Indian Antiquary Vol 10

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 26

16
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1881.
wife Bartê to her resources. We are told the old woman Khoakhchin put her into a black kibitka” and putting a brindled cow in the shafts drove it along the river Tunggeli. They met a party of horsemen, whom the old woman tried to pat off the scent, and pretended she knew nothing of Temujin's whereabouts, as she had been away shearing sheep. They rode off, but presently the axle of the kibitka broke. The horsemen again came up. They seized the old woman, and inquired who was inside the cart. She replied that it was loaded with wool, but they quickly dismounted and searched it, and on finding Burtê, put her and the old woman on two horses, and rode off with them. They then set off in search of Temujin himself, following his horse's traoks. They rode three times round the mountain Barkhan, but could not penetrate into its recesses on account of the woods and bogs on its flanks.
The horsemen were in reality Merki's, led by Tokhtoa from the tribe Udaut, Dair Usun from the tribe Yuvas, and Kha-a-tai Darmala from the tribe Khaat, and had gone, we are told, expressly to revenge themselves for the rape of Khoilun.
Meanwhile Temujin hid away in the mountain, and sent Belgutei, Boghorohi and Chelmi to explore, and when they reported all safo be came out from his retreat. He declared that the mountain Burkhan had saved his life, and promised that in future he and his descendants would sacrifice to it, then turning to the sun, putting his scarf about his neck, and holding his cap on his hand, he struck his breast nine times, and nine times bowed his knee, and poured out an offering of lumis. After this Temujin with Khazar and Belgutei went off to the black forest on the river Tula to see Wang Khan and to ask his assistance. The latter promised that he would destroy the Merkis and restore his wife. He told him to go and inform Chamukha, and promised to supply two tumans, i.e. 20,000 to form the right wing of the army, while Chamukha would furnish another two tumans for the left wing. The latter according to the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi was the chief of the tribe Jajirat or Juriat, and was reported to have been descended from Budantsar by a concubine
who was pregnant when he married her. She belonged, we are told, to the tribe Jarjiun Adankhan Uriankhajin. Her son was named Jajiratai, who had a son named Tagu-udai, who had a son Buri Bulchiru, he a son Kara Kadan, and he a son Chamukha. Rashidu'd-din on the other hand makes the Juriat descend from Durbayan, the 7th son of Tameneh Khan." Chamukha afterwards became one of Temujin's most bitter enenties. We are told in the Yuanch'ao-pi-shi that he lived at Khorkhon Akhabur, which was probably somewhere in the valley of the Onon. The first name, I believe, is preserved in that of one of the tribataries of the Onon figured in the map in Pallas's atlas, and there called Kirkoun.
On his return home Temujin sent Khazar and Belgutei to Chamukha to tell him what had taken place and also to take him Tughrul's message. He said he had heard of the event, and consented to go, saying they would cross the river Kil-ho on a bridge made out of a plant called the pig's bristle, which they would plait together, and thus approach the quarters of Tokhtu, fall upon his yurt through the upper opening and defeat his people. "Tell Tugbrul and Temujin that I have already equipped my army, let the former pass along the front of the mountain Burkhan, and meet me in the place called Botokhan Boorchi (doubtless somewhere on the upper Onon). I have here some people belonging to Temujin. From them I will collecta taman of warriors, and will also take a tuman of my own, and with these two we will go up the river Onon to the place Botokhan Boorchi, where we will unite."
After this he began to move. Belgutei and Khazar now returned and renorted the reenlt of their mission to Temujin and the chief of the Kirais. The latter thereupon ordered two tumans of his people to unite and to march over the shoulder of the mountain Barkhan Khalduna towards the river Kerulon, and Temujin's old camping ground at Birga. The latter with his warriors mounted the Tunggelik to the mountain Burkhan, and to where the small river Tana (?) flows. He joined Taghrul and Tughrul's brother Jakhaganboon the banks of the Kimurka in the place Ailkharakhona (?).
31 i.e. a cart with a tent fastened upon it like the Nogais still use.
3 Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, pp. 49-51. * Erdmann, Temudschin, p. 224.
10 The Kimurka or Tsimurka, according to & note by Palladius, is a tributary of the Onon. I cannot find it how ever on my mape.