CHAP. VI.] 



THE CRUSADES. 



185 



said to have fought under Gengis and his four sons, against 

 400,000 of the army of Mohammed, Sultan of Carizime, 

 who reigned over a territory extending from the Persian 

 Gulf to the borders of India and Turkestan. In the 

 battle which took place between them on the plains north 

 of the Jaxartes, 150,000 Carizmians were slain. 



After the death of Gengis, his son Octal, having sub- 

 verted the Northern Empire of China, decided to invade 

 the most remote countries of the West. The roll of his 

 military force contained the names of 1,500,000 fighting 

 men. He placed 500,000 of these under his nephew 

 Baton, or Peta, and sent him in 1235 towards the setting 

 sun.^ In six years this enormous horde had marched 

 one-fourth part of the circumference of the globe. They 

 were followed by immense trains of waggons, conveying 

 their baggage and artillery, and by great herds of cattle. 

 They crossed the rivers on the ice, or by swimming, or in 

 leathern boats, which were used for transporting their 

 waggons and artillery. Their families accompanied them, 

 and lived in tents which were carried in the rear. The 

 soldiers fought mainly with arrows, avoiding the close 

 struggle, and striving to destroy their enemies from afar 

 with projectile weapons.^ The Khans and principal chiefs 

 took p' 'St in the rear, and directed the movements of their 

 men by means of difierent prescribed signals. 



Their arrows were long and sharp, they carried enor- 

 mous cimeters, lances provided with hooks, and bucklers 

 of willow or osier. The produce of the chase, and the 

 flesh of their flocks, formed the principal food of the 

 Tartars. In summer they moved northwards, encamping 

 in the neighbourhood of rivers or lakes. In the winter 

 they migrated southwards in search of warmer climes, 

 and among the mountains sheltered themselves against 

 the icy winds of the north.' 



These tribes assembled in immense numbers every year. 

 These gatherings, called Couraltai, were always held on 

 horseback, where the warriors consulted, and deliberated 

 upon the distribution of pasturage, and their movements 



' Gibbon, vi. 217. ^ Karamsin, iv. 19. a Michaud, ii. 313. 



