SLAUGHTER OF MONGOLS AT CANDAHAR.

went towards Bactriana, where the Sultan Gelaleddin had got an CHAP. army together.

The Mongols were besieging Candahar, when Gelaleddin learned, from his spies, that they were in no apprehension of any succours arriving to the relief of the besieged. Gelaleddin, having persuaded Emin Melec to join him with ten thousand Turkish cavalry, attacked them so unexpectedly in the dead of night, that the Mongols before that citadel were seized with fear, and the whole of their army were slain. The booty they had accumulated on their march was divided between the troops of Emin Melec and those of the brave Gelaleddin. The plunder that had been taken from the inhabitants of Candahar was restored.

Gelaleddin, who had retired to Segestan, raised twenty thousand men, and arrived at Gazna. His subjects received him with affection. Genghis, who was besieging Bamian, had sent a force towards India, and received accounts that his general had been totally defeated by Gelaleddin; who had returned in triumph to Gazna.

Herat revolted against Genghis; who now blamed prince Tuli for not having put all the inhabitants to the sword. "I forbid you," said he, "to show mercy to my enemies without an express order from me. Know, henceforward, that compassion resides only in mean souls. 'Tis only rigour that keeps men to their duty; and a vanquished enemy is not tamed, but will ever hate his new master."

Gelaleddin, with a reinforcement of 30,000 Turks, defeated 80,000 Mongols near Gazna. Genghis, still before Bamian, attacking it with every kind of warlike engine, by which wildfire and even mill stones were thrown into the city, saw his grandson fall dead at his feet, killed by an arrow shot from over the walls; at which he showed the profoundest grief. Bamian was taken; and, at the instigation of the youth's

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GENGHIS'S CRUELTY.-DEFEAT OF GELALEDDIN.

CHAP. mother, every living being was slaughtered. Genghis followed Gelaleddin to the banks of the Indus; where, after a conflict of ten hours against three hundred thousand Mongols, Gelaleddin's army was so dreadfully defeated, that he had only seven thousand left out of thirty thousand; with which he ventured, from his strong position, to oppose Genghis: and, lest he should be taken alive, he hastily embraced his mother, wives and children, mounted a fresh horse, and plunged into the rapid Indus. Genghis hastened to the bank, and the heroic Gelaleddin continued, while crossing the stream, to shoot several arrows at him and his retinue. Genghis said, turning to his children, Any son should wish to spring from such a father; and a wise man who has him for his enemy, must always be on his guard." (After various attempts to recover his dominions, Gelaleddin was killed by treachery in Curdistan, in the year 1230).

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Genghis finds that his army is diminished by two hundred thousand troops. The strong places in the antient Media and Georgia are reduced by his generals. Moultan, on the Indus, is taken. Herat and Gazna are taken by prince Octai, and most of the inhabitants are put to the sword, in obedience to the cruel commands of Genghis. The generals Hubbe and Suida take Shamakie, march by Derbend, and take Astracan, having made the circuit of the Caspian sea. Genghis leaves Persia, and passes the winter at Samarcand.

ASSEMBLY OF THE STATES AT TONCAT.

"God never made a more delicious dwelling than the city of Toncat," was a common saying. Purling brooks watered almost every street; the suburbs and country seats, were delightful. The gar

GRAND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATES.

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dens were full of fruit trees, murmuring fountains, and most charming CHAP, walks. There was in this city an academy of arts and sciences. Genghis Khan had been a year in Sogdiana, where he had remitted many taxes for life, and had given the great lords of the country marks of his affection, being pleased with their deportment towards him. But the general joy was damped at seeing the queen Turcan Catun, and all the great officers of the empire, led in triumph, followed by the ladies of the Haram and Mehemed's principal lords. The throne and the crown were borne in state. Thus the Grand Khan marched towards Toncat. (A. D. 1224).

The imperial princes repaired to court. Octai from Gazna, Zagatai from Otrar, Touschi from the frontiers of Muscovy; the last of whom, on coming into the Grand Khan's presence, knelt; and the Emperor gave him his hand to kiss, as he did also to the other two. The presents laid at the foot of the imperial throne were very considerable; but Touschi, besides several rare things, presented his father with a hundred thousand horses; twenty thousand of which were white, twenty thousand black, twenty thousand grey, twenty thousand spotted, and twenty thousand brown bay. The Emperor testified, by his caresses and rich gifts, how satisfied he was with the conduct of his sons.

A banquet was given, which lasted a whole month; for which were supplied thousands of beasts and birds of all kinds by the Khan's falconers; exquisite wines, sherbet, cammez, and hydromel.

There also arrived the governors of Catai, Mongolistan, Iran, Caracatai, Touran, and the khan of the Yugures; also many sovereign princes who had voluntarily submitted to the Grand Khan. Although the plain of Toncat was seven leagues long, it could hardly contain the tents and attendants of these great personages. The greatest part had brought their moveable houses. These houses were built upon

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IMPERIAL TENT.-PRIDE OF GENGHIS KHAN.

CHAP. wheels, with very long beams upon the axle-trees, and resembled Eu

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ropean tents; some covered with felt made impenetrable to rain, others with stuffs of various colours; and were of all sizes. Some take to pieces. Each requires from two to thirty oxen to draw it. The small tents were pitched round the large ones of the great lords; and every door opens to the south. The oxen are the finest ornament of these equipages. Those from Tangut can only be purchased by rich persons. They are extremely strong, have hair like horses, and their tails are white and soft as silk. In some places camels are used.

The Grand Khan's quarters were two leagues in compass; with streets, bazars, and public places. The tent for the Diet held two thousand persons. It was covered with white, and contained a magnificent throne; on an eminence was placed the black felt carpet, upon which Genghis sat when he was proclaimed Grand Khan. This carpet was held in veneration as long as the empire lasted. The tent had two open entrances, one of them for the Emperor, through which no other being dare pass, of what quality soever, though no guard was placed. On the tents were streamers of divers colours, of the richest silks. The saddles and horse furniture were set with precious stones. The habits of the great lords were of gold and silver stuffs and rich silks; the weather being still cold, they wore next their skins, sables and fine furs from Russia and Siberia; and over their habits, great coats of wolf skins.

Zagatai had put the laws of the empire into so good a train, that little remained to do but to ratify them: at which the legislator was greatly rejoiced.

The Grand Khan, who delighted in an occasion to make an oration, spoke highly in praise of his laws; declaring that they were the cause of all his conquests, and of the power the Mongols now shared with him. He took occasion to recount his victories; naming every sove

REVOLT OF THE PRINCE OF TANGUT.

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reign prince he had conquered; not excepting the prince of Tangut, CHAP. who was there present. Not content to relate the number and names of the subdued kingdoms, to convince the diet of his greatness, he ordered that all the ambassadors who had followed the Court, should be called into the imperial tent, and also all the envoys and deputies of various countries. They appeared at the front of the throne; he gave them audience: and then dismissed the assembly.

Prince Touschi returned to Capshac; his two generals, having delivered over the command of the troops, returned to the Grand Khan; who soon set out, attended by them and all his court, always making the captive queen follow him, mounted on a chariot, and loaded with irons, to shew to the eyes of the nations a proud monument of his victories. On the march, he gave an hour's conversation each day to the two renowned generals, Hubbe and Suida, to relate to him their expeditions, and the rarities they had come to the knowledge of in the strange countries they had been in; and they had something new to satisfy the Emperor's curiosity till their arrival at Caracorum, the seat of his empire, and which became a famous and populous place.

Genghis had grandsons, whom he had not seen for seven years. Kublai aged ten, and Hulacou one year less, were in the city. Their inclinations, and pursuit of hunting, endeared them to Genghis. The first became Grand Khan of the Moguls, and Emperor of all China; the latter, King of Persia.

Schidascou, the subdued sovereign of Tangut, intrigues with the southern Chinese and the oriental Turks, who were disposed to second him against Genghis. The Emperor's army arrived, much fatigued, at Caracorum, in 1225. After the troops had rested, the usual hunting was proclaimed, though the winter was very severe. Before it was ended, Genghis received news that Schidascou had got together a considerable army. The generals were ordered immediately to col

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