Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 15
Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 164
________________ 134 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [MAY, 1886. southern capital of the Kin Tartars, and sent Tang-king to summon it to surrender, but they had to raise the siege." Chinghiz soon reopened his campaign against Hia, and having left a division to besiege Ninghis he crossed the Yellow Kiver in February, 1227, and captured Tsi-shi-chan or He-chichan," and sacked Lin-tao-fu." Then going to the north-west he ruined Chasho, es called Towcho by Douglas, who says it was in the modern Taou-chan-ting. He then captured Si-ning. De Mailla says these successes were secured by Hiuese, the prince of Liau-tung, who was sent across the river with an army by Chinghiz. Gaubil says one division at this time secured the country of Kuku-nor, Kuachan, and Sha-chau." Meanwhile another army under Chinghiz Khân's brother Ochigin, occa- pied Sin-tu-fu in the province of Chih-li." After capturing Si-ning Chinghiz advanced upon Lung-ti," situated to the west of Pialiang-fa in Kan-suh, and captured Te-shunchau,'' and other towns." He now sent an envoy named Shang-tsin to the Sung court at Nanking, and prepared to pass the summerheats in the mountains of Liu-pan. A kind of presentiment, we are told, seized him that he was about to die, and summoning his officers he said to them, "My time has come. Last winter, when the five planets appeared together in one quarter was it not to warn me that an end should be made of slaughter? And I neglected to take notice of the admomonition. Now let it be proclaimed abroad where our banners wave, that it is my earnest desire that henceforth the lives of our enemies shall not be unnecessarily sacrificed." This is referred to at greater length by the Muhammadan writers, such as the author of the Jahan Kashf, by Rashidu'd-din, etc. We are told that while he was encamped at Ongu-talan-kuduk," a dream foretold to Chinghiz his coming end. He summoned, according to D'Ohsson, his two sons, Ogotai and Tului, who were encamped 5 or 6 miles away," together with his generals and grandees. Abulfaraj says that he summoned Chagatai Baith, Ogotai, Tului, Kulkan, Shargatai, and Arushar." Turning to the last of these," he said that he wished to speak privately and confidentially with his sons and grandsons, and begged the rest to withdraw. He then addressed them saying, "Beloved children, the strength of my youth has given place to the feebleness of old age, and the firm step of the boy has been followed by the tottering of the old man. The last journey, whose command is so exacting, the summons of death, is at my door. By the power of God and the aid of heaven I have conquered this vast and far-reaching realm, which is a year's journey from its centre to its circumference, for you, my dear children, and have also duly ordered it. My last unconditioned will is that in fighting with your enemies and in exalting your friends you will be of one mind and one purpose, thus securing for yourselves a long and happy life, and also enjoyment and profit from the kingdom. If you hang together you will be able to administer the government thoroughly, and will be in a position to fight your foes, to overwhelm your antagonists, and to live in peace. If, on the other hand, you become stubborn and disagree, you will tear the mantle of the state asunder and it will perish." When he had thus expressed his will he went on to say, “Which of you must I name my successor P" His sons thereupon went down on their knees unanimously before him and said: "Our illustrious father is master and we are his servants, we are entirely in his hands." According to the older Muhammadan authorities, followed by D'Ohsson, he then nominated Ogotai as his successor, and expressed a hope that Chagatai, who was not according to them present, would not raise any questions about this." Mirkhavand 60 Gaubil, p. 49; Douglas, p. 102. 01 Tai-shi, west of the modern Ho-chau. 12 In the modern Teih-tan-chnu. 03 Gaubil calls it Ho-chat, and says it was 14 or 15 leagues north-west of Lin-tao-fu. Lin-tao-fu is in the modern Teih-taon-chau. ** In the modern Ko-chan. • Op. cit. Vol. IX. p. 125. Op. cit. p. 50. 67 Hyacinthe, p. 136 ; Douglas, p. 102. 6 The Lungter of Douglas. The Ter-sun of Douglas. TO D'Ohason, Vol. I. p. 374. Douglas, p. 103. 11 i. e. Springs of the steppe of the Ongu, by which the mountains running north of Shen-si giving their name to the white Tåtars are doubtless meant. D'Ohsson, Vol. I. p. 379. 13 Erdmann says his three sons, Chagatai, Ogotai and Tului, and his grandsons the children of Juchi. " Chr. Syr. p. 498. 75 Raverty calls him Baibuku Aka, the son of Juchi Khazar. 16 Erdmann, p. 441. " D'Ohsson, Vol. I. pp. 379 and 380.

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446