The Successors of Genghis Khan - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian ...

BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF QUBILAI Q_A AN
In the West there is a province called Kafje-Guh,17^ in which there
are forests and other places of difficult access. It adjoins Qara-Jang
and parts of India and the coast. There are two towns there, Lochak
and Khainam175 and it has its own ruler, who is in rebellion against
the Qa'an. Toghan, the son176 of the Qa'an, who is stationed with an
army in Lukinfu177 in the country of Manzi, is defending Manzi and
also keeping an eye on those rebels. On one occasion, he penetrated
with an army to those towns on the coast, captured them, and sat
for a week upon the throne there. Then all at once their army sprang
out from ambush in the sea [shore], the forest, and the mountains and
attacked Toghan's army while they were busy plundering. Toghan
got away safely and is still in the Lukinfu area.178
In the Northwest, where the frontier with Tibet and the Zar-
Dandan is, the Qa'an has no enemies, except in the direction of
Qutlugh-Khwaja's army,179 but there are difficult mountains between
them and no enemy can enter. Nevertheless, certain troops have been
stationed there to defend that area.
The Northeast in its whole extent adjoins [the territories] of Qaidu
and Du'a. Between their frontiers and those of the Qa'an is a 40 days'
journey through the desert. The armies and scouts of both sides are
stationed on the frontiers, defending their territory and keeping a
look-out; and sometimes there is also fighting. The Qa'an's frontier
in that direction extends eastward for a month's journey, and there
are armies and scouts in most of the vital places. Beginning in the
East, princes and emirs have been stationed with armies [all along the
frontier]. In the extreme East, Prince Kambala,180 the great-uncle of
the Qa'an on the father's side, is stationed with an army. Next to him
174 That is, Tonking. See above, p. 272 and note 97.
175 Apparently the Leichow Peninsula and Hainan Island are meant, though these
identifications are not altogether satisfactory. See Polo /, pp. 242-44, and Cathay,
p. 130 and note 3.
176 He was Qubilai's eleventh son. See above, p. 245.
177 See above, p. 283 and note 159.
178 On Toghan's two expeditions into Indo-China (1285 and 1287-1288), see
Franke, IV, pp. 452-55, and Steppes, pp. 357-58.
179 That is, the Qaraunas in the Ghazna area of Afghanistan. See above, p. 144.
180 Apparently, a brother of Genghis Khan, but there must be some mistake since
none of his brothers bore this name.
285