The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-11-20
A TARTAR BATTLE.
The Great Khan Crushes Bold Rebel
Chieftain.


Chieftain.
The khan was there on the hill, mounted
on great wooden bartizan, which was
borne by four well trained elephants, and
over him was hoistcd his standard so high
aloft that it could be seen from all sides.
His troops were ordered in battle of 80
600 men apiece, and a great part of the
horsemen had each foot soldier armed
with lance set on the crupper behind
him, for it was thus that the footmen were
disposed of, and the whole plain seemed
to bo covered with his forces. So it was
thus that the Areat khan's army was ar
raycd for battle.
When NayGn and his people saw what
happened they were sorely confounded
and rushed in haste to arms Nevertheless
they made them ready in good style and
formed their troops in an orderly manner,
and when Ill were in battle array Oh both
sides, rs 1 have told you, and nothing re-
manned but to fall to blows, then might
you have heard Il sound arise of many in
struments of various music and of the
voices of the whole of the two hosts loudly
singing. For this is q custom of the Tar
tars that before they join battle they all
unto in singing and playing on u certain
two stringed instrument of theirs, a thing
right pleasant to hear, and SO they con-
tinue in their array of battle, singing and
playing in this pleasing manner, until the
great naccara OF the prince Is heard to
sound. AS soon as that begins to sound
tho fight also begins on both sides, and in
no case before the princes naccara sounds
dare any commence fighting
SO then, as they were thus singing and
PLAYING, though ordered and ready for bat
tie, the great naccara of the great khan
began to sound, and that of Nayan also be-
gan to sound, and thenceforward the din
Of battle began TO be heard loudly from
this side and from that, and they rushed
to work SO doughtily with their bows and
their maccs, with their lances and swords,
and with the arblasts of the footmen, that
it was wondrous sight to see. Now
might you behold such flights Of arrows
from this side and from that, that the
whole heaven was canopied with them,
and they fell like rain. Now might you
see on this side and on that full many
cavalier and man at arms fall slain, insO-
much that the whole field seemed covered
with them, for fierce and furious was the
battle, and quarter there was mono given.
But why should I make long story of
it: You must know that it was the most
parlous and fierce and fearful battle that
ever has been fought in our day. Nor
have there ever been such forces in the
field in actual fight, especially of horse
men, as were then engaged-for, taking
both sides, there were not fewer than $780,,
600 horsemen, q mighty force, and that
without reckoning the footmen, who were
also very numerous. The battle endured
with various for une on this side and on
that from morning till noon. But at the
last, by Gods pleasure and the right that
was on his side, the great Khan had the
victory, and Nayan lost the battle and was
utterly routed, for the army of the great
khan performed such feats of arms that
Nayun and his host could stand against
them no longer, SO they turned and fled.
But this arailed nothing for Nayan, for he
and all the barons with him were taken
prisoners and had to surrender to the
khan with ali their arms.-"The True
Story Of Marco Polo" by Noah Brooks, in
st. Nicholas.