Magyar chiefs. The smaller party of the fugitives recrossed the Don, and formed a settlement in the Caucasus, near the frontiers of Persia, where for a long time they kept up their connexion with their kindred tribe. The remaining part of the defeated Hungarians retreated in the direction of the Dnieper, across which they swam, and then pushed forward into that part of the country which is watered by the Bug, the Dniester, the Pruth, and the Sereth: from thence they seem to have extended their habitations to the low grounds of the Lower Danube.

The Khan of the Chazaren, not being able to depend on the remaining tribes of the Hungarians, perceived that he would have to contend alone against the Patzenaci unless he could establish a firm alliance between the seven Magyar rulers. He therefore expressed his willingness to acknowledge as his leader any one of their chiefs whom they might elect as their own. Thereupon the Hungarians assembled a great national council, in which Arpád, son of Almos, was unanimously elected as their sovereign and leader, and accordingly placed on a shield, after the warlike custom of the people, the assembled council shouting, From henceforth we acknowledge you as our leader, and we will follow you wherever your fate leads you.' The woiwodes and the elders of families ratified this compact by a solemn oath-namely, by opening one of their veins and letting several drops of blood fall in a holy goblet-and solemnly cursed all those who should break this national contract. This compact was divided into six parts:

1. As long as the descendants of Arpád existed their leader should be chosen from his family.

2. All the spoils conquered in common should be equally divided amongst them all.

3. Arpád, on his side, promised for himself and suc

cessors always to ask the advice of those who had signed the contract, and their descendants, and to maintain them always as rulers of their tribes.

4. In case of any of their descendants or themselves breaking the oath of obedience, or provoking discord with their ruler, their blood should flow like that which had fallen in the holy goblet.

5. In case of any of the descendants, either of their king or of the princes, attempting to break the contract, they should be for ever exiled from their people.

6. Whoever refused to be present at the national assemblies should be chopped in two.

The names of the woiwodes who signed the above agreement are as follows: Almos, the father of Arpád; Elöd, the father of Szabolcs; Ond, the father of Ete; Tas, the father of Lel; Huba, who was the founder of Szemere; Kond, the father of Csörsz; and Töhötön, the father of Gyula and Zombor.

CHAPTER II.

THE HUNS.

THE HUNS (Hunni or Ovvvo), a comprehensive name designating most likely all the Scythian tribes, appeared in Europe in the year 375 of the Christian era, and played for some time a remarkable and conspicuous part > in the history of Europe. Their original seat was on the north side, and in the immediate vicinity, of the Chinese wall; but through their barbaric bravery and wonderful powers of endurance they extended their frontiers. It is stated that their food consisted of slices of meat which had been placed between the saddle and the back of their horses, and fresh blood; their habits and manners were akin to those of brutes; and, as they seldom or ever quitted the saddle, they were the most perfect horsemen in the world.

Their chiefs, who were called Fandschus, gradually became the conquerors and sovereigns over vast regions. In the East the ocean only stopped their progress, and the tribes living between the Amour and the peninsula of Corea were forced to join their banners. In their advance towards the West, at the sources of the Irtish,'

1 The Irtish is one of the largest rivers of Siberia; its sources are in the Altai mountains, in the north of China, in the province of Songarei. It flows in a north-westerly direction, through the Saisany sea, passing through the Siberian governments Omsk and Tobolsk, and at the latter town takes a north-easterly course, and falls into the great river Ob, near the town of Samarowo. Before entering the Saisany sea it is called the

and in the valley of the Imaus,' they found large territories, but also numerous enemies. As an instance of their success, it is stated that one of the lieutenants of the Fandschus conquered no less than twenty-six tribes in a single campaign. In the north the ice-fields of the Arctic Ocean were soon reached, and all Siberia fell under their yoke. The Huns now directed their attention to the south, with the richness of which they seem to have been perfectly acquainted. The constant and terrible inroads which they were in the habit of making into China at last induced the Chinese Emperor TsinSchi-Hoang-Ti to erect along the frontiers of his dominions a wall of upwards of 1,500 miles in extent, in order to protect his people from the invasion of their insatiable adversaries; but this was of no avail, for the cavalry of the Fandschus, we are told, was irresistible. These troops generally consisted of from 200,000 to 300,000 sabres, and surpassed the Chinese cavalry in dexterity and rapidity of movement and the use of the bow and arrows, and there is no doubt that the tactics of the Hunish leaders were then far superior to those of the Chinese.

Upper Irtish, and on leaving it the Lower Irtish. It receives, in its long course of above 2,000 miles, many rivers and rivulets, amongst which are the Narim, the Om, the Tasa, the Ishim, and the Tobol. It is remarkable for the abundance of its fish, especially the sturgeon, with its famous caviar. Between the Irtish, the Tobol, and the Alei rivers is situated the great steppe called the Irtish Baraba steppe.

1 In ancient geography, the chief mountain of the great Asiatic highlands. According to Ptolemy, it not only occupied a great space on the northern frontier of India from east to west, but also extended from the north, where there are no mountains to be found at present, and thus divided Scythia into two large parts or halves, Scythia intra and extra Imaum. The western parts of the Imaus were called Emodi montes. The name of Imaus (in Greek, 'Iudos) was known to Strabo as well as to Ptolemy, and is evidently no other than the one at present used in the language of the natives of India and thereabout, as Imeia, Ima, Imaas, Himalaya, which signifies the habitations of snow.

The Chinese Emperor Kuoti, a soldier of fortune, who had risen to the imperial dignity through the bravery which he had displayed in the wars against the enemies of his country, determined to make one grand effort to defeat them. He therefore collected a numerous army, consisting of his bravest warriors; but the Huns, by a series of rapid and skilful movements, contrived entirely to surround him. After an heroic defence, the unfortunate Kuoti was compelled to capitulate and accept the most degrading terms at the hands of his victors. From their peaceful habits, his successors seem to have offered no resistance to the Huns, who, taking advantage of this, became outrageous in their demands, one of the most galling to the Chinese national pride being that a number of the most beautiful maidens should be delivered over to the Huns. In addition to this, it was stipulated that a number of the princesses of the Chinese imperial family should intermarry with some of the Fandschus, or chiefs of the Huns. One of these unfortunate princesses is said to have described in verse her miserable condition: she stated that her only nourishment was sour milk and raw meat, and wished that she might be turned into a bird in order to be able to fly from her captivity, and return to her beloved country.

The vast power of the Huns was at last broken up by Vuti, the fifth Emperor of the powerful house of Han. This he brought about through his military talents and skilful policy, by which he had gained over the Tartars for his allies. His generals had orders to act on the offensive, and they pushed several hundred miles into the country of the Huns. A column upon a high mountain still bears an inscription proclaiming to posterity that the Chinese had advanced 700 miles far into the country of the Huns. In these wildernesses of fabulous extent they suffered unheard-of hardships, and of 140,000 men