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JUNE, 1885.]
CHINGHIZ KHAN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
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people, killed them all one after another, with- days, only those escaping who found refuge out anyone attempting to defend himself. under ground. The town was then burnt."
From Meragha the Mongols set off again to The Mongols now returned northwards, sacked wards Irbil, but the defiles on the route, which Irbil, made a third visit to the neighbourhood of do not permit two horsemen to ride abreast Tebriz, whence Uzbeg had fled to Nakhchavan, induced them to turn aside towards Irak Arab, while the commander he left behind showed which was part of the dominions of the Khalifa. such a bold front, that they withdrew again on He demanded help from Muzaffaru'd-din Kuk- the payment of black mail. They then cap. beri, prince of Irbil, Badru'd-din Lu-lu, prince of tured Sarab, where everybody was slaughtered. Mogul, and the Malik Ashraf, prince of Mesopo. De la Croix says they first took Selmas and Khoi tamia. Ashraf excused himself on the ground in the extreme west of Azerbaijan, and then that he was assisting Kamil, the ruler of Egypt, entering Arran they apparently levied a conagainst the Crusaders, who had taken Damietta, tribution on Nakhchuvan" and approached and he at once set out hastily for Egypt. Barlekan. There a Mongol officer sent into the The other two princes collected their troops town at the request of the citizens to make an and marched them towards Dakaka. Muzaffar- arrangement was murdered. They thereupon u'd-din commanded the army, and was joined at pressed the siege. There being no stones about Dakuka by 800 men supplied by the Khalifa. they pulled down great plane trees, and threw He naturally complained of this miserable con- their trunks with their catapults. They stormed tingent, but offered, if supplied with 10,000 the place and destroyed its population with men, to clear Persia of the invaders.
every cruelty ; tore children from the womb, The Mongols were apparently misled as and having ravished the women, killed them." to his real strength, and deeming it prudent They then approached Ganja, or Kantzag, the not to attack him, once more approached capital of Arran. Ibn-al-Athir says distinctly Hamadan, where they demanded a fresh that afraid of the prowess of its citizens, who contribution through the commissary or were experienced warriors, from their constant baskak they had left there. The principal struggles with the Georgians, the Mongols did citizens repaired to the Rais of the town, who not attack the town, but contented themselves had negociated the former pact with the with levying a contribution of money and Mongols, complained of this new exaction, and stuffs." De la Croix says they entered the town accused him of pusillanimity. He warned peaceably and Erdmann that they destroyed them that being weak they had no resource it." save to buy safety. They retorted that he was Having conquered one portion of the harder towards them than the infidels, &c. At Musalmans of Azerbaijan and Arran, and made length, goaded by their reproaches, he said he peace with the rest, the Mongols now turned was ready to do their bidding. They thereupon once more upon Georgia," whose king, George killed the Mongol Commissary; but a speedy IV. Lasha, had recently died, probably, as Saintvengeance soon overtook them. The town was Martin concludes, in 1221, and been succeeded beleaguered. During the first two days the by his sister Rusudan. What followed is not citizens made brave sorties, led by the Fakih. quite clear. From one account it would appear When he was so weary that he could not mount that the Georgians, having marched to meet the his horse they went to ask the Rais to lead invaders, Chepe planted himself with 5,000 them on, but he was faint-hearted and had with men in ambush, while Subutai advanced against drawn himself and his family by a subterranean the enemy with the main army. At a given passage. This disconcerted them, and they signal he retired with his men and drew on ceased making sorties. The Mongols, who had the unsuspecting Georgians, who were meansuffered severely and were about to withdraw, | while attacked from behind by Chepe's division. made another effort, stormed the town and com- Thirty thousand Georgians !!! are said to have mitted a terrible slaughter, which lasted several perished. Ibn-al-Athir adds that the Tartars
6 D'Ohanon, Vol. I. pp. 328-9. 10 D'Ohason, pp. 330 and 383. ** D'Ohsson, Vol. I. pp. 333-4.
" De la Croix, p. 329.
1
13 Jour. Asint. 4th Ser., Vol. XIV. p. 450. " De La Croix, p. 329; Erdmann, Temudechin, p. 406. 15 Jour. Asiat. 4th Ser., Vol. XIV. p. 452.
