Temudjin, fearing lest they might be in ambush, sent his half brother,
Belgutai, and Boörchu, with Chelmai to examine and discover. In three
days when these men were well satisfied that the Merkits had gone from
the mountain, Temudjin left his hiding place. He stood, struck his
breast and cried looking heavenward: “Thanks to the ears of a skunk,
and the eyes of an ermine in the head of old Hoakchin, I escaped
capture. Besides that Mount Burhan has saved me, and from this day I
will make offering to the mountain, and leave to my children and their
children this duty of sacrifice.” Then he turned toward the sun, put
his girdle on his back, took his cap in his hand, and striking his
breast bent his knees nine times in homage; he made next a libation of
tarasun, a liquor distilled out of mare’s milk.
After that Temudjin with Kassar and Belgutai went to Togrul on the Tula
and implored him, “O father and sovereign,” said Temudjin, “three clans
of Merkits fell on us suddenly, and stole my wife, Bortai. Is it not
possible to save her?”
“Last year,” said Togrul, “when the cloak of black sable was brought to
me, I promised to lead back thy people who deserted, and those who were
scattered. I remember this well, and because of my promise I will root
out the Merkits, I will rescue and return to thee Bortai. Inform Jamuka
that thy wife has been stolen. Two tumans [4] of warriors will go with
me, let Jamuka lead out the same number.”
Jamuka, chief of the Juriats at that time, was descended from a brother
of Kabul Khan, and was third cousin therefore to Temudjin. Temudjin
sent his brothers to Jamuka with this message: “The Merkits have stolen
my wife, thou and I have the same origin; can we not avenge this great
insult?” He sent Togrul’s statement also. “I have heard,” said Jamuka,
“that Temudjin’s wife has been stolen, I am grieved very greatly at his
trouble and will help him.” He told where the three clans were camping,
and promised to aid in bringing back Bortai.
“Tell Temudjin and Togrul,” said he, “that my army is ready. With me
are some people belonging to Temudjin; from them I will gather one
tuman of warriors and take the same number of my own folk with them, I
will go up to Butohan Borchi on the Onon where Togrul will meet me.”
They took back the answer to Temudjin, and went to Togrul with the
words from Jamuka.
Togrul set out with two tumans of warriors toward the Kerulon and met
Temudjin at the river Kimurha. One tuman of Togrul’s men was led by
Jaganbo, his brother. Jamuka waited three days at Butohan Borchi for
Togrul and Jaganbo; he was angry and full of reproaches when he met
them. “When conditions are made between allies,” said he, “though wind
and rain come to hinder, men should meet at the season appointed. The
time of our meeting was settled, a given word is the same as an oath,
if the word is not to be kept no ally should be invited.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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