Kabul Khan’s second son, Bartan, was father of Yessugai, Temudjin’s
supposed father. Kabul’s grandson, child of his third son Munlair, was
Buri Buga the comrade of the grandsons of Okin Barka. Buri Buga had
given his adhesion to the Khan much earlier than others, but he
remained independent in feeling, hence Temudjin did not trust him.
Though no man among Mongols could equal Buri Buga in strength or in
wrestling he did not escape a cruel death. Sometime after the reduction
of the Churkis Temudjin commanded Belgutai and Buri Buga to wrestle in
his presence. Whenever Belgutai wrestled with Buri Buga the latter was
able with one leg and one hand to hold him as still as if lifeless.
This time Buri Buga, who feigned to be beaten, fell with his face to
the earth under Belgutai, who having him down turned toward Temudjin
for direction. Temudjin bit his lower lip; Belgutai knew what this sign
meant, and putting his knee to the spine of Buri Buga seized his neck
with both hands, and broke the backbone of his opponent.
“I could not lose in this struggle,” said the dying Buri Buga, “but,
fearing the Khan, I feigned defeat, and then yielded, and now thou hast
taken my life from me.”
At this time Talaigutu, a man of the Jelairs who had three sons,
commanded the eldest, named Gunua with his two sons, Mukuli and Buga to
go to Temudjin and say to him: “These sons of mine will serve thee
forever. If they leave thy doors draw from their legs all the sinews
within them, after that cut their hearts out, and also their livers.”
Then Talaigutu commanded Chilaun, his second son, to present himself
with Tunge and Hashi his own two sons, and speak as follows: “Let these
my sons guard thy golden doors carefully. If they fail take their lives
from them.” After that Talaigutu gave Chebke his third son to
Temudjin’s brother, Kassar. Chebke had found in the camp of the Churki
a boy, Boroul, whom he gave to Hoelun. Hoelun having placed the four
boys: Kuichu, Kokochu, Shigi Kutuku, and Boroul with her own children,
watched over all with her eyes during daylight, and listened to them
with her ears in the night time; thus did she rear them.
Who was Togrul of the Keraits, known better as Wang Khan? This is a
question of deep interest in the history of the Mongols, for this man
had great transactions with Temudjin, he had much to do also with
Yessugai, Temudjin’s father. Markuz Buyuruk, Togrul’s grandfather, who
ruled in his day, was captured by Naur, a Tartar chieftain, and sent to
the Kin emperor who had him nailed to a wooden ass, and then chopped
into pieces. His widow resolved to take vengeance on Naur for this
dreadful death of her husband. She set out some time later on to give a
feigned homage to Naur and to marry him if possible, as was stated in
confidence by some of her servitors. She brought to Naur a hundred
sheep and ten mares, besides a hundred large cowskins holding, as was
said, distilled mare’s milk, but each skin held in fact a well armed
living warrior.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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