Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/38

30 Van went northwards. Donduk again gave him good advice: "Do not cross Khan Khoro, but cross Khonēn daban." Again Shêduir Van did not heed the advice. Khan Khoro proved to be impassable. He turned back, and at the exit of a narrow gorge was met by the Chinese army.—(A Mongol of the Khotogait clan.)

A Khotogait man told me that there is a saying of an ancient Shaman. "Khun taidjē êtsēgtai, Khongre notuktai Khonēn daba dzamtai," that is, "I am a descendant of Khun taidjē, a native of the country of Khongre, and having a road across Khonēn daban." Perhaps the saying refers to Shêduir Van.

Shêduir Van was the ancestor of Bēshērēltui Van, one of the five princes of Khotagaitu. Not more than a hundred years ago three men plotted to pay no more tribute to the Emperor of China. These three men were Amursan, Shêduir Van, and Noi-on Khutukta. They agreed at Êrchēmuin-nuru to establish a Mongol army, and to collect taxes for their own benefit. The Emperor heard of the plot, and sent an army. The three Noions were put to flight. Amursan fled straight on, crossed the Altai mountains and escaped into Russia; Noi-on Khutuktu was left in the present Darkhatsk territory. Shêduir Van was taken, carried to Peking, and there executed. Noi-on Khutuktu started for Peking with contrite face and bribes; in the village of Kalgau he met a carriage with a hearse, and learnt that it was carrying the bones and corpse of the executed Shêduir Van to his family. Noi-on Khutuktu remained, closed the hole through which the smoke escapes and the door, and recited prayers, having clothed himself all in black from head to foot. The Emperor, hearing where he was, sent to seize him; but Khutuktu resisted. The Emperor intended to send an army; but his wise men told him that Khutuku would pray to the sky for help, and the sky would send him an army of the sky chērēks, of whom each would be able to slay 1,000 Chinese. The Emperor rescinded his order, and then the clothes of Khutuktu became yellow; only on the neck was any black left; that is why the Lhamas now wear yellow coats with black collars.