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with his dependents. He headed for Yuehchih and, after travel-
ling several tens of days, came to Tayuan. The King of Tayuan
had learnt of the riches of Han and wished to trade with it
but could not. He was glad to see Chang Ch'ien and asked
him where he was going. Chang Ch'ien answered: "I was sent by
the Han Emperor as envoy to Yuehchih. But the Huns blocked
my way.
Now I have escaped from the Huns. I hope Your Majesty
will appoint people to be my guide. If I should be assisted to
reach Yuehchih and then return to Han,my country would give
Your Majesty gifts beyond description." The King of Tayuan
agreed and gave Chang Ch'ien an escort. Chang Ch'ien came to
Kang-Chu (Sogdiana), and from there to the Greater Yuehchih. The
original King of the Greater Yuchchih having been killed by
the Huns, the prince was made the new King. The new King of
Yuehchih, having subdued Tahsia (Bactria), ruled over much fer-
tile land, led an easy life and had no aggressive ambitions.
He noted that his country was far away from Han and had
no desire to take revenge on the Huns. Chang Ch'ein followed the
King of Yuehchih to Tahsia, but got nothing out of his mission to
Yuehchih. So after staying there for more than a year, Chang Ch'ien
returned to the Linked Southern mountains. From there he tried
to Han through the Ch'iang tribes but was again detained by the
Huns and stayed with them for more than a year. Then the Khan
died ( 127 B.C. ), and Prince Li of the Eastern Valley attacked the
Prince royal and made himself Khan. Taking advantage of the civil
strife, Chang Ch'ien fled and returned to Han, taking with him
his Hun wife and Kan Fu. He was appointed Taichungtafu ( High
Counsellor ) by the Emperor, and Kan Fu was appointed Fengshih-
chun ( Royal Attendant ). Chang Ch'ien was of a strong and generous
character. He had trust in others and was loved by the barbarian
people. Kan Fu was of Hun origin and was skilled in marksmanship.
In privation he could find food by shooting fowls and beasts with
bow and arrows. Chang Ch'ien had started with more than a hundred
followers. After being away for thirteen years, only they two returned.
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Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.