phrases, for Setzen says: "The sensible (!) Burte Judjin thus replied:
'The wish of Burte Judjin and of the whole people is that the might of
our sovereign may be increased. It rests with him whom he shall
befriend or bind himself to. In the reedy lakes there are many swans
and geese. If it be his wish to shoot arrows at them until his finger
be weary, who shall complain? So also there are many girls and women
among our people. It is for him to say who the choicest and luckiest
are. I hope he will take to himself both a new wife and a new house.
That he will saddle the untractable horse. Health and prosperity are
not wearisome, nor are disease and pain desirable, says the proverb.
May the golden girth of his house be immortal.'"[38]

When he arrived at home he discovered that Arghassun had appropriated
his golden lute; upon which he ordered Boghordshi and Mukuli to kill
him. They seized him, gave him two skins full of strong drink, and
then went to the Khan, who had not yet risen. Boghordshi spake outside
the tent: "The light already shines in your _Ordu_. We await your
commands; that is, if your effulgent presence, having cheerfully
awoke, has risen from its couch! The daylight already shines.
Condescend to open the door to hear and to judge the repentant
culprit, and to exercise your favor and clemency." The Khan now arose
and permitted Arghassun to enter, but he did not speak to him.
Boghordshi and Mukuli gave him a signal with their lips. The culprit
then began: "While the seventy-tuned Tsaktsaghai unconcernedly sings
'tang, tang,' the hawk hovers over and pounces suddenly upon him and
strangles him before he can bring out his last note, 'jang.' So did my
lord's wrath fall on me and has unnerved me. For twenty years have I
been in your household, but have not yet been guilty of dishonest
trickery. It is true I love smoked drink, but dishonesty I have not in
my thought. For twenty years have I been in your household, but I have
not practised knavery. I love strong drink, but am no trickster." Upon
which Temudjin ejaculated, "My loquacious Arghassun, my chattering
_Churtchi!_" and pardoned him.

Temudjin now seems to have been master of the country generally known
as Eastern Dauria, watered by the Onon, the Ingoda, the Argun; and
also of the tribes of the Tungusic race that lived on the Nonni and
the Upper Amur. The various victims of his prowess began to gather
together for another effort. Among these were Tukta, t