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MARCH, 1887.1
CHINGHIZ KHAN AND HIS ANCESTORS.
500 wives and concubines. The latter were he had always been pleased with her, but that either captives or Mongol damsels, for accord. in a dream God had commanded him to make ing to the custom then in vogue the fairest her over to another. He begged that she damsels were specially sifted out for the Khan's would not oppose him and at the same time he service. All those belonging to a company asked in a loud voice who was outside the tent. were inspected by its captain, who selected the The Noyan Kehti, was on guard that night. most beautiful and presented them to his mille- He made himself known. Chinghiz having narian, he did the same and presented his ordered him to enter told him he gave him choice to the commander of a tuman, and they that lady in marriage, and as Kehti remained in turn presented their choice to the Khakan. dumb with surprise he urged that he spoke Those maidens not required by the Khân en quite seriously; then turning to the princess he tered the service of his wives or were made gave her the ordu she lived in, with the serover to his relatives. This is confirmed by vants, farniture, horses and cattle depending on Carpini, who says that if the Khân demanded it, keeping only for himself an officer of the anyone's daughter or sister she was at once table (Munjenk), and a gold cup which he kept surrendered to him, and that he brought to- as souvenirs of her. Abika thus became the wife gether every year, or every two or three years, of Kehti Noyan of the Mongol tribe Urut, who the damsels in his country to select those who commanded four thousand men of the left wing." pleased him, making the rest over to those of This incident is very curious from the fact that his court.
Abika's two sisters became so famous as the Among Chinghiz Khân's wives five held wives of Chinghiz Khan's two sons Juchi and Baperior rank, namely, Burteh, who bore the Tului. One was named Bigtutemish and the Chinese title of Fujin, and was the daughter of other Siyurkukteni. the chief of the Konguruts, Dai Setzen ; Khu- By his wives Chinghiz Khân had several lan, a daughter of Dair Ussun, Chief of the children. Of these the most important were Merkits; Jissu and Jissuken, or as Rashidu'd. those of his chief wife Burteh, vis., four sons din calls them, Yisukate and Yisalan, who were and five daughters. These song were (i), Juchi, both Tatars"; and Kökju or Kunju, daughter whose birth under ambiguous circumstances, as of the Kin emperor of China. This last had we have seen, apparently threw doubts on his no children, and survived till the time when legitimacy and deprived him of his birthright; Arikbuka, Chinghiz Khân's grandson flourished. (ii), Chagatai or Jagatai; (iii), Ogotai and Among his other partners were also Abika, (iv), Tului. His daughters were (i), Kujin or daughter of Jakembo, brother of Wang, Khân of Khojin Bigi, who was first engagéd to Kush the Kirais; Gurbyessu, the mother of Tayang Buka, the son of Sengon, eldest son of Wang Khan of the Naimans, called his widow in Khan of the Kirais, which engagement fell some accounts; according to Von Hammer's through. The Yuan-shei-lei-pien says she married table, Hogutai, daughter of Eremuk; Murkai, Batu or Poda Garkan, chief of the Inkirasses, of the Bekrin tribe; and lastly the daughter who, according to the same author and also the of the ruler of Tangut, who is called Kur- Kang-mu" had previously married a sister of beljin Goa by Ssanang Setzen. The rest Chinghiz Khân named Temulun. Rashidu'd-din were daughters of officers or of tribal chiefs." has two accounts of her, inconsistent with each
I have mentioned in chapter XV. the divorce other. In one he makes her marry Batu of Abika, called Abakh also in the Yuan-chao. Gurkhan of the Inkirasses. In the other pi-shi." Rashidu'd-din, referring to this, tells he makes her marry Bertu Gurkan, son as that one night when he was reposing with of Tekus Gurkhan of the Kurulas." (ü) his Kirai wife, Abika, his sleep was disturbed by Jijeghan, who married Taralji Gurkan, son of a terrible dream On awaking he told her that Kutuka Bigi chief of the Uirads. (iii), Alakai
25 D'Ohson, . p. 416-417.
» Saanang Setzen says they wero daughters of Yeke Teoro. : 31 Called Amka by Raverty.
* Raahidu'd-din, quoted by D'Ohsson, Vol. I. pp. 418.419. * Called Amka by Raverty.
40 Rashidu'd-din, article on the Uruta; D'Ohason, Vol. I. pp. 418.419; Erdmann, Temudachin, p. 221.
See Gaubil, pp. 3 and 63 ; De Mailla, Vol. IX. p. 14. * Borejine, 1352, Erdmann, Tomudechin, 201. " Borojine, pp. 1.155.
