The terrifying words of Jamukha to Tayang Khan of the Naimans concerning the Mongols: from the Secret History of the Mongols.Jamukha portrait by Orkhon Namkhaidagva, 1955
Tayang Qan asked Jamuqa: ‘Why are these [men] chasing the sheep into the sheep-pen, like so many wolves? Why do these people pursue [our forces] in this way?’ Jamuqa said:
‘My sworn brother Temüjin [has] four hounds,
raised on human flesh.
They have been chained and tied,
[but now] they pursue our watchmen.
These four hounds [have]
chisels for snouts and
awls for tongues.
With hearts of iron and
whips for swords,
eating the dew and
riding the wind,
they go.
On killing days
they eat the flesh of men.
On fighting days
they take men’s flesh as their provisions.
They have been released from their iron chains. Once restrained, they are now on their way [to us], slavering with joy.’ Jamuqa also] said: ‘You ask who these four hounds are. They are Jebe and Qubilai, Jelme and Sübe’etei.’ Tayang Qan said: ‘Let us stand at a distance from these barbarians.’ They moved slowly back and stood astride the mountain. Seeing [enemy forces] approaching from behind, [their horses] happily kicking their hind legs, Tayang Qan again asked Jamuqa: ‘What kind of men frisk like foals that have been released in the early [morning], raising dust around their mother and sucking their mother’s milk? Why do they approach, making circles in this way?’ Jamuqa said:
'They chase men [armed] with spears,
they pursue the bloody bandits and
men [armed] with swords.
They cut them down and kill them.
These plunderers of treasure
are known as the Uru’uts and Mangquts.
Do they not rejoice as they happily approach us?’
Tayang Qan said: ‘If so, let us stand at a distance from these barbarians.’ They therefore climbed the mountain and stood [there]. ‘Behind them,’ said Tayang Qan, ‘[comes a
man] with the appearance of a starved falcon. Who is he who comes [greedily] slavering [in this way], at the head [of an army]?’ Jamuqa replied:
‘It is my sworn brother Temüjin
who is approaching. His whole body
is stitched with cast copper,
[so that] there is no crack
that an awl could pierce;
forged from wrought iron,
[so that] there is no crack
that a leather needle could pierce.
Temüjin my sworn brother is on his way—slavering like a starved falcon.
Do you see him?
Did you Naiman companions not [say] that when you saw the Mongqols you would leave them with not [even] the skin of a kid’s hoof?
Look [at them now]!’
Tayang Qan replied: ‘[The situation] is most awkward. Let us climb [further] up the mountain and stay [there].’ When they had climbed the mountain, Tayang Qan once again asked Jamuqa: ‘Who are all those people following in their wake?’ Jamuqa said:
‘Mother Hö’elün raised one [of] her sons on human flesh.
He has a body of three fathoms,
and the appetite of a three-year old ox.
He wears three layers of armour,
and [his cart] is pulled by three bulls.
He can swallow an entire
man with a quiver,
and [the quiver] will not [even] touch his throat.
To swallow a whole man
does not satisfy his craving.
Whenever he grows angry
he draws [his bow]
and releases his angqu’a arrow,
which pierces ten or twenty people
[on the far side of] the mountain.
In battle with the enemy,
he draws [his bow]
and releases his keyibür arrow,
which pierces and transfixes
his enemies across the steppe.
When he draws his bow back to the full,
his arrows fly nine hundred fathoms.
[Even] when he [only] half draws his bow,
his arrows fly five hundred fathoms.
He is not like any [other] man;
he was born a huge monster.
His name is Jochi-qasar.
That is [who] he is.’
Then Tayang Qan said: ‘If so, we must struggle upwards to the peak.’ They climbed the mountain and stood [there]. Once again, Tayang Qan asked Jamuqa: ‘Who comes behind him?’ Jamuqa said:
‘Mother Hö’elün’s youngest son, Otchigin.
He is said to be a friendly person.
He sleeps early and rises late,
[yet] does not stay behind the [soldiers],
does not remain behind the [battle] lines.'
Tayang Qan said: ‘In that case, let us go to the [very] summit of the mountain.’
After speaking in this way to Tayang Qan, Jamuqa left the Naimans and stood apart from them. He then sent a message to Chinggis Qahan saying:
‘Tell [my] sworn brother: “Tayang Qan was scared to death by my words. In his terror, he has struggled upwards. Frightened by [my] talking of his death, he has climbed the mountain. Sworn brother, be steadfast. They have climbed the mountain and will offer no resistance. I myself have left the Naimans."'
Secret History of the Mongols, from sections 195-6, translation by Urgunche Onon.