, whom he wished to destroy, since he had supported Wang Khân, but Boorchi and the other two said to him to destroy one's relatives is the same as to extinguish one's fires. This uncle
is said to have been sent by Chinghiz to summon the sage, who asked him which he would prefer, honour and riches or a numerous posterity. He replied, After a hundred years honours and riches will be of no use to me, but I should wish my sons and grandsons to be prosperous, and continue iny lineage. Cha'ng Ch'un replied, Your wish shall be realised, and it was, as Jabar died at the age of 118, and left many descendants. Bretschneider, Notices, etc. 50.