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

THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN
commanded that they should commit the act of the people of Lot with
all the Khitayans who had been taken prisoner.
So great a victory having been gained, Tolui Khan dispatched
messengers to Qa'an with the good tidings thereof, and he too, victorious
and triumphant, set out to join him. [In front of him was]
the River Qara-Moren, which flows from the mountains of Kashmir
and Tibet and separates Khitai from Nangiyas. It had never been
possible to cross that river, and it was necessary for him to send
Shin Chaghan-Buqa of the Uru'ut tribe121 to search for a crossing.
By chance that year there had been great floods which had brought
down large quantities of stones and sand. These had collected in
every part of the river and the water had in consequence spread out
over the plain and was flowing in [a number of] branches, so that the
river was a parasang broad and shallow. Chaghan-Buqa found that
[place] and guided Tolui Khan so that they crossed safely over.
Because Tolui Khan had been separated from him for some time
and he had heard that an enemy had overpowered him when far from
the main army, Qa'an had been in great distress of mind. When the
good news arrived of his victory and safe return, he was exceedingly
pleased and happy. And when Tolui Khan himself arrived he showed
him much honor and praised him greatly. And so unexpected a victory
having been gained, he left Toqolqu Cherbi with some other emirs
to deal with Altan-Khan and subjugate all the countries of Khitai,
whilst they themselves auspiciously returned, in triumph. Tolui
asked permission to go on in advance: he died suddenly on the way.
It is related that several days before, Qa'an had been sick, and at his
last breath. Tolui Khan went up to his pillow. The gams,1*2 as is their
custom, had pronounced their incantations and washed his sickness
in water in a wooden cup. Because of his great love for his brother,
Tolui snatched up that cup and cried out with great insistence:
" O Eternal God, Thou art aware and knowest that if this is [because
of] sins, I have committed more, for in all the lands I have rendered
many people lifeless and enslaved their wives and children and made
them weep. And if it is because of his handsomeness and accomplishments,
I am handsomer and more accomplished. Forgive him and call
121 On the Uru'ut, see Khetagurov, pp. 184-86, and Campagnes, pp. 32-33.
122 See Glossary.
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