The Nāṣirī Generations 257.6.p2

257.6.p2

After the overthrow and death of the Bigi, Tukta, the Chingiz Khan despatched two agents to the Kirghiz tribe, calling upon them to submit. The Badshah, as he is styled, Urus I-nal, by name, finding himself unable to offer any opposition, sent back with them an agent of his own with presents, including a rare bird — the Ak-Shunkar — probably a white eagle, or some bird of the same species, and made his submission. This event is said to have happened in 603 H., but, as it certainly happened after the overthrow of the Makrit chief, which, as already mentioned, some say took place in 604 H., the submission of the Kirghiz may have happened in that year also, for, in consequence of the Bigi, Tukta's finding shelter in that part, the Chingiz Khan called upon them to submit to his yoke.
The next accession of strength gained by the Mughal sovereign was the homage, in 605 H., but some say in 604 H., of Baurchik — a ruler of other tribes of I-ghurs, which belong to the Mughal although they are neither Kaiats, Naguz, nor Dural-gins. They consisted of over one hundred and twenty different septs, and were descended in a direct line from Mughal Khan, brother of Tattar Khan, which former was grandfather of Aghuz Khan; and the I-ghurs were the first to join him against Kara Khan, his father, as already related. In religion, the I-ghurs were Lamaists, and, in times previous to those here referred to, the Baghighs, or Chiefs of the Un I-ghurs, used to be styled Il-Iltar, and those of the Tuguz I-ghurs, Kol-Irkin, or Il-Irkin, were caused to be ratified. He said: If you will be obe-and, in after-times, when about a century of their sovereignty had passed, those titles fell into disuse, and the title given to their ruler was Yiddi-Kut——which, as regards the first word, in some MSS. is written in such a manner that the two points of the first letter i—y—are run into one, and made to appear as b—which alters it altogether. The proper mode of writing it is evidently the above, with the d doubled, which I have taken from a work written by an Uzbak Mughal. In writing words of this kind beginning with i an alif—1—is sometimes substituted, thus Abu-l-Ghazi, Bahadur Khan, writes it—Idi. It signifies “the Lord of Sovereignty,” but some writers say, “the Reigning Prince,” and his territory lay in Turkistan. At the time in question, he was a tributary to the Gur Khan [The “Aydy Cut,” of “Balasaghun,” as Surgeon-Major Bellew styles him at p. 140 of the Kashghar Mission History, had nothing whatever to do with Bilasa-ghun: that was the Gur Khan’s capital. The Yiddi-Kut’s chief town was Bish-Baligh], whose shahnah or Intendant, named Shau-kam, dwelt at his court. Having occasion to complain to this Intendant about his illegal and oppressive acts towards the I-ghur people, and receiving naught but insolence and threats in return, the Yiddi-Kut, having heard the noise of the Chingiz Khan’s invincibility, and being himself, with his tribe, descended from the same I-mak, slew the Intendant of the Gur Khan at Kara Khwajah,—a place still well known in I-ghuristan—and flung the body into the Kham Muran, saying, at the same time, that no one was safe who was the enemy of the Chingiz Khan, and he determined to despatch an agent to him. The latter, who was, by no means, friendly inclined towards the Gur Khan for giving shelter to Koshluk, the Naeman chief, on hearing what had happened, despatched an agent named Durbae, with a friendly message to the Yiddi-Kut, and invited him to come to him, for the I-ghur ruler is said to have previously informed the Chingiz Khan that he had driven Koshluk, and the Bigi, Tukta’s brother and sons out of his territory. A few writers say the I-ghur was the first to negotiate. Be this as it may, according to the majority of the most trustworthy historians, the Yiddi-Kut, dreading the resentment of the Gur Khan, was well pleased to seek the protection of the Mughals. He accordingly set out from the I-ghur territory bearing rich presents—for he was a very wealthy prince—consisting of gold, silken garments, cattle, and horses, among which were 1000 of high breed, and slaves both male and female. This was in 605 H. [A.D. 1208-9]. When these negotiations began, the Chingiz Khan was in the territory of Tingkut, whither he had gone, in that same year, to chastise the ruler of that country, Shidarhu, who, with some other chiefs, had revolted, and among whom was the Khan of Kirkiz whose country was utterly ruined. The Mughals then appeared before the city of Irihi [Polo’s Egrigaia?, but, in a work written by an Uzbak, it is Arkey], the ruler of Tinkut, thereupon made his submission, and is said to have sent his daughter to be espoused by the Chingiz Khan. These events took place in 606 H.
On his way back the Yiddi-Kut reached his presence with befitting offerings. He was well received by the Chingiz Khan, and a liberal appanage was assigned him. He solicited that he might be considered as the Great Khan’s fifth son, being himself the son of a Khan. This was consented to, and one of the Chingiz Khan’s daughters was given him to wife, and he became his fifth son—his son-in-law. dient to my mandates, it behoveth that, if I should command the sons to slay the fathers, you should all obey,” and they entered into a solemn promise accordingly; and the first command he gave was that they should slay the sons of the great Amir Baisu, who had been the associate [in the chieftainship] with the Chingiz Khan's father.
He [the Chingiz Khan] brought the whole of the tribes under his own sway and set about making preparations for hostilities, and employed himself in getting ready war material and arms. As the numbers of the Mughals had largely increased and become very great, and an account of this determination of the Chingiz Khan had reached the hearing of the Altun Khan, he nominated [a force of] 300,000 horse in order to guard the route against the Mughals, and hold the pass [leading out of the tract then occupied by them].
The Chingiz Khan despatched a Musalman, named Ja'far, who was among that people [the Mughals], among the forces of the Altun Khan under semblance of traffic; and the Altun Khan commanded that he should be imprisoned; and he detained him for a considerable time. The prisoner [in question], by some good contrivance that became practicable, fled from that confinement; and, by a secret route, made for the presence of the Chingiz Khan, and related the matter to him, and informed him respecting the road by which he had come. The Chingiz Khan determined upon the design of rebelling, got his forces ready, and first directed so that the whole of the Mughal families assembled together at the base of a mountain. He enjoined that all the men should be separated from the women, and the children from their mothers: and, for three whole days and nights, all of them remained bare-headed; and for three days no one tasted food, and no animal was allowed to give milk to its young. The Chingiz Khan himself entered a khargah [a felt tent], and placed a tent-rope about his neck, and came not forth from it for three nights and days; and, during this period, the whole of the people [there assembled] were crying out, Tingri! Tingri! After three days, at dawn, on the fourth day, the Chingiz Khan issued from the tent, and exclaimed, “Tingri hath given me victory. Now we will get ready that we may wreak our vengeance upon the Altun Khan!” For the space of another three days, in that same place likewise, a feast was held. At the end of those three days, he led forth his troops; and, following the route by which that fugitive, Ja’far, had come through the mountains, they issued forth, and assailed the country of Tamghaj, carried their inroads into it, and put the people to the sword.