Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 10
Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

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Page 380
________________ 334 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [NOVEMBER, 1881. Jejeer-undur, he surrounded Wang Khân and his people, and a battle ensued which lasted three days, on the third day, the Kirais being completely overcome, submitted. Wang Khan and his son fled: One of the Kirais who had fought in the battle said to Chinghiz "It would have been wrong for me to have let you take and kill my rightful Lord, therefore I have fought you for three days so as to give him a better chance of escaping. If you now order me to be executed, I shall no doubt die, but if you spare me, I will serve you faithfully." Chinghiz replied," he who did not wish to desert his lord but fought against me to give him time to escape is a brave fellow. Be my companion." Chinghiz thereupon made him a commander of a hundred men, and gave him to the widow of Khuildar as her slave and dependent. Khuildar, it will be remembered, had been the first volunteer to fight, and had thus earned for himself and his descendants the right to ask for the rewards due to the widows and children. Chinghiz Khan now proceeded to divide the Kirais among his allies. To Takhai-baatur of the tribe Sulduda (P Suldus) who had given him assistance, he gave one hundred tents of the Jirgin tribe. Wang Khân's brother Jakhaganbu, (Jakembo as' Rashid calls him), of whom we have previously spoken, had two daughters, the elder one, Ibakha, Chingħiz had married himself, while the younger one, called Sorkhakhtan, had married Tului (i.e. his son Tului), whence he would not permit Jakhaganbu's people to be distributed. Bada and Kishlikh, the two herdsmen who had first warned him of Wang Khan's hostile intentions, were given the latter's golden tent and its contents together with the people who had charge of his golden vessels. He also made over to them the family of Bankhojin of the race of Kirai to form a bodyguard, granted them the privilege of wearing their bows and arrows during the feasts, and ordered that at such feasts they were each to have a flagon of his own. He also gave them the right to retain the booty they should capture in battle and the wild animals they should secure in the hunt without sharing them with others. He extolled them saying they had saved his life, and that now he had annihilated the Kirais he had secured the throne of the Mongols. “Let my descendants notice the rewards due to such services." During the winter following his victory, Chinghiz remained in the district of Abujia kodiger. The Yuan-shi adds, little to this account of the great disaster that overtook Wang Khån and his people. It makes out, however, that Chinghiz Khan won two victories. The first one led to Wang Khân being deserted by Altan, Khuchar and Chamukha, who having tried to kill him and failing fled to the Naimans. It calls the place where the battle was fought Chechent u-ul. The Yuan-shilei-pen, says the battle took place in the district between the Tula and the Kerulon, Rashidu'ddîn calls the place Checher (or Chechem) Undir;' Undir means height, and these heights of Chechir were probably on the eastern borders of the Gobi. They have been already mentioned in the account of Chinghiz Khân's earlier adventures. He also mentions that the defeat was preceded by a conspiracy among some of Wang Khan's allies. In this Daritai Utjigen, Chinghiz Khan's uncle, Altan Jiun, Khajir or Khuchar Biki, Chamukha, Khur Barin, Suekei or Suwagi, Toghril of the race Tuken Tudul (written Nugteh Burl by Erdmann), Tugai Khaguri the Mangkut, and Khutu Timur a Tartar prince. They agreed to fall upon Wang Khân in the night, and then to become independent leaders, obeying neither Wang Khân nor Chinghiz. Having heard of their plans Wang Khân fell upon them, took much of their wealth from them, and scattered them, whereupon Daritai Utjigen, Khum Barino and the Sakhiat, a tribe of the Kirais, joined Chinghiz Khan, while Altan, Khujir and Khutu Timur went to Tayang, the chief of the Naimang. At this time Wang Khân was encamped at Kit-Khulukhat-alat.' The Huang-Yuan, as is frequently the case, is here almost verbatim in accord with Rashidu'd-dîn. It mentions the conspiracy just named, and calls the conspirators Dalitai Ojin, Andan, Jiun, Khochar-begi Chamukha, Balin, Sogitai, Tolinkai Takhai, Khulakhai and i Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi, pp. 97-99. Hyacinthe, p. 39; Douglas, p. 40; see also De Mailla, IX, pp. 33 and 34. - Hyacinthe, p. 30. Gaubil, p. 10. * Berezine, vol. II, p. 145; Erdmann, p. 307. • Erdmann and D'Obraon both make this a tribal name and read it a section of the Nirons. * Written Cait Culgat-alt by D'Obsson ; Berezine, vol. II, pp. 143 and 143; Erdmann, p. 295; D'Ohason, vol. I, pp. 79 and 80.

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