Indian Antiquary Vol 11

SR No.: 032503
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 396
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1882.
our narrative. The Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi says when Jochi the son of Chinghiz arrived among the Kirghiz, Yedi-inal and others yielded and presented him with a white falcon, a white net and black sables. As we have seen the various authorities except the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi date the submission of the Kirghiz in the year 1207. The Yuan-shi tells us that in the spring of the next year Chinghiz Khân made another attack upon Si Hia or Tangut," and when the extreme heat came on he retired to Langting.” The Huang-yuan also mentions this, and in a note Palladius tells us Lung-ting is a general phrase for the Khan's own country." All the authorities except the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi now describe a campaign by Chinghiz against the two Chiefs, the Merkit Tokhta and the Naiman Kushluk, who, we have seen, had fled to the river Irtish. That authority dates the campaign four years earlier, namely, in the year 1204. We shall as to this date side with the majority of the authorities, and turn to the details of the campaign itself. The Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi says that Chinghiz Khân having spent the winter at the Golden Hills, i. e. the Altai, set out the following spring over the Arai chain." Meanwhile his two opponents had set their army in order at the very source of the Erdishi Bukhdurma, i.e. no doubt on the tributary of the Black Irtish still called the Bukhtarmi. There a battle followed in which Tokhtu fell under Chinghiz Khân's arrows. His children being unable to carry off his body cut off his head and took it with them; his routed soldiers fled, and more than half of them were drowned in crossing the Irtish, the rest dispersed. According to the Yuan-shi news reached Chinghiz that Tokhtu and Kushluk were preparing for war, while he was at his summer quarters in 1208, and when winter came on he marched against them. The Uirats submitted to his advanced guard, and volunteered to guide the army. The enemy was found encamped on the Ar- dashi gol, i.e. the river Irtish. A great fight ensued in whicb Tokhtu the Merkit chief was
killed." The Yuan-shi-lei-pien says Tokhtu was killed by Chinghiz with his own hand. The Huang-yuan makes out that it was the Uirat chief Khudukhua Beki who acted as the Mongols' guide on this occasion, having submitted to Chinghiz Khân's advance guard without fighting." Rashidu'd-dîn adds nothing to this account. As a reward for Khudukhusbeki's submission Chinghiz Khân gave his daughter Checheigian in marriage to that chief's son Inalchi, while he gave another daughter named Alakhai to the chief of the Ongut." The Yuanshi says Alakhai's husband was Boiao khi, the son of Alakhushidigitkhuri (i.e. the Ongut chief) who followed Chinghiz Khản in his Western expedition. She is said to have been wise and to have governed the empire during her father's absence, all reports being taken to her, and in another passage of the same work she is styled "the Ruler of the empire," but as Palladius says this seems to be a mistake. Chinghiz left his brother Ochegin as his vicegerent in Mongolia when he went westwards, and it is probable that Alakhai's authority was limited to her husband's own people the Ongut." Rashidu'd. din calls Khudukhua's son abovenamed Turalji, and says Alakhai Beki was married to Jingui or Shengui the son of the Ongut chief," who is no doubt to be identified with the Boaiokhi of the Yuan-shi. Rashid says that when Chinghiz offered his daughter to Alakush the latter said he was an old man, but that he had a nephew Shengui, the son of his brother, who had been Padishah whom he suggested as a more likely match for her. He sent for his nephew. When he reached the place called Kaiduk the amirs of his father and brother went to him, said Alakush intended to kill him, and bade him wait there till they went and killed his uncle. This having been done, Shengui went to the court of Chinghiz, and married his daughter Alakhai, who was younger than her brother Ogatai and older than Tulni. Rashid says this happened after Chinghiz's campaign in China. The prowess and success of the great conqueror were having
a) Op. cit., p. 131.
35 The French and our own writers write the name Si Hin, the Russians who adopt the Peking pronunciation call it Se Sia.
» Douglas, p. 56; Hyacinthe, p. 40. 31 Op. cit., p. 180 note 6.
» No doubt that part of the Altai separating the basins of lakes Kizilbash and Ikhe Aral.
» Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, note 406 by Palladius. 0 Op. cit., p. 110.
" Douglas, pp. 56 and 57; Hyacinthe, pp. 40 and 41; Gaubil, p. 12.
* Op. cit., p. 181. " Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi 132. ** Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, note 501. 46 Erdmann, Temudochin, p. 145.
Erdmann, pp. 242-243.