the harsh behavior of their suzerains, the Taidshut
princes, and two of their chiefs, named Ulugh Bahadur and Thugai Talu,
with many of the tribe went to join Temudjin. They were shortly after
attacked and dispersed by the Taidshuts. This alarmed or disgusted
several of the latter's allies, who went over to the party of
Temudjin. Among these were Chamuka, who contrived for a while to hide
his rancor; and the chiefs of the Suldus and Basiuts. Their example
was soon followed by the defection of the Barins and the Telenkuts, a
branch of the Jelairs.

Temudjin's repute was now considerable, and De Mailla tells us that
wishing to secure the friendship of Podu, chief of the Kieliei, or
Ykiliesse (_i.e._, the Kurulats), who lived on the river Ergone
(_i.e._, the Argun), and who was renowned for his skill in archery, he
offered him his sister Termulun in marriage. This was gladly accepted,
and the two became fast friends. As a sign of his good-will, Podu
wished to present Temudjin with fifteen horses out of thirty which he
possessed, but the latter replied: "To speak of giving and taking is
to do as merchants and traffickers, and not allies. Our elders tell us
it is difficult to have one heart and one soul in two bodies. It is
this difficult thing I wish to compass; I mean to extend my power over
my neighbors here; I only ask that the people of Kieliei shall aid
me."

Temudjin now gave a grand feast on the banks of the Onon, and
distributed decorations among his brothers. To this were invited
Sidsheh Bigi, chief of the Burgins or Barins, his own mother, and two
of his step-mothers. A skin of koumiss, or fermented milk, was sent to
each of the latter, but with this distinction: in the case of the
eldest, called Kakurshin Khatun, it was for herself and her family; in
that of the younger, for herself alone. This aroused the envy of the
former, who gave Sichir, the master of ceremonies, a considerable
blow. The undignified disturbance was winked at by Temudjin, but the
quarrel was soon after enlarged. One of Kakurshin's dependents had the
temerity to strike Belgutei, the half-brother of Temudjin, and wounded
him severely in the shoulder, but Belgutei pleaded for him. "The wound
has caused me no tears. It is not seemly that my quarrels should
inconvenience you," he said. Upon this Temudjin sent and counselled
them to live at peace with one another, but Sidsheh Bigi soon after
abandoned him with his Barins. He was apparently a son