“Oh,” said Temudjin, “thou and I will not mention either taking or
giving; we two are brothers and allies, not traffickers or traders. Men
in the old time have said that one heart and one soul cannot be in two
bodies, but this is just what in our case I shall show to all people as
existing. I desire nothing of thee and thy people, but friendship. I
wish to extend my dominion and only ask faithful help from my sister’s
husband and his tribesmen.” The marriage took place and Podu was his
ally.
Soon after this first group of Juriats had joined Temudjin, some more
of their people discussed at a meeting as follows: “The Taidjuts
torment us unreasonably, they give us nothing whatever, while Temudjin
takes the coat from his back and presents it. He comes down from the
horse which he has mounted and gives that same horse to the needy. He
is a genuine leader, he is to all as a father. His is the best governed
country.” This fraction also joined Temudjin.
Another marriage to be mentioned was that of Temudjin’s mother to
Munlik, son of Charáha, and father of the seven brothers—the great
fighters. All these accessions of power, and his victory so
strengthened Temudjin and rejoiced him that he made for his mother and
step-mothers and kinsfolk, with all the new people, a feast near the
river Onon, in a forest. At this feast feminine jealousy touching
position, and the stealing of a bridle, brought about a dispute and an
outbreak. In spite of Temudjin’s power and authority an encounter took
place at the feast which caused one chief, Sidje Bijhi of the Barins,
to withdraw with his party. He withdrew not from the feast alone, but
from his alliance with Temudjin.
The quarrel began in this way: Temudjin sent a jar of mare’s milk first
of all to his mother, to Kassar and to Sachai Baiki. Thereupon Holichin
and Hurchin, his two step-mothers grew angry. “Why not give milk to us
before those people, why not give milk to us at the same time with
Temudjin’s mother?” asked they as they struck Shikiur who was master of
provisions. This striking brought on a disturbance. Thereupon Temudjin
commanded his half brother, Belgutai, to mount his horse and keep order
and take Buri Buga on the part of the Churkis to help him. A man of the
Hadjin clan and connected with the Churkis stole a bridle and was
discovered by Belgutai who stopped him. Buri Buga, feeling bound to
defend this man, cut through Belgutai’s shoulder piece, wounding him
badly.
Belgutai made no complaint when his blood flowed. Temudjin, who was
under a tree looking on, noted everything. “Why suffer such treatment?”
inquired he of Belgutai. “I am wounded,” said Belgutai, “but the wound
is not serious; cousins should not quarrel because of me.” Temudjin
broke a branch from the tree, seized a milk paddle, sprang himself at
the Churkis and beat them; then seizing his step-mothers he brought
them back to their places, and to reason.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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