Means of Transportation of the Kyrgyz in the Early 20th Century

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

The primary animal for horseback riding since ancient times has been the horse - at. People traveled long distances faster on it than on other riding animals. In the context of extensive livestock farming, it was used for transporting pack loads. Various sources testify that the ancestors of modern Kyrgyz almost never did without horses. Figuratively speaking, sitting on a horse, people spent more time than walking on the ground. The ancient tradition of horseback riding was preserved even in the recent Soviet era. In mountainous areas, horseback riding is still widespread today.

The horses bred by the Kyrgyz were well adapted to the harsh conditions of mountainous and rocky areas.

These animals felt confident carrying a rider or a heavy load up the slopes of mountains. Researchers noted their high riding qualities: “Although the Kyrgyz horse is not large in stature, it is long, deep, and bony, with remarkably developed muscles, and therefore, while it may not be particularly fast, it is strong, enduring, and very comfortable to ride. The temperament of the Kyrgyz horse is lively yet calm, and, being very intelligent, it easily submits to riding and training. Its endurance and ability to climb mountains are astonishing. On the mountain ledges where a Kyrgyz rides at a trot, a European horse would not walk” (Bezvugly, 1916, p. 66). “The hooves of the Kyrgyz horse stand out for their moderate size and exceptional strength. The hardness of their horn is so great that an unshod Kyrgyz horse can easily and without harm (to itself - A.Zh.) make very long journeys, climbing and descending mountains on rocky, and often directly stony ground” (Zuytin, Voititsky, 1930, pp. 78-80).

In the folk tradition, light, fast horses intended for riding - zhuryshtuu zhilky, and those with a pacing gait - zhorgo were valued. Another group consisted of horses intended for transporting goods, draft power - unaa or kyoluk.

When riding, preference was given to geldings. However, this did not exclude the widespread use of mares and stallions, especially in poor and middle-class households. Geldings were the calmest and most enduring.

The transportation of goods by pack was carried out using specially designed devices, equipment, and containers. Small loads were transported on horseback, secured with straps (kanzhygaga bayloo). Water and dairy products were typically transported in leather bags. For this, chanach was used, among other things. Woven saddle bags (kurzhun) were very convenient for transporting items, thrown over the saddle and evenly distributed on both sides. If the load was small, the rider could also sit in the same saddle. When transporting bags filled with grain or other items, or elements of portable dwellings, strong thick ropes - arkan, made from horsehair - kyl arkan were used.

Large cattle were also used as transport and pack animals during migrations. “For pack and saddle, not only bulls (buhais and oxen) are used, but often cows as well; only in more prosperous households, where there are many oxen and buhais, are cows freed from this work,” wrote participants of a scientific expedition studying domestic animals (Lus, Kolesnik, 1930, p. 92). However, instances of using cows for these purposes were noted very rarely, which cannot be said for oxen - they were used to transport sheaves and other loads, just like horses. In areas where agriculture developed, oxen and bulls served as the main draft power during plowing and harrowing, transporting the harvest using a drag chiine, grinding grain, etc.

For oxen, a pack saddle - ynyrchak was used, which consisted of two side boards - kaptal, located on either side of the animal and connected by two arched bows. The saddle was secured with a hair arkan and a rawhide strap - basmayyl, passed under the belly of the animal.

In the high mountainous zones of Alai, Tian Shan, where yaks (topoz) were bred, they were also prepared for transport purposes, especially for packing, to a lesser extent for riding. It was believed that one yak was equivalent in strength to five horses (Shibaev, 1973, p. 108). For riding on yaks, as with oxen, a riding saddle was used. They were managed in the same way as oxen. Y. Y. Lus pointed out the high riding and packing qualities of the yak, which in high mountain conditions cannot be compared to any other domestic animal (Lus, 1930, pp. 199-227).

Camels were used only for packing. This animal is enduring and easily walks not only in flat but also in mountainous terrain. Various loads were transported on camels. Children, the elderly, and women could ride on them. Camels are well adapted to the conditions of vertical migrations. These powerful animals, distinguished by extraordinary endurance, can carry significantly more weight than horses and oxen. “The load of camels reaches up to 15 poods of pack weight, while the driver also sits on it, and the camel walks at its wide and extremely measured pace, covering 6-7 versts per hour” (Bezvugly, 1916, p. 84). This animal could carry on its back nearly as much cargo as a horse with a cart.

On horses and oxen, parts of the yurt were typically transported during migrations, as well as logs, grain, sheaves from the field, etc., and these animals were harnessed to a drag (chiine). If not heavy loads were transported over short distances, sometimes they did without a saddle, covering only the back of the animal with a felt saddle pad. When transporting logs, they were tied with arkan, one on each side of the pack or riding saddle. The same logs, dry trees for firewood could also be transported by dragging - suirotuu.

The horse was the main means of transportation during the harvest. Several sheaves could be loaded on each side for delivery to the threshing floor. If the pack animal was very strong, several more sheaves were loaded between the two sides. Similarly, large bales of hay were usually loaded, secured one on each side. Bags of grain were also transported by pack: one was tied on each side of the horse, and a third on its back. Sheaves of grain were transported on camels. On top of the packs, the driver tookech sat. He could also ride a horse ahead of the camel, holding it by the reins.

Ethnography