But when Prester John heard that Chinghis Kaan demanded his
daughter in marriage he waxed very wroth, and said to the Envoys, "What
impudence is this, to ask my daughter to wife! Wist he not well that he
was my liegeman and serf? Get ye back to him and tell him that I had
liever set my daughter in the fire than give her in marriage to him, and
that he deserves death at my hand, rebel and traitor that he is!" So he
bade the Envoys begone at once, and never come into his presence again.
The Envoys, on receiving this reply, departed straightway, and made haste
to their master, and related all that Prester John had ordered them to
say, keeping nothing back.[NOTE 2]
NOTE 1. - Temujin was born in the year 1155, according to all the Persian
historians, who are probably to be relied on; the Chinese put the event in
1162. 1187 does not appear to be a date of special importance in his
history. His inauguration as sovereign under the name of Chinghiz Kaan was
in 1202 according to the Persian authorities, in 1206 according to the
Chinese.
In a preceding note (p. 236) we have quoted a passage in which Rubruquis
calls Chinghiz "a certain blacksmith." This mistaken notion seems to have
originated in the resemblance of his name Temujin to the Turki
Temurji, a blacksmith; but it was common throughout Asia in the Middle
Ages, and the story is to be found not only in Rubruquis, but in the books
of Hayton, the Armenian prince, and of Ibn Batuta, the Moor. That cranky
Orientalist, Dr. Isaac Jacob Schmidt, positively reviles William
Rubruquis, one of the most truthful and delightful of travellers, and
certainly not inferior to his critic in mother-wit, for adopting this
story, and rebukes Timkowski - not for adopting it, but for merely telling
us the very interesting fact that the story was still, in 1820, current in
Mongolia. (Schmidt's San. Setz. 376, and Timkowski, I. 147.)
NOTE 2. - Several historians, among others Abulfaraj, represent Chinghiz as
having married a daughter of Aung Khan; and this is current among some of
the mediaeval European writers, such as Vincent of Beauvais. It is also
adopted by Petis de la Croix in his history of Chinghiz, apparently from a
comparatively late Turkish historian; and both D'Herbelot and St. Martin
state the same; but there seems to be no foundation for it in the best
authorities: either Persian or Chinese. (See Abulfaragius, p. 285;
Speculum Historiale, Bk. XXIX. ch. lxix.; Hist. of Genghiz Can, p. 29;
and Golden Horde, pp. 61-62.) But there is a real story at the basis of
Polo's, which seems to be this: About 1202, when Aung Khan and Chinghiz
were still acting in professed alliance, a double union was proposed
between Aung Khan's daughter Jaur Bigi and Chinghiz's son Juji, and
between Chinghiz's daughter Kijin Bigi and Togrul's grandson Kush Buka.
From certain circumstances this union fell through, and this was one of
the circumstances which opened the breach between the two chiefs. There
were, however, several marriages between the families. (Erdmann, 283;
others are quoted under ch. lix., note 2.)
CHAPTER XLVIII.
HOW CHINGHIS MUSTERED HIS PEOPLE TO MARCH AGAINST PRESTER JOHN.
When Chinghis Kaan heard the brutal message that Prester John had sent
him, such rage seized him that his heart came nigh to bursting within him,
for he was a man of a very lofty spirit. At last he spoke, and that so
loud that all who were present could hear him: "Never more might he be
prince if he took not revenge for the brutal message of Prester John, and
such revenge that insult never in this world was so dearly paid for. And
before long Prester John should know whether he were his serf or no!"
So then he mustered all his forces, and levied such a host as never before
was seen or heard of, sending word to Prester John to be on his defence.
And when Prester John had sure tidings that Chinghis was really coming
against him with such a multitude, he still professed to treat it as a
jest and a trifle, for, quoth he, "these be no soldiers." Natheless he
marshalled his forces and mustered his people, and made great
preparations, in order that if Chinghis did come, he might take him and
put him to death. In fact he marshalled such an host of many different
nations that it was a world's wonder.
And so both sides gat them ready to battle. And why should I make a long
story of it? Chinghis Kaan with all his host arrived at a vast and
beautiful plain which was called Tanduc, belonging to Prester John, and
there he pitched his camp; and so great was the multitude of his people
that it was impossible to number them. And when he got tidings that
Prester John was coming, he rejoiced greatly, for the place afforded a
fine and ample battle-ground, so he was right glad to tarry for him there,
and greatly longed for his arrival.
But now leave we Chinghis and his host, and let us return to Prester John
and his people.
CHAPTER XLIX.
HOW PRESTER JOHN MARCHED TO MEET CHINGHIS.
Now the story goes that when Prester John became aware that Chinghis with
his host was marching against him, he went forth to meet him with all his
forces, and advanced until he reached the same plain of Tanduc, and
pitched his camp over against that of Chinghis Kaan at a distance of 20
miles. And then both armies remained at rest for two days that they might
be fresher and heartier for battle.[NOTE 1]
