Semetey. The Escape of the Forty Crows to China

Among the forty choro, there were different people
Smart and foolish, a brave one and a coward, and an enemy
Gathered together, they discussed
Among themselves, precisely, like this:

- We have always defeated our enemies
But the glory of fame only went to Manas
Kankor is not any braver than us
Despite this, we obeyed!

Shall we really obey his son?
Shall we really serve to the end?
Many bad deeds after Manas
We have already committed!

They subjected Kanykey to beatings
Divided Manas's property
His family mercilessly, cruelly
Once forced to flee to Bukhara

Semetey will not forget this
The time will come, he will take revenge on us
Let’s better run to Konurbay
And serve him faithfully!

Deciding one dark night
They secretly fled towards China
Semetey, at that time, was sound asleep
Receiving a terrible dream in bed

Awoken in fear from his sleep
He immediately ran to the camp of the forty choro
Learning of the flight, he was saddened in spirit
Then he thought for a moment and said:

- If my father had not died
I would not have experienced the humiliation of the laava
I wandered as an orphan with Temir-khan
Returning, I restored my glory!

Now again disgrace, the choro fled!
Without them, life is a complete abyss
Should we search for them or perish in separation?
Life without them is insignificant, useless!

Thinking, he saddled his horse
Finally set off in search
He rode long through valleys and gorges
One day he caught up with the fugitives

When he saw them, he was very glad
As if Manas had resurrected again
The choro, noticing Semetey's gaze
Grabbed their guns, prepared to shoot!

Semetey quickly jumped off his horse
Showing his submission with this
He placed his akkyse around his neck
In a loud voice, the choro said:

- I will give you my horse and my head
If I have offended you in any way, then forgive me!
You have disgraced me before the people
Why are you fleeing from me?

It is rumored that I cannot manage
My people have started to scatter
Better kill me, bury me in the ground
If you do not wish to stay nearby

For a long time he begged the choro
Finally, each lowered their weapons
One of the forty batyrs, Baychoro
In response, spoke to Khan Semetey:

- Our horses, having grown fat, have become strong
Brave batyrs, having grown fat, have become sad
In the lifetime of the gray-maned Manas
We also, having been stirred, left!

Now we have decided that it is necessary
To visit Konurbay before you
So that later we can tell in detail
About his secrets and affairs, knowing everything

- My dear ones! - replied Semetey
To go to war against Konurbay
We must set out with a huge army
Entrusting the banners to Sarykhan and Bakay!

Leading all forty choro with him
Semetey returned again to Talas
They began to live as before, carefree
Entertaining themselves with games, as in former times

Kanykey said to Semetey and Bakay:
- The choro will never be loyal to us
We must separate them from each other
Let them go home one by one!

Semetey did not hear these words
The choro decided again to flee
So that the orphan would not interfere with their business
They decided to undertake a new plan!

Once secretly riding out to the mountains
They decided to strengthen the watch there
They sacrificed an animal
Took their spears, loaded their guns

Semetey, sensing something bad
Started searching for them in every corner
Climbing to the ridge of a high mountain
He saw them in the distance somewhere in a pipe

Noticing the camp in motion
As if they were going to strike the enemy
- What will happen? I will go to them! - thought Semetey
I will try again to persuade them!

Arriving, he got off his horse, hung his akkyse
Around his neck and repeated his submission
- I bring you as a sacrifice both my horse and my head
If I am guilty, forgive me! - he said

- Do not disgrace me before the people!
The choro did not listen to his pleas
They began to shower the batyr with bullets
Despite the fact that he asked to end the disputes!

Then one choro suggested to the others:
- Let’s take him alive
Mistreating the son of a dog
We will torment him and kill him!

Semetey continued to plead:
- I have not seen good from my relatives since the cradle!
I came here again in hope
There is only a spoonful of blood in me, my muscles have weakened!

If you destroy me
The sin will fall upon you with a terrible gaze
I have long asked and begged you
This will be an eternal shame for you!

I wanted peace and agreement with you
Side by side crossing seas and lands
Now I understand, nothing will come of it
Your souls are too corrupted!

Semetey turned to the spirit of Manas
His eyes ignited with fire from anger
His hair stood on end, he took the syrnayza in his hands
The thirst for blood awakened in him immediately!

Whipping his horse, like a tiger, he rushed into battle
He killed every single choro
Gathered the bodies of the slain, Semetey
Like a mountain, he piled them in one place!

Among the choro were four sons
Of grandfather Jakyp from the youngest wife
Chiybyt, Kochkor, Adybay, and Kelbay
Semetey did not deny his guilt!

Fearing at that time, wise Khan Bakay
That the choro would harm Semetey
Taking Sarykhan with him and Jamgyrchi
He rode after Semetey, following his trail

Bakay decided to deal with the betrayal
A noble heart could not bear the sorrow
That a civil war had begun
He cried, springs of tears formed a sea

- The deeds of these dogs were bad
And there is no limit to their foolish actions!
Bakay said, together with his companions
He began to examine their corpses

To the approaching Semetey, Khan Bakay said:
- These scoundrels had an evil plan
And you did well, orphan
That you killed them all with your own hands!

These people were loyal to your father
We will not leave their bodies to rot
We cannot leave them for beasts and birds to eat
They must be buried according to custom!

- Everything said is true, Khan Bakay!
Semetey replied and mounted his horse
Let us not remember what has happened
We will build them a tomb!

On one side, for Semetey's relatives
On the other – for the rest of the choro
They erected a memorial tomb
Thus showing the goodness of their hearts!

Since then, that place is called Kochkor
This is the name of one of the brothers who were killed
Semetey returned back to Talas
The Kyrgyz and the Argynts proclaimed him their khan!

Semetey. The Battle of Semetey with Abyke and Kyobeshem. Part - 2