Indian Antiquary Vol 10

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 27

JANUARY, 1881.]
CHINGHIZ KHAN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
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The three set out together for the appointed this misfortune on my people. It will return on trysting place Botokhan Boorchi at the source my head. To save my life I must hide in some of the Onon. When they arrived Chamukha dark and secret place." Whereupon he fled." had already been there three days, and he said
The Mongols captured Khaatai Darmala and angrily: "When we agree to a time of meeting,
put the cangue upon him, and then returned then whether it be wind or rain, one ought to to the mountain Burkhan. Meanwhile Belkeep one's appointment. With us Tartars, a
gutei searched for his mother, i.e. for Khoakhpromise is as good as an oath. If you don't chin. He entered the yurt she had been living mean to fulfil it, there is no need to ask for in by one door as she fled out of another. "I assistance." Taghrul confessed that he was
have heard," she said, "that my children have late, and told Chamukha to reproach him as been made princes, and I am here and have been much as he pleased. The united force of 40,000 given to a vile man, how am I to look them in men now set out, as Palladius quaintly says, the face ?" Whereupon she hid herself in a to rescue the Mongol Helen. They speedily thicket. Belgutei who was beside himself went reached the banks of the Kil-ho.41
about shouting-Restore me my mother. The Having crossed this river by a bridge made as Merkis who had taken part in the raid, 300 in already mentioned, they arrived at the place number, were all put to death. Of their widows Buura, where they seized the wives and people those who were worthy were remarried, while the of Tokhtoa. He would also have been taken, rest were made slaves of. The three allies now but was warned in time by some fishermen, who returned home by way of Talkhini Aral between had observed the crossing of the Kil-ho. With the Orkhon and the Selinga. Temujin and Dair Ussun and a few followers he fled down Chamukha went back to the latter's quarters the river Selanie, (i.e. the Selinga) to Barguchin. at Khorkhon-okhchibir, but Tughrul going As he pursued the fugitives down the Selinga, behind the mountain Burkhan passed the three Temujin shouted out the name of his wife Burtê. places Khokor-tu-chirbi, Khajurarta *Sibjit She happened to be there, and noting his voice and Khuli-ya-ta Sibjit.* dismounted from the kibitka, and with the old He occupied himself on the way with a great woman Khoakhchin ran up to his horse and seized hunt, and eventually reached his camp again its bridle. The moon was then shining, and they on the Tula. We are told that in their retreat recognised each other. The same night he the Udunt Merkit abandoned a five year old went to tell his friends what had bappened. boy named Kichu, who was left behind in The pursuit was stopped for a while, and they their camp. He was very handsome, and had encamped there. The fugitive Merkis also beautiful sparkling eyes, and was clothed in the
white fur of the river sable. On his head was It seems that Jiladu, from whom Yega sable cap and on his feet boots made from suge i had forcibly carried off his wife Khoilun, reindeer skin. The warriors presented him to was a brother of Tokhtoa. A third and Temujin's mother Khoilun." younger brother was Chilger, to whom when Of this long story Rashida'd-din has preserved the Merkis carried off Bartê they had married her. only a very short and distorted account. He He now reproached himself for this misfortune says tbe Merkis captured Temujin when he which had overtaken his people. “I," he said, was very young, and afterwards often plundered "am like the black raven who is fated to feed on his camp, and once carried off Burté Fujin, mere shreds of leather. A desire comes over and took her to Wang Khân, who on her me to taste the wild goose and the draova." husband's request restored her to him. It was Having offended against Burth I have brought when returning home again after this adven
stopped."
This river is so called in the map attached to De Mailla's History of China. It is otherwise known as the Khilok and Chilok. It falls into the Selinga jast below the town of Selenginsk. Pallas describes it e considerable river. The fords were not passable when he was there, and he had to make a detoar to get on his journey-Voyages, tomo IV, PP: 866 and 807 *Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, pp. 54 and 56. * A bird esteemed by the Mongols, but which the com.
** Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, pp. 55 and 56. * Probably Ordu.
I cannot find these places, unless the first is Ourm kouktui, marked in Timkofski's map as station between Urga and the Selinga. AP The ermine.
Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, p. 57. "Erdmann, Temudschin, p. 185.