The Nāṣirī Generations 248.2.8

248.2.8

The same writer continues to show into what a state of utter confusion this simple genealogy has been thrown by the writers themselves: “The Chinese writers for the first time make mention of the Tatar people in the eighth century of our era, under the name of Tata, and consider them as a branch of the Mongols. The general and historian, Meng Koung [Klaproth: Asia Polyglotta], who died in 1246, and who commanded a Chinese force sent to aid the Mongols against the Kin, informs us in his memoirs that a part of the Tatar horde, formerly dispersed or subdued by the Khitans [who, in the same work, are said to have occupied the country north of the Chinese provinces of Tschy Li and Ching Ching, watered by the Charamuin [Kara Muran?], or Liao Ho and its confluents], quitted the In Chan mountains, where they had taken refuge, and joined their countrymen who dwelt north-east of the Khitans. The white Tatars and the savage or black Tatars then formed the most important tribes of those regions.” Here undoubtedly the issuing forth of the descendants of Kaian and Naguz is referred to, which I shall presently mention.