Buka is of course the Boga of Polo; Alinak is his Soldan.  The conspirators along with Buka, who are named in the history of Wassaf, are Yesubuka, Gurgan, Aruk, Kurmishi, and Arkasun Noian.  Those named by Polo are not mentioned on this occasion, but the names are all Mongol.  TAGAJAR, ILCHIDAI, TUGHAN, SAMAGHAR, all appear in the Persian history of those times.  Tagajar appears to have had the honour of a letter from the Pope (Nicolas IV.) in 1291, specially exhorting him to adopt the Christian faith; it was sent along with letters of like tenor addressed to Arghun, Ghazan, and other members of the imperial family.  Tagajar is also mentioned by the continuator of Abulfaraj as engaged in the conspiracy to dethrone Kaikhatu.  ULATAI was probably the same who went a few years later as Arghun’s ambassador to Cambaluc (see Prologue, ch. xvii.); and Polo may have heard the story from him on board ship.

(Assem. III. pt. 2, 118; Mosheim, p. 80; Ilchan., passim.)

Abulfaragius gives a fragment of a letter from Arghun to Kublai, reporting the deposition of Ahmad by the princes because he had “apostatized from the law of their fathers, and adopted that of the Arabs.” (Assemani, u.s. p. 116.) The same historian says that Ahmad was kind and liberal to the Christians, though Hayton speaks differently.

[Illustration:  Facsimile of the Letters sent to Philip the Fair King of France, by Arghun Khan in A.D. 1289 and by Oljaitu in A.D. 1305.]

NOTE 2.—­Arghun obtained the throne on Ahmad’s death, as just related, and soon after named his son Ghazan (born in 1271) to the Government of Khorasan, Mazanderan, Kumis, and Rei.  Buka was made Chief Minister.  The circumstances of Arghun’s death have been noticed already (supra, p. 369).

CHAPTER XVIII.

HOW KIACATU SEIZED THE SOVEREIGNTY AFTER ARGON’S DEATH.

And immediately on Argon’s death, an uncle of his who was own brother[1] to Abaga his father, seized the throne, as he found it easy to do owing to Casan’s being so far away as the Arbre Sec.  When Casan heard of his father’s death he was in great tribulation, and still more when he heard of KIACATU’S seizing the throne.  He could not then venture to leave the frontier for fear of his enemies, but he vowed that when time and place should suit he would go and take as great vengeance as his father had taken on Acomat.  And what shall I tell you?  Kiacatu continued to rule, and all obeyed him except such as were along with Casan.  Kiacatu took the wife of Argon for his own, and was always dallying with women, for he was a great lechour.  He held the throne for two years, and at the end of those two years he died; for you must know he was poisoned.[NOTE 1]