The Tale of Manas. The Resettlement of Manas to Talas

THE RESETTLEMENT OF MANAS TO TALAS

Having crushed forty tribes of the Chinese and Manchus, and saving a handful of Kyrgyz from complete destruction, Manas became the ruler of forty families. He consulted with the elders of his clan and led his tribe back to their native people.

They slaughtered a colt whose mother remained barren, played bagalak, various noisy games, chess, generally pleased that they had avenged the hated Kalmyks.

Forgetting all grievances, not recalling past misfortunes, lifting up the peacefully and serenely living people, Manas, at the urging of Khan Katagan Koshoy, along with Jakyp and Akbalta, who drove a multitude of livestock ahead of them, set out on a journey through high passes, across vast high-altitude pastures, and everyone rejoiced and laughed, happy for the upcoming meeting with their native land of Ala-Too. Upon seeing the places where they had shed much sweat, where their ancestors were buried, where their fat herds grazed, where, after all, their mothers had given birth to them, where their umbilical cords were tied, the people rejoiced with happiness, and tears streamed down their cheeks. They prepared vodka from kumys, poured it into vessels, slaughtered lambs and strapped the meat to their saddles, donned armor, mounted their smooth-gaited horses, and thus moved from place to place. Finally, they reached the lands inherited from their fathers – these were the lands of Kichi-Jyldyz and Chon-Jyldyz, Oguz-Ashuu and Tai-Ashuu, Uch-Jyrgalan, Konuzdu, and Kok-Taldy. Many days passed, they traveled many roads, passed through Sary-Ozon-Ata, along the shore of Ken-Ili, and there they made a halt. They settled along the banks of the river, lined up their tents and yurts, and decided to rest. On the flat terrain, wild asses grazed, and it was evident that no human foot had yet stepped here. Here apples sang, fell to the ground, and turned into peat; nuts sang, fell, and formed rivers. These places were uninhabited, and seeing them, the soul rejoiced; here grew wild onions and wormwood, here flowed springs. This sacred land was special, and in winter and summer, the snow did not melt from the mountains. This land resembled paradise; they saw forests inhabited by various beasts and birds, and the forty families of Kyrgyz led by Manas enjoyed all this beauty for seven days.

At the sprawling marshy estuary, they held a council for three days. They gathered at another marsh as well. They discussed for a long time, deliberated this way and that, and then the old man Koshoy, rousing like a falcon, spoke loudly:

– Dear tribesmen, we have avenged everything against the hated Kalmyks, and after a long exile, we return from Altai to the land of our ancestors. We still have to go through many trials, fight many enemies, but let us decide right away where we will settle, where we will establish ourselves. On one side is Talas, on the other – At-Bashi; we will settle between them. Together we will fight against the enemies, together we will demand what is rightfully ours, together we will go forth with weapons, together we will shoot. We will all settle close together, and, to be honest, if necessary, we will give our lives for Manas. To prevent us from being attacked unexpectedly, we will set up a reliable guard, to serve us as hope and support, and we will elect Manas as our ruler. Together with brave Manas, we will repel the attacks of the enemies; what do you think about this?

With such a speech, Koshoy addressed the people.

– Right, right you speak, uncle Koshoy, – the people supported his words.

Koshoy took Manas by the hands and kissed him on the forehead.

– My son Manas, my little colt, do not bend the axe with black cheeks, do not leave your Kyrgyz people without a leader. Take and wield all power, son Manas, and leave to your uncle where to fight. I will achieve my goal, and for you, my brave Manas, I am ready to give my life. May you always have the sacred red banner with the golden crescent in your hands, and if you have to enter the thick of the Chinese opponents and fight, I will remain with this banner and will fight under it to the last. You can be satisfied with me, and always remember me; if you go further, know that this land will be as dear to you as Sary-Ozon, as glorious Talas, and vast Ken-Kol. Cherish these lands and the people. Make Talas your fortress, close all roads from the enemies. If we set out together, we will overcome the enemy, my brave Manas, so be healthy! I, your old uncle Koshoy, place many hopes on you, my courageous Manas; I consider you my support. If I die, your uncle Koshoy, perhaps you will slaughter my steed, dig a deep grave, and bury me with your own hands.

Here is what I, your uncle Koshoy, will say to you: if you can preserve Talas, it will become your stronghold. Settle in Talas, and we will elect you as our ruler, you – the son of Jakyp Manas. Come on, people, let us come to a common opinion and bless our son, the hero Manas. Let him be a ruler, like the great Kara-Tuu, let him be holy for all forty tribes of Kyrgyz. So be it!

– So be it! – all the people simultaneously blessed Manas.

The one who lost his kin, the Noyguts, and was therefore sad and gloomy, unable to find his place and having lost faith in himself, thoughtful and troubled, Akbalta began his speech:

– My son Manas, you have united the divided, gathered the disbanded. You have defeated the numerous army of the Kara-Kalmak and Manchus, freed your people. I pray to God day and night to give you many years of life; I wish you a happy reign and service to your people. And I will also say to you, my son Manas, I want to ask you one thing.

– Speak, speak, uncle, I spare nothing for you.

– My son Manas, I have one misfortune. I long for my Noygut people, for my land of Sary-Kol. Recently, both in dreams and in reality, I constantly see my homeland. I am completely tormented. If you will allow, let Kutubiya go with me; we will go to our people, appoint him as khan over the Noyguts, let my son, like you, also be my support. I have a beloved homeland, Sary-Kol, the valiant people of Noygut. Our Noygut people have more rice than wheat, more silver than tin, more foxes than gray hares, and generally much property. There are plenty of gilded tassels for adornments, beautiful brides from the Noyguts, girls from the Noyguts in red dresses and with slender figures are lovely. With heels like those of a ram, with copper legs, the fastest horses are among the Noyguts, in red dresses, with slender figures, beautiful girls among the Noyguts. Our Noygut tribe has more camels than cattle, more giants than ordinary people, more high cliffs than stones. When I die, the Noygut tribe will have many enemies surrounding it. Once, when the Chinese captured me and put me behind bars, then the numerous Noygut tribe became orphaned, the land became deserted, and the people were left without a ruler. I have a dream to gather my tribe and make it a people, to arrange my land and make it a homeland, to unite my people and serve such a hero as you, to become your wings.

Among the many Noyguts, I am known as Akbalta; I have countless livestock. Let that livestock perish, my son Manas, my light, it is hard without my people; I long for them.

The poor, longing Akbalta could not finish his words; his voice trembled, and his whole body shook.

Standing nearby, Jakyp grabbed his hands.

– What are you, what are you, are you a child or what?

– Uncle Akbalta, be strong.

– Uncle Akbalta, let it be as you wish.

– Thank you, my dear son, may God bless you.

Akbalta joyfully blessed Manas.

Seeing that his best friend was leaving them, and yet not revealing himself, Jakyp barely restrained himself.

– Hey, Akbalta, my friend, the swift bird flies to its own, goes to its native expanses. The clever bird flies to its own; you were once a stranger, now you are going to your homeland. When you arrive in your village, Akbalta, tell the people everything, do not forget about your brave Manas. Be a support when he climbs up, be a support when he descends. If he goes to China, be his advisor; if he heads to Beijing, Akbalta, be his helper. How many years we have been deprived of our homeland, my friend Akbalta, may you always be healthy.

Akbalta and Jakyp embraced tightly, cried, trembling all over, showering each other with kisses.

Thus, praying to God, accepting that all people are mortal, swearing on the holy book, and chewing white flour as a sign of the unbreakability of the oath, the khans of the three peoples parted in different directions: Akbalta along with Kutubiya headed with his tribe to Sary-Kol, Khan Koshoy with his army went to At-Bashi, and Manas with forty families set off for Talas.

They traveled both day and night, and finally arrived in Talas. Upon seeing the blessed lands of Ken-Kol and the vast Talas, abundantly overgrown with tamarisk, where their ancestors had grown, Manas and the other people who arrived with him, forgetting about misfortunes and troubles, joyfully threw themselves onto the green carpet of the earth, ran, jumped, and rolled on the grass, trying to enjoy this beauty.

Seeing the forests, trees, and all living things in them, the thickets as thick as a wrist, the important ones the size of a light-red cow with a mark, wild asses frolicking like a well-fed colt, birds resembling Altai turkeys, brushwood the size of a plane tree, and the plane tree the size of a tower, the transparent waters of the spring flowing from the main channel, Manas enjoyed and marveled at the beauty of this paradise land.

Looking around and seeing the chains of mountains surrounding this beautiful land like a fortress, having never seen such beautiful places before, Manas understood that uncle Koshoy was right to direct them here.

He looked in one direction and saw the depression of Kan-Dzhailak, looked in the other direction and saw the foothills of Uch-Koshoy, glanced opposite and saw Kara-Buur and Chatkal. It seems that the fate of my people is so bitter that, having lost all this beauty, they wander around the world, thought Manas. Now that they have returned to their native people, to the land of their ancestors, will my people be able to fill with joy and satisfy their insatiable desire?

Dear to the heart, spacious Talas, it turns out to be a blessed land; a person living here should enjoy all this. Sitting on a wild ass, one should hunt with a falcon on this land, one should play ordo and gamble on this land. On this land, a man should live in abundance, and if he gets bored, he should hunt for roe deer to lift his spirits, he should play orompoi or ordo and enjoy life.

Thus thought Manas and thanked God.

The tamarisk-covered Ken-Kol and the vast Talas became a find for the hero Manas, supported by patrons, for all forty families. All their desires were fulfilled, all their sufferings were repaid; they established a camp in forty layers, slaughtered colts that had suckled barren mares, held a feast, and all who came from Altai joined the local people for eternity.

The Tale of Manas. The Second Battle of Manas with the Kara-Kitay