Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 1 (1876).djvu/266

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TERRORS OF THE DESERT.

exploits of two heroes — Gissar-Khan^[1] and Chinghiz-Khan: here these warriors fought against the Chinese, and slew countless numbers of people whose bodies God caused the winds to cover with sand from the desert. To this day the Mongols relate with superstitious awe how groans and cries may be heard in the sands of Kuzupchi, which proceed from the spirits of the departed, and that every now and then the winds which stir up the sand expose to view different treasures such as silver dishes, which, although conspicuous above the surface, may not be taken away, because death immediately overtakes the bold man who would venture to touch them.^[2] According to another tradition, Chinghiz-Khan, when hard pressed by his enemies, placed the sands of Kuzupchi as a barrier on one side and turned the Hoang-ho from its former channel to the north as a protection against attack on the other.

↑ Gissar or Khassar, the next brother of Temujin (i.e. Chinghiz-Khan), called in Kalmuk stories Khabutu Khassar, i.e. Khassar the Archer, was renowned for his great strength and skill with the bow, and is the subject of many Mongol legends, of which examples will be found in Sanang Setzen, in Bergmann (Nomadische Streifereien, iii. 233), and in Pallas, Sammlungun Histor. Nachricht. i. 24). There is also a Tibetan version of the legends. The group of Mongol tribes called the Korchin claim descent from Khassar-Khan. — Y.
↑ A long note on the superstitious terrors of Deserts, and of the Gobi in particular, will be found in 'Marco Polo' (Book I. ch. xxxix., and see also beginning of ch. lvii.). The stories of treasure in the same desert are probably connected with the general belief (apparently founded on facts), of the former existence of cities in various parts of the borders of the Gobi, which have been overwhelmed with sand. 'That treasure is reputed to be found in these is a matter of course, but that tea is found in one of them at least, is a more uncommon circumstance, and appears to be a matter of fact.' See Quarterly Review for April 1873. p. 526. — Y.

[1] Gissar or Khassar, the next brother of Temujin (i.e. Chinghiz-Khan), called in Kalmuk stories Khabutu Khassar, i.e. Khassar the Archer, was renowned for his great strength and skill with the bow, and is the subject of many Mongol legends, of which examples will be found in Sanang Setzen, in Bergmann (Nomadische Streifereien, iii. 233), and in Pallas, Sammlungun Histor. Nachricht. i. 24). There is also a Tibetan version of the legends. The group of Mongol tribes called the Korchin claim descent from Khassar-Khan. — Y.

[2] A long note on the superstitious terrors of Deserts, and of the Gobi in particular, will be found in 'Marco Polo' (Book I. ch. xxxix., and see also beginning of ch. lvii.). The stories of treasure in the same desert are probably connected with the general belief (apparently founded on facts), of the former existence of cities in various parts of the borders of the Gobi, which have been overwhelmed with sand. 'That treasure is reputed to be found in these is a matter of course, but that tea is found in one of them at least, is a more uncommon circumstance, and appears to be a matter of fact.' See Quarterly Review for April 1873. p. 526. — Y.

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