THE LAND OF UNREST 385 



ditions in Dzungaria disappeared ; but, since Northern 

 Dzungaria formed the high-road between the extremities 

 of the Mongol Empire, it played an important part, and 

 the encampment of some great chieftain was always to 

 be found in the Emil Valley. After the death of Jenghis 

 Khan, Dzungaria fell to the lot of his third son, Oktai, 

 or Ogodai, who also held Mongolia Propei ; it seems, 

 however, to have been a bone of contention between 

 Oktai and his brother Chagatai, who ruled over the 

 Middle Kingdom of Turkestan and Afghanistan, and 

 was generally in a state of unrest. Later, in 1254, the 

 Emil district of Northern Dzungaria formed the head- 

 quarters of Kuyuk Khan, grandson of Jenghis. 



As the power of the Mongols decreased, China 

 regained her influence, and constant fighting took 

 place along the Chinese-Mongol borders, until, in the 

 middle of the fifteenth century, she finally threw off 

 the Mongol yoke. Then Mongolia and Dzungaria lapsed 

 into intrigues and quarrels between themselves, and 

 nothing of note is recorded until the end of the seven- 

 teenth century, when movements of great importance 

 again took place in Dzungaria. 



A section of the Western Mongols, named after their 

 leader, Eliutei, or Eleuth,* had been slowly gaining power 

 in these regions, until in 1690, under their Khan Galdan, 

 they conquered Samarkand, Bokhara, and Yarkand— 



^ The Eleuths are generally styled Kalmuks, a name which has stood 

 for all branches of Western Mongol tribes, but has in itself no specific 

 meaning. " Kalmuk " is not a Mongol word, but it seems to have been 

 in use amongst the Turks for a very long period. Some writers claim 

 that the word means " remnant," i.e. the broken branches of the great 

 Mongol people who were left, as it were, as the Mongol flood receded 

 from the west ; while others suggest that " Kalmuk " is only a corruption 

 of " Kalpak," i.e. " fur cap," a name in use among Mohammedan Turks 

 for all Mongol tribes. 



