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 337

OCTOBER, 1884.]
CHINGHIZ KHÅN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
299
in the graphic words of Ibn-al-Athir, as sent to Then they burned the city, and burned the tomb me by my excellent friend, Dr. Rieu.
of Sultan Sanjar (the Seljak), and they dug up "They advanced upon Merv and besieged it, the grave in search of treasure, and continued and they laboured at the siege and were urgent thus three days, and on the fourth day he in fighting, and the people of the city were ordered the slaughter of the people of the city, weakened by their former defeat at the camp, every one of them, for he said they resisted and the greatness of the slaughter and the us.' So they killed them all, and he ordered taking of prisoners from among them. And the slain to be numbered. There were about when, the fifth day after the defeat, the Tartars 700,000 killed, and verily to God we belong sent to the Amir, who was in Merv, com- and to Him we shall return." manding over those who were in it, saying Major Raverty has collected some other facts to him, "Do not destroy thyself and the people about the surrender of the city, which are interof the town, come forth to us, and we will make esting. He tells us how, on the twenty-third thee Amir of this town, and will withdraw day of the siege, Mujir-ul-Mulk sent the Imam from thee." He sent to ask amnesty for Jamal-u'd-din, who presented himself before himself and the people of the city. So they Tulai with the chief ecclesiastics of the place, gave them quarter, and he came forth to them, and having offered the customary presents, and the son of Chinghiz Khân invested him with offered if he would spare the lives of the a robe of honour, and paid him respect, and said inhabitants and not destroy the city to pay a to him: "I desire that thou shouldst review ransom of 200,000 dinars, 30,000 kharwars thy companions, to see whoso is fit for our of grain, 100,000 ambling horses, and 100 service, that we may take him into our service Hinda and Turki slaves, to accept a Shahnah and give him lands and attendance upon us or Mongol governor, and to pay taxes. These (i.e. the honour of being near our presence). terms were accepted, a dress of honour was And when they presented themselves, having given to the Imâm, and he was sent back. Next them thus in his power, he seized them and day Mujir-ul-Mulk with ten of the principal their Amir, and beat their necks; and when men came out with presents, and presented he had done with them he said to them, himself before Tului. He was stopped at the “Summon hither the merchants of the city and entrance by the Amirs, who exacted from him the owners of wealth in superfluity, and those 300 ass loads of dinars for Tului and 100,000 who know trades and handicrafts, representa- dinars for themselves, for which an order tives (of each), and let them show (their skill) was to be given them on the wealthier citizens. before us, and do what is commanded them. And They promised that they would obtain in when the specimens were finished, he ordered return Tului's written guarantee for the lives that the people of the town should depart from of the inhabitants. Wishing to save the it with their families. So they all departed, people, he gave the order on 100 rich mer. and not one perished in it. Then he seated chants in the city, and sent a party of Mongols himself on a throne of gold, and ordered that with it to receive the money. They seized those of the soldiers that he had seized should and tortured these unfortunate men and a present themselves. So they brought them to great crowd beside. They then cut off the the presence, and their necks were beaten nose, ears, and lips of Majir-ul-Mulk, and put severely, the people helping them and weep- him to death." D'Ohsson, apparently following. And as to the popalace, the men, women, ing the Jihan Kushai, tells us that a list and children were separated, and it was a of the richest men in Merv was made ont at day of much vehement crying out, and Tului's demand. This consisted of 200 mer. weeping and wailing. And they took the chants and proprietors, who were sent to the owners of wealth, and beat them, and tortured Mongol camp with 400 skilled artizans, whose them with a variety of tortures, demanding names had also been inscribed on the list. The riches : and sometimes one of them died from people took four days to defile out of the city, the severity of the beating and there remained and while Tului sat on a golden throne the not to him wherewithal to ransom his life.' military captives were brought before him and
• Tabakut-i-Nasiri, p. 1033.