-NAYAN was no "uncle" of Kublai's, but a cousin in a junior
generation. For Kublai was the grandson of Chinghiz, and Nayan was the
great-great-grandson of Chinghiz's brother Uchegin, called in the Chinese
annals Pilgutai. [Belgutai was Chinghiz's step-brother. (_Palladius_.)--H.
C.] On this brother, the great-uncle of Kublai, and the commander of the
latter's forces against Arikbuga in the beginning of the reign, both
Chinghiz and Kublai had bestowed large territories in Eastern Tartary
towards the frontier of Corea, and north of Liaotong towards the Manchu
country. ["The situation and limits of his appanage are not clearly
defined in history. According to Belgutai's biography, it was between the
Onon and Kerulen (_Yuen shi_), and according to Shin Yao's researches (_Lo
fung low wen kao_), at the confluence of the Argun and Shilka. Finally,
according to Harabadur's biography, it was situated in Abalahu, which
geographically and etymologically corresponds to modern Butkha (_Yuen
shi_); Abalahu, as Kublai himself said, was rich in fish; indeed, after
the suppression of Nayan's rebellion, the governor of that country used to
send to the Peking Court fishes weighing up to a thousand Chinese pounds
(_kin_.). It was evidently a country near the Amur River." (_Palladius_,
l.c. 31.)--H. C.] Nayan had added to his inherited territory, and become
very powerful. ["History has apparently connected Nayan's appanage with
that of Hatan (a grandson of Hachiun, brother of Chinghiz Khan), whose
_ordo_ was contiguous to Nayan's, on the left bank of the Amur,
hypothetically east of Blagovietschensk, on the spot, where still the
traces of an ancient city can be seen. Nayan's possessions stretched south
to Kwang-ning, which belonged to his appanage, and it was from this town
that he had the title of prince of Kwang-ning (_Yuen shi_)." (_Palladius_,
l.c. 31.)--H. C.] Kaidu had gained influence over Nayan, and persuaded him
to rise against Kublai. A number of the other Mongol princes took part
with him. Kublai was much disquieted at the rumours, and sent his great
lieutenant BAYAN to reconnoitre. Bayan was nearly captured, but escaped to
court and reported to his master the great armament that Nayan was
preparing. Kublai succeeded by diplomacy in detaching some of the princes
from the enterprise, and resolved to march in person to the scene of
action, whilst despatching Bayan to the Karakorum frontier to intercept
Kaidu. This was in the summer of