Part III

THE STRAINING HEART OF ASIA

CHAPTER XXIX

ON THE ROAD OF GREAT CONQUERORS

The great conqueror, Jenghiz Khan, the son of sad, stern, severe Mongolia, according to an old Mongolian legend “mounted to the top of Karasu Togol and with his eyes of an eagle looked to the west and the east.  In the west he saw whole seas of human blood over which floated a bloody fog that blanketed all the horizon.  There he could not discern his fate.  But the gods ordered him to proceed to the west, leading with him all his warriors and Mongolian tribes.  To the east he saw wealthy towns, shining temples, crowds of happy people, gardens and fields of rich earth, all of which pleased the great Mongol.  He said to his sons:  ’There in the west I shall be fire and sword, destroyer, avenging Fate; in the east I shall come as the merciful, great builder, bringing happiness to the people and to the land.’”

Thus runs the legend.  I found much of truth in it.  I had passed over much of his road to the west and always identified it by the old tombs and the impertinent monuments of stone to the merciless conqueror.  I saw also a part of the eastern road of the hero, over which he traveled to China.  Once when we were making a trip out of Uliassutai we stopped the night in Djirgalantu.  The old host of the ourton, knowing me from my previous trip to Narabanchi, welcomed us very kindly and regaled us with stories during our evening meal.  Among other things he led us out of the yurta and pointed out a mountain peak brightly lighted by the full moon and recounted to us the story of one of the sons of Jenghiz, afterwards Emperor of China, Indo-China and Mongolia, who had been attracted by the beautiful scenery and grazing lands of Djirgalantu and had founded here a town.  This was soon left without inhabitants, for the Mongol is a nomad who cannot live in artificial cities.  The plain is his house and the world his town.  For a time this town witnessed battles between the Chinese and the troops of Jenghiz Khan but afterwards it was forgotten.  At present there remains only a half-ruined tower, from which in the early days the heavy rocks were hurled down upon the heads of the enemy, and the dilapidated gate of Kublai, the grandson of Jenghiz Khan.  Against the greenish sky drenched with the rays of the moon stood out the jagged line of the mountains and the black silhouette of the tower with its loopholes, through which the alternate scudding clouds and light flashed.