194 TERRORS OF THE DESERT. 



exploits of two heroes — Gissar-Khan ^ and Chinghiz- 

 Khan : here these warriors fought against the Chi- 

 nese, 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.^ 

 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 s lories 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 Streifereieii, iii. 

 233), and in Pallas, Samtnhmgiin 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 ofch. Ivii.). 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 cir- 

 cumstance, and appears to be a matter of fact.' See Quarterly Review 

 for April 1873. p. 526. — Y. 



