Page:Mongolia, the Tangut country, and the solitudes of northern Tibet vol 1 (1876).djvu/276

 the drowned woman was recovered, and by command of Chinghiz-Khan buried in an iron coffin in the very mound which she had made to hide in; this hillock is called Tumyr-alhu.

Chinghiz-Khan's memory is better preserved in Ordos than in any part of Mongolia; at all events, we heard more tales here about the conqueror than anywhere else. The most interesting of these legends are those relating to the white banner and the future resurrection of Chinghiz-Khan.

The first tells how Chinghiz-Khan was a great hunter, and while following the chase one day in the mountains of Munni-ula he met there a Russian engaged in the same pursuit. Chinghiz-Khan enquired of him how long he had been hunting, and how many beasts he had killed? 'For some years,' answered the stranger; 'but I have only killed one wolf.' 'How is that?' said the conqueror; 'I have killed several hundred animals in the same time.' 'But my wolf was a wonderful beast,' replied the Russian; 'he was fourteen feet long, and every day devoured ten other animals; by slaying him I have done more good than you.' 'If that be the case,' exclaimed Chinghiz-Khan, 'thou art a brave fellow; come with me to my yurta, and I will give thee whatsoever thou desirest'

The Russian hunter, at the invitation of Chinghiz-Khan, accompanied him to his yurta. Here, what pleased him most was one of the concubines of the