Indian Antiquary Vol 12

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 51

FEBRUARY, 1833.
CHINGHIZ KHÅN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
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Munlik understood the words, and shedding that by this contrivance the evil consequences tears said "Khân, I helped you before you are escaped that might ensue, were it carried began to rise, and have remained faithful to this through the ordinary, and, so to say, andisguised day." While he was speaking his other six sons house door!" Again, speaking of China, blocked up the doorway, and gathering them- Mr. Williamson says, “It may interest the selves about the hearth began to roll their sleeves. reader to know that a small square opening
It was now the turn of Chingbiz to be afraid, on the tomb is purposely left for the more and he .rose and said "I will go out." convenient ingress and egress of the spirit." He accordingly went out, and was immediately In regard to the end of the Shaman surrounded by a Sanban of his archers.
Kokochi, or Kukju, Rashida'd-dîn tells us that Seeing that Teb-tengri was already dead he became very tiresome, and used to come into Chinghiz ordered a tent to be erected over his the Imperial Orda, and make boastful and body. He then rose and went away. The door noisy harangues. Chinghiz thereupon ordered and smoke-hole of this tent were closed. On his brother Juchi Khazar to kill him when he the third day at dawn the smoke hole opened by came again boasting into the camp. Khazar itself, and the corpse passed out through it. was very strong, and when he gripped a man Chinghiz thercupon remarked, "Teb-tengri beat round the waist he could break his back like my brothers, and wrongfully slandered them, breaking a stick. He gave him two or three on this account heaven has not favoured him, kicks and then killed him. His father remained but has taken away both his body and his life.” sitting and picked up his cap, not knowing at
Then addressiug Munlik he said "You were first that anything was meant. On discovering not able to control your sons properly. He the truth he still remained quiet." Erdmann wished to be my equal, for this reason I have says the same notice, but in a more epitomized destroyed him. If I had known these qualities form, is found in the Jihán Kushai. Mirkhaof yours before, I should long ago have vend says, that as Kukju had secured a number destroyed you as I did Jamukhu, Altan and of followers he began to dispute with Khazar Khuchar. But if, having pledged my word in about affairs of state, whereapon he grew the morning I break it at night, or having angry, caught him by the neck, and threw pledged it at night I break it in the morning, him down so violently that he killed him." I shall be aslamed of men's judgment upon Rashidu'd-din says that three of his brothers me. I have already undertaken to absolve you became great Amirs, and commanders of hafrom the penalty of death." Thereapon the zarehs, namely, Tulun Jerbi and Sugtu Jerbi, anger of Chinghiz cooled down, and we are who were attached to the right wing, and told the self-sufficiency of Munlik and his sons Sutun," who was attached to the left. diminished greatly."
Thestories reported of Kukochi the Shaman in The curious reference to the disappearance the Yuan-ch'ao-pi-shi remind us that the religion of the Shaman through the smoke-hole of of the Mongols at this time was Shamanism, the yurt may be illustrated from other sources. that form of nature worship which is so widely Thus Colonel Yule, quoting the Rev. Mr. spread throughout Northern Asia, which seems Jaeschke, says, -"Our Lamao tells us that to have been the primitive faith out of which the the owner of a house and the members of various Asiatic religions of a more philosophical his family when they die are carried through and rational character have developed by way the house-door; but if another person dies in of reform, and to have been further the backthe house his body is removed by some other ground of much of the early religion of China, aperture, such as the window, or the smoke- of Egypt, and of the West. It will be a convenient hole in the roof, or a hole in the wall dug place to collect here such notices as we can expressly for the purpose. Or a wooden frame find about the Shamanism of the Mongols. The is made, fitting into the door-way, and the body greater portion of the race is now and has long is then carried through; it being considered | been converted to Lamaism, the form of Bud10 Op. cit., pp. 137 and 138.
* Erdmann, p. 204. 10 From Central Tibet.
* Id. - Yule's Marco Polo, vol. I, p. 211. * Journeys in North China, vol. I, p. 322
» Erdmann, pp. 204 and 205.