146 An Aiiempt to prove thui Ava 



ledge of the epoch of Oguz that can be obtained ; but the 

 chronology of these heroes and events cannot be very cor- 

 rectly known ; nor is the exact truth in that respect of much 

 importance in this sketch. The 7th century B. C. is generally 

 the epoch assigned to Oguz : some, perhaps, reckon from his 

 birth, and others from his death. Solomon is said to have 

 died about B.C. 975; therefore Oguz would undoubtedly be 

 acquainted with the wealth of the Hebrews, and be inflamed 

 with the ambition to pay a visit to the country which furnished 

 such various and abundant articles of luxury and grandeur. 



"The Turks had professed the true religion," says AbulGhazi, 

 *' till the reign ofCara Khan, the son of Mogul and father of Oguz ; 

 but at this epoch idolatry had increased so much, that the son 

 would destroy his parent, and the father his child, who showed 

 an inclination to return to the true worship. When Oguz 

 was born, his face shone miraculously like the sun, and he 

 was continually pronouncing the word Allah. 



When Oguz succeeded to the throne, he resolved to force 

 the subjects of his grandfather, Mogul, to adopt the true reli- 

 gion *. He invaded Dsurdsut (Gurgut or Zinu) on the fron- 

 tiers of Kitay f , and the booty was immense. He was 

 seventy-two years at war, and brought the people back to the 

 true religion. After which he conquered the empire of Kitay J, 

 the city of Dsurdsut, the kingdom of Tangut, and Cara Kitay §, 



* It is not unlikely that the introduction of the religion of Budda, or 

 Boodh, was the innovation. Boodh was born, says Sir William Jones, 

 B.C. 1027. The subject of Boodh's person and country is very obscure. 

 *• He had curled hair," says Sir William Jones, " was not a native of India, 

 and was probably Sesostris." ** I am inclined," says Herodotus, " to think 

 that the Colchians were descended from the troops of Sesostris, because 

 they are black, and have hair short and curling. They have also similar 

 manners, the same languao:e, and their manufacture of linen is alike." 

 (Euterpe, civ. cv.) If the Peguans have preserved their early history, it 

 will probably clear up some points relating to the Pharaoh's, Boodh, the 

 Turks, and the Syrians. 



t In the map with Abul Ghazi, Zinu is in north lat. 32°. At this epoch 

 Singan was the capital of Kitay, which never means more than the 

 northern half of China. 



1 B.C. 777. A torrent of Tartars distracted China. — ^Vide Du Halde, 

 vol. i. p. 1 63. 



§ Cara (black). Cathay is on the map in lat. 23 to 30, now partly 

 Assam. Other territories have borne this name from the colour of the' 

 rich soil; it may in this case designate the black people. 



