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PIYADASI INSCRIPTIONS.
JULY, 1881.]
their outposts, who were stationed at Gui, Chekcher and Chiurkai, which Erdmann condenses into one name Gui-jagjern-jewerkhai. They thereupon left the banks of the Olkhui-Siljiyaljut near the Ongu. The Huang-yuan says they marched from Ulukhoi-shi-han-jen into intrenchments, and repaired to the defile of Tajar Aki in the mountains of Karaun Chidun. There they were pursued by the enemy. Meanwhile S a nkun, the son of Wang Khân who was in.command of the vanguard determined to be the first to fall upon them. Buirukh having noticed him, and seen that his people were Mongols sent a division of his men together with the Katakins under Aguju Bakhadur and the Merkit under Tokhto's brother Khudu" against him. Asharp but undecided struggle took place, after which Sankun withdrew into the mountains, and they proceeded to perform some incantations which were followed by a great fall of snow and a deep fog. This was driven by the winds upon themselves, and a great number of men and horses perished from the cold and from falling down the precipices. The Naimans and their allies withdrew to a place called Kuiten." The Huangyuan says the fight took place at Kubitan and Wang Khân and Ching hiz who were not in a position to pursue went to Aral." Chamukha who had set out to join the confederates on learning their fate with characteristic duplicity seized some rich booty belonging to the Katakins and Saljiut, and once more joined Chinghiz Khân. They took up their winter quarters at a place variously read as Utjia Kungur, Alchia Kungur and Ichegeh Gutel, where he says the Kungurut formerly had their winter quarters where Temujin asked
90
Tenth Edict.
(2) Devânampiyo priyadasi raja yaso va kiti va na mahâthâvahâ mañate añata tadâtpano dighâya cha me jano
M. SEN ART ON THE INSCRIPTIONS OF PIYADASI. Translated from the French.1 (Continued from p. 182.)
The Huang-yuan says on the mountain Nigan-guiundu, Cher and Chukhurka.
* Read Wakhud by Erdmann.
Erdmann reads it Gutsian.
89. e. the island. 90 Huang-yuan, pp. 165 and 166; Berezine, vol. II, pp. 126-128; Erdmann, pp. 281 and 282; D'Ohsson, vol. I, p. 66.
1 Berezine, vol. II, p. 128; D'Ohsson, vol. I, pp. 66 and 67; Erdmann, pp. 282 and 283.
209
the hand of Jorbege for his son Juchi and offered his own daughter Kujinbege to Tusunbuki or Khushbuka, the son of Sankun." The locality referred to by Rashidu'd-din is scarcely a probable one, and it would seem that he has mistaken Karaun Kipchak, i.e. the black woods, for Karaun Chidun, and the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi undoubtedly put it at the black woods on the Tuuli, i. e. apparently the Tula."
These events are also reported in the Yuanshi, only that in this account Buirukh is not mentioned by name, but the Merkit Tokhtoa, who we are told had returned from Borokhucha, i. e. Barguchin, whither he had fled, is made the prominent character, and we are told there were with him the Naimans, Durban Tartars, Katakins and Saljiut. When Chinghiz Khân and Wang Khân learnt of their approach they withdrew into an intrenched position. De Mailla says a camp fortified with palisades on a mountain, while Ilkha," i. e. Sankun, took up his position on a height to the north. The enemy attacked him, but could not drive him away, but he eventually joined his father within the intrenchments. Before the fight the two allies had sent their baggage away. Their fortress was called Alan-jai. The chief struggle took place at Choidan. The Naiman chief sacrificed by his priests to the spirits of the snowstorm, and invoked their aid, but the wind began to blow towards him. The Naimans could not fight but were hampered by the drifted snow. They were fallen upon by Chinghiz Khân. Chamukha on hearing what had happened, we are told, began to plunder the tribes who were allied with him."
(*) dhammasusumsâ susrusatâm dhammavutam cha anuvidhiyatâm"[.] etakâya devânampiyo piyadasi raja yaso va kiti va ichhati[.]
a Op. cit., p. 82. 93 Called Elerho by Douglas. Hyacinthe, pp. 21 and 22; Douglas pp. 29 and 30; Erdmann, note p. 120; De Mailla, vol. IX. pp. 25-27. 1 Jour. As. VII. Ser. t. XVI, p. 373f.
Prinsep, J. A. 8. B. vol. VII, p. 258; Wilson, p. 209f.; Burnouf, p. 658f; Kern, p. 86f.
3 These readings differ from those of Cunningham's plate. With Dr. Kern, read tadâtpane. Read "sususah; J. has sususam.
• Read kitim.
