Indian Antiquary Vol 09

SR No.: 032501
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 398
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1880.
who was witness of this, was greatly angered, and was for punishing him then and there, but having become somewhat sober, Kabul apparently apologized, saying that it was his hand which was to blame, and not himself, for his will had not followed his hand. According to D'Ohsson's reading he demanded to be punished. The Altan Khan who thought that if he exacted punishment he would bring the revenge of his people upon himself, dissembled his anger, and having selected from his treasury a silken garment embroidered with gold threads, a crown, a gold decked girdle and other presents, presented them to him on his departure. His minister argued, however, that he had not done well in letting him thus go. He thereapon sent a messenger to recall him, and as he refused to go, a second messenger with a posse of troops was sent to compel him. When they arrived at his camp he was not at home, but one of his wives promised that on his return he, with his sons and daughters, would comply with the emperor's wish. As the messenger was returning home he encountered a man attended by some slaves whom he recog. nized as Kabul, and thereupon seized him and carried him off. En route they put up at the house of a Saljiut, who was a friend of Kabul Khân's. He supplied the latter with a horse which he said was as swift as the lightning or the wind. On this he mounted and fled, and was pursued by the messenger of the Altan Khân, who did not overtake him however till he reached home. There Kabul treated his pursuer with marked hospitality, gave him a beautiful new tent to live in, where he was waited upon by his young wife Meti. Meanwhile, however, he summoned his dependents, his sons being away, and told them that he had become weary of life since he had been pursued by the Chinese messenger. He called upon them to kill him, saying that if they did not do so he would commit suicide. Thereupon they fell on the Kin messenger and slew him. Kabul Khân soon after fell ill and died." Nothing of this appears in the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi. On turning to the Chinese annals dealing with the Kin dynasty we find certain obscure notices which apparently refer to these events. In the Ta-kin-kwochi we
are told that during the reign of the Emperor Tai-tsung, whose Tungusic name was Ukunai, and whose reign was in the interval 1123-1137, a great number of the Mongku became subject to him, but in the next reign, i.e. 1138-1140, they became rebellious." De Mailla, who translated the Kang-mu, states that about 1135 the Mongols began to be very powerful and a menace to the Empire. We are told they could see by night as well as by day, and that they wore cuirasses made from the hides of fish which were proof against arrows. Towards the end of that year the Kin Emperor sent his General Hushaku against them."' Hushaku was not successful but had to retire. His retreat was the signal for the advance of the Mongols who captured many of his people, and followed him as far as the district of Hailing, where, having ventured on an engagement, his army was cut in pieces. Another and more formidable army was sent against them. This was apparently in 1139.90 These extracts probably refer to the reign of Kabul Khan and to the feud he had with the Kin Empire. According to Rashidu'd-dîn, Kabul Khån married Goa Khuaku, meaning the Fair Khuaku, who belonged to the Turkish tribe of the Kongurut, of which we shall have much to say presently. By her he says he had six sons, who were called Kiat. Abulghazi says the Mongols call a torrent which comes down from a mountain kian, which word originally meant rapid or impetuous. The plural of kian is kiat, and we are told the sons of Kabul Khan were so called because of their impetuosity. The name Kian or Kaian, however, was doubtless of much older date, and designated in the old legends one of the two primitive stocks of the Turks. One of the two brothers who ruled them in their primitive home in Irgenehkun was called Kian, and his descendants Kiat. Kiat was the special name of the family of Chinghiz Khân.
The Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi tells us that Kabul had seven sons, in which it is followed by the Yuan-shi and Ssanang Setzen. These agree generally with the names recorded by Rashid, and are as follows:-Ukin Barkhakh, Bartan Båghadur, Khutuklu Mungur, Khutula Khakan,
16 Erdmann, op. cit., p. 551. 10 Op.cit. » Erdmann, pp. 551-553.
* Schott, Aelteste Nachrichten von Mongolen und Tataren, 17. 1. De Mailla, vol. VIII, p. 518.
* Id. p. 529. 91 Abulghazi, 71.