Indian Antiquary Vol 14

SR No.: 032506
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 418
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 165

MAY, 1885.]
CHINGHIZ KHAN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
143
during the summer and till he was rejoined by buried under a pillar to be used in case of need. Bela and Darbai, whom he had sent in pursuit Chinghiz, having heard of this, had one third of of Jalálu'd-din. Thence he went to the fortress the pillars of the mosque pulled down to find of Kunaun Kurghan' probably the modern this treasure, but nothing being discovered the Khinjan, north of the Paruan pass. There rest were spared. Ibn Batuta speaks of Balkh Ogotai rejoined him, and they went on to as still in ruins when he passed through it." Debuyeh Ketur, to pass the winter, where he was To return to our story. Minhaj-i-Saraj and supplied with forage and other necessaries by Rashidu'd-din tell us that Chinghiz was inthe governor of the district, called Salar Ahmed, duced to return by news of a revolt in This hilly country was much encumbered with Tangat, but this is hardly likely, as he would snow, and by impassable forests. It was also not have withdrawn so leisurely if he had had very sickly, and the water was bad, so Chinghiz such a pressing cause. The real explanation ordered his prisoners to shell a large quantity of was probably the death of Ma-khu-li, his comrice. They cleaned from 300 to 400 mans in each mander-in-chief in China, who died in April household. He then bad them put to death. 1223. The Chinese accounts give a different
He now, we are told, retraced his steps reason for his retreat. We read in the biography to Peshawur, which seems an inconsequent act, of Yeliu Chutsai, that Chinghiz carried his arms unless he merely went north temporarily for as far as the Eastern Hindus. While his troop summer quarters, and thence went by way of were halting in the "Iron Gate'll he saw an Bamian to Baklan' where he had left his animal like a stag with the tail of a horse, with Ughraks, or heavy baggage. Having appointed a greon body and having a single horn on its darughas or commissaries to take charge of the head. This extraordinary animal had the faculty various towns he had conquered, and having spent of human speech, and cried out to the emperor's the autumn there he again advanced towards guards that he should at once retire. Chinghiz, the Oxus. In passing near Balkh he had all astonished at this prodigy, consulted Yeliu the people put to death who had returned to Chatsai, who replied:-"This remarkable animal occupy the place. The people there for twelve is the Kiutuan. It understands all languages. months had had to live on dogs, cats, &c., It loves living beings, and has a horror of for the Mongols had destroyed all the crops. carnage. It has come to tell you that you are Ibn Batuta, who travelled through this district the eldest son of heaven, and that the people about a centory later, tells us that Chinghiz are your children, and it tells you how heaven destroyed at Balkh a third of its principal would have you treat them." Wherenpon mosque, because of a treasure which was re- the emperor ordered the army to retire." The ported to have been buried under one of its biography just cited has preserved another columns. He tells us it was one of the finest anecdote of Yeliu Chatsai of this campaign. We and largest mosques in the world, and was there read that a violent epidemic broke out in reported to have been built by the wife of the Mongol ranks, and that the generals had Daud-ibn-Ali who governed Balkh for the thought of nothing but amassing gold and rich Abassides, and who devoted to its construction staffs. Chutsai, on the other hand, had collected the value of a splendid pearl-embroidered robe, books, and among other natural products a which she had offered the Khalifa in lieu of a large quantity of medicinal rhubarb, whose contribution he had imposed npon the town. qualities he knew. He now used it, and The Khalifa, touched by the generous offer, re- thus saved the lives of 10,000 people." turned the robe. We read that after the build- The Chinese accounts give us additional inforing of the mosque one-third of the value of mation about Chinghiz Khan's doings at this time. the robe still remaining, she ordered it to be The Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi tells us that after the
• Called Gunaun Cargan by D'Ohsson. • Called Buys Ketver by D'Ohason.
Called Bulghar by Erdmann and Bacalan by D'Ohsson. It was doubtless the modern Baghlan, south of Kundus.
Javeni, quoted by Erdmann, pp. 482-498 : D'Ohnson, Vol. I. pp. 818-820; Tabakut-i-Naart, p. 1047 note, pp.
• Op. cit., Ed. Defremery, etc., Vol. III. 59-63. 10 D'Ohason, Vol. I. p. 819 note. - The Derbend Kahluga. 1 Rórnusat, Nouteaux Mélanges Asiatiques, Vol. II. pp. 67 and 68; De Mailla, Vol. IX. pp. 108-100; Gaubil, pp. 41 and 42.
13 Rémusat, op. cit. p. 68.
1081-1082