The Nāṣirī Generations 257.5.8

257.5.8

The ruler of Tingkut, Shidarku, also called Shidasku, now began to manifest hostility again, upon which the Chingiz Khan, being then near to that country, determined to invade it. He entered it with a portion of his immense forces in 603 H. [A.D. 1206-7]. The capital named Kashin—the Akashin of Abu-l-Ghazi, Bahadur Khan—which formerly, it is said, gave name submit to his command; and, in conformity with the usual customs in force among that people, these important matters indicated, and sent an agent of their own to the Yiddi-Kut, whose capital was Bish-Baligh, and asked for shelter. He slew the agent, and cast his body into the Kham — in some MSS. the point has been left out altogether, and in others put under instead of over — whence it has been incorrectly styled the Jam Muran. This river is said to rise in the hills crossing the Gobi or Shamo desert, to run S.S.W., and to fall into the Hoang-ho — the Kara Muran — on the borders of Tibbat, and I believe, from the context, that this is correct. I shall refer to it again farther on. This desert of sand has destroyed many landmarks, and overwhelmed many cities, hence writers are led to look farther north, east, and west for places, and to make rash guesses respecting them, while they lie buried under the sands of the Gobi. The explorations of the Russian Colonel, Prejevalsky, throw considerable light on the parts about Lob Nawar, and the mountains to the south.