Volume II Part 73 (1/2)

<+>(They exchange defiances, and make vast preparations.)

And when his preparations were complete, Alau the Lord of Levant set forth with all his people. They marched for many days without any adventure to speak of, and at last they reached a great plain which extends between the Iron Gates and the Sea Of Sarain.[NOTE 2] In this plain he pitched his camp in beautiful order; and I can a.s.sure you there was many a rich tent and pavilion therein, so that it looked indeed like a camp of the wealthy.

Alau said he would tarry there to see if Barca and his people would come; so there they tarried, abiding the enemy's arrival. This place where the camp was pitched was on the frontier of the two kings. Now let us speak of Barca and his people.[NOTE 3]

NOTE 1.--”_Que_ marcesoit _a le un et a le autre_;” in Scotch phrase, ”which _marched_ with both.”

NOTE 2.--Respecting the Iron Gates, see vol. i. p. 53. The Caspian is here called the Sea of _Sarain_, probably for _Sarai_, after the great city on the Volga. For we find it in the Catalan Map of 1375 termed the Sea of _Sarra_. Otherwise _Sarain_ might have been taken for some corruption of _s.h.i.+rwan_. (See vol. i. p. 59, note 8.)

NOTE 3.--The war here spoken of is the same which is mentioned in the very beginning of the book, as having compelled the two Elder Polos to travel much further eastward than they had contemplated.

Many jealousies and heart-burnings between the cousins Hulaku and Barka had existed for several years. The Mameluke Sultan Bibars seems also to have stimulated Barka to hostility with Hulaku. War broke out in 1262, when 30,000 men from Kipchak, under the command of Nogai, pa.s.sed Derbend into the province of s.h.i.+rwan. They were at first successful, but afterwards defeated. In December, Hulaku, at the head of a great army, pa.s.sed Derbend, and routed the forces which met him. Abaka, son of Hulaku, was sent on with a large force, and came upon the opulent camp of Barka beyond the Terek. They were revelling in its plunder, when Barka rallied his troops and came upon the army of Abaka, driving them southward again, across the frozen river. The ice broke and many perished. Abaka escaped, chased by Barka to Derbend. Hulaku returned to Tabriz and made great preparations for vengeance, but matters were apparently never carried further. Hence Polo's is anything but an accurate account of the matter.

The following extract from Wa.s.saf's History, referring to this war, is a fine sample of that prince of rigmarole:

”In the winter of 662 (A.D. 1262-1263) when the Almighty Artist had covered the River of Derbend with plates of silver, and the Furrier of the Winter had clad the hills and heaths in ermine; the river being frozen hard as a rock to the depth of a spear's length, an army of Mongols went forth at the command of Barka Aghul, filthy as Ghuls and Devils of the dry-places, and in numbers countless as the rain-drops,” etc. etc.

(_Golden Horde_, p. 163 seqq.; _Ilchan._ I. 214 seqq.; _Q.R._ p. 393 seqq.; _Q. Makrizi_, I. 170; _Hammer's Wa.s.saf_, p. 93.)

CHAPTER XXVI.

HOW BARCA AND HIS ARMY ADVANCED TO MEET ALAU.

<+>(Barca advances with 350,000 horse, encamps on the plain within 10 miles of Alau; addresses his men, announcing his intention of fighting after 3 days, and expresses his confidence of success as they are in the right and have 50,000 men more than the enemy.)

CHAPTER XXVII.

HOW ALAU ADDRESSED HIS FOLLOWERS.

<+>(Alau calls together ”a numerous parliament of his worthies”[1] and addresses them.)

[1] ”_Il asemble encore sez parlemant de grand quant.i.tes des buens homes_.”

CHAPTER XXVIII.

OF THE GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN ALAU AND BARCA.

<+>(Description of the Battle in the usual style, with nothing characteristic. Results in the rout of Barca and great slaughter.)

CHAPTER XXIX.

HOW TOTAMANGU WAS LORD OF THE TARTARS OF THE PONENT.