the town of Ding-hu they culminate in a lofty rocky ridge called the Arbus-ula. This range runs almost parallel with the Hoang-ho, continually approaching it till at length it closes in upon the very bank of the river at a place opposite to which on the other side of the Yellow River rises the great range of the Ala-shan mountains. According to a Mongol tradition, one of the rocky peaks of the Arbus-ula, which has the shape of a table, served as a forge for Chinghiz-Khan's smithy. His blacksmith is represented to be a man of such gigantic stature, that although seated on the ground he was much higher than the hill, and forged different arms and accoutrements on it for the great warrior.[1]
On the 14th of September we arrived at the town of Ding-hu, situated on the western bank of the Hoang-ho, to which we were obliged to cross in order to continue our journey in Ala-shan. Our adventures at Ding-hu were even more unpleasant than those at Bautu.
While we were still a few miles from the town the Chinese noticed our caravan, and climbed on to the town wall in crowds to get a better view of us in the distance. Hardly had we arrived opposite to the town, than a boat with twenty-five soldiers put off from it, and these as soon as they had landed on our side demanded our passports.
Our tent was pitched on the bank of the
- ↑ Chinghiz himself was represented in traditions which found their way even to Europe as a blacksmith. This seems to have originated in a connection (whether real or imaginary) between his name Temujin, and the Turkish Temurji, an 'iron-smith.' — Y.
