The Nāṣirī Generations 273.3

273.3

All, with one accord, now addressed Uktae, saying: “In accordance with the will of the Chingiz Khan it behoveth thee to take thy seat on the throne of sovereignty;” but Uktae made excuses, saying: “There are others older than I am, my uncles and my brother Chaghatae: let one of them be raised to the throne; moreover, my younger brother Tuli is more worthy than I am, and, according to the customs and usages of the Mughals, youngest son of the greatest of the Khatuns, and who is in possession of the Yurat and place of abode, should succeed the father.” For forty days was this feasting continued, during which discussion went on, and daily did Uktae continue to make excuses; but, on the forty-first day, all the Princes and Nu-yins came before him and said: “This sovereignty was assigned to thee from among the rest of the brothers and sons of the Chingiz Khan: how then is it possible to contravene it?” Then the whole of the assembly, according to ancient [Turkish] custom, having taken goblets, removed their caps, unloosed their girdles, and thrown them over their shoulders, Chaghatae, as the elder brother, seized the right hand of Uktae, and Tuli his left, while his uncle, U-Tigin, seized him round the waist, and, with the approval of the Astrologers and Diviners, seated him on the throne, and hailed him by the title of Ka’an—