ABINXTKO. 41 droughty and locusts; in the greater movements and more terrible events further south, Hienbi was forgotten. This wa& noty however, because they had begun to assist their southern neighbours, nor because of peaceM inactivity; for with the- waning of the Han power grew that of Hienbi in strength and temerity, and they had made firequent raids into and ravaged the prefectures of Yowchow and Bingchow.* They at last com- pelled, first the Han, then the Wei,i' dynasty to purchase their forbearance, by nominating them guardians of the Borders, — ^for which honorary position a considerable yearly sum of money must have been given. They faithfully observed the duties of their post^ and prevented all the northern peoples, whether Hiwngnoo on the west, Woohung or Oaogowli on the east, from entering in to plunder Chinese soiL But in 233, Abinung; an independent chief of a portion of Hienbi, intrigued with, and drew from his allegiance, Boodoogun, who was then the Hienbi Guardian of the Border. He had married a daughter of Boodoogun's, and the latter had given him pasture lands on the Chinese side of the Border. The Wei dynasty, which ruled in the north of divided China, had sent two generals in succession against Abinung in his original independent seat, and both were defeated. Hence the general desertion of Boodoogun and all his men, who first crossed the border to join Abinung, and then, with and under the independent chief, re-crossed the border to harry and destroy what they had been paid to protect A third general ordered against them was more successful. He attacked and defeated the Hienbi ; and Abinung, seeing there was no escape from the close pursuit^ murdered his father-in-law, and submitted with all his men. Next year the commander of Yowchow engaged the celebrated warrior Han Loong to cut down Abinung. The terror of this warrior'a name went before him, and this portion of the Hienbi scattered ere he had time to strike a blow.
- The modem Tuyaen.
t As noticed above, the Wei, founded In the north of China by Tsao Tsao, was- one of the poweifol kingdomB formed out of the diarapted Han empire.
