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

THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN
account, people will say that Qa'an has gone back on his word and
called the man to account." He went on: "Let him be, but do not
purchase any of the wares which he has brought to the treasury to
dispose of." A number of merchants had come that day: their wares
were purchased and Qa'an gave each of them a greater sum than the
actual price. Suddenly he said: "Where is that saiyid?" They brought
him in and he said: " Is thy heart sore because they will not buy thy
goods?" The 'Alid began to weep and lament. "What is the price of
thy goods?" asked Qa'an. "30 balish," he replied. Qa'an ordered him
to be given zoo balish.
[xxxvi] One day a kinswoman of Qa'an came in and gazed at the
clothes, pearls, and jewel-studded ornaments of his ladies. He ordered
Yalavach to bring in the pearls that were held in readiness. He produced
twelve trays of pearls which had been purchased for 80,000
dinars. Qa'an ordered them to be poured into her sleeves and lap
and said: "Now that thou art sated with pearls, how many glances
wilt thou cast at others ? "
[xxxvii] Someone brought him a pomegranate as a present. He
commanded the seeds to be counted and distributed among those
present. And for each seed he gave the man a balish.
[xxxviii] A Muslim from the Tangqut region, from a place called
Qara-Tash,388 brought a wagon-load of victuals and sought permission
to return to his own country. Qa'an granted permission and gave him
a gold balish.
[xxxix] On the day of a feast, when all the turqaqs^9 were buying
drink, someone stole a gold cup from the ordo. Though an inquiry was
made it could not be found, and Qa'an caused a proclamation to be
made that whoever picked it up and brought it in would have his life
spared and would be granted whatever he asked for. The next day the
thief brought back the cup. He was asked why he had committed this
impudent act, and he replied: "In order that it might be a warning
to the World-Emperor Qa'an not to trust the turqaqs." "I have spared
his life," said Qa'an "and in any case cannot put a fellow like this to
death. Otherwise I should have ordered his breast to be cut open to
see what sort of heart and liver he had." He gave him 500 balish and
388 According to Mustaufi (p. 250), Eriqaya and Qara-Tash were "the bestknown
towns" in the Tangut country. 389 See Glossary.
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