KHAN KOSHOY
In a hilly area crossed by a river, the hero Koshoy gathered the Kyrgyz from seven valleys, and with great difficulty formed them into a people; he raised hunting birds from hawks, made a nation from different tribes; he raised nimble birds from small falcons, made a people from a rabble; and at that time they lived in places called Chech-Dobo-Ata.
Having slaughtered well-fed mares with four fingers of fat, foals from barren mothers, lambs that had just stopped suckling, laying out melted butter on a tablecloth, piling sugar like snow, and arranging various delicacies, Khan Koshoy, they say, gathered many elders who had seen much in their lifetime, wise men, eloquent people, and soothsayers who interpreted dreams, along with all the people, and began his speech as follows:
– Dear fellow countrymen! You are all here: seasoned thinkers, all-hearing and all-seeing wise men, the best of the best from each village. We were a people scattered across the land, like millet; we fought many enemies; we lost our best sons, we shed much blood, we starved and endured so many hardships. Finally, we gathered together and became, like everyone else, a people, found a homeland, and settled in Chech-Dobo.
– You speak rightly.
– God willing, may all be well in the future.
– May the people have peace and tranquility.
The guests nodded their heads in approval at Koshoy's words.
Khan Koshoy continued his speech:
– So be it. And here is what I want to say to you. My dear ones, I had a dream last night. In my dream, I was girded with a dagger, cutting mountains in half; where I cut, there blazed a fire, and crows surrounded me, but nothing could stand against me. What does this dream mean, please tell me?.. I also had another dream: I held in my hands an eagle named Muzmurut, bound with a golden tether. Wherever I released the eagle, no beast, whether lion or tiger, could resist it; it threw off everyone who clung to it and caused a great rout, while many Kyrgyz joyfully watched the eagle's prowess. What could this mean, my dear ones? Please interpret this dream for me, my dear ones.
Koshoy had a close friend named Kudainazar, nicknamed "Dry Club," who jumped up like a hawk and interpreted the secret meaning of the dream:
– Our dear Khan Koshoy, please listen to me. We have inquired here and learned that from the exiled land of our ancestors, from Ala-Too, separated from the ancient Kyrgyz people, accused of all misfortunes and humiliated by the Kalmyks, barely making ends meet and not even daring to manage his own livestock, a brave son was born to Jakyp, and he was named Manas. When he grew up and mounted a horse, they say he avenged himself on the Kalmyks and drove them all the way to Kangai, defeating them completely. If a fire ignited in the east from your sword's blow, then God willing, Manas is returning to us. He will be your support in old age, he will be your sharp sword in battle, he will honor you as a hero, he will call you Uncle Koshoy and place you on a throne to rule over the whole world. If there is a multitude of crows, it seems that the hero Manas will deal a crushing blow to the Kalmyks and Manchus! He will rout them, destroy all their heroes and strongmen, and defeat all their kings and giants. The fact that you hunted with the eagle Muzmurut means that your son Manas was with you. And the fact that the eagle's tethers were golden means that you will sit on a golden throne, and we will all be happy. We will reunite what was torn apart before, we will gather what was lost earlier, and our dear Kyrgyz will finally unite and become a people; we will finally achieve equality and live freely. May your dream come true!
As soon as Kudainazar finished interpreting the dream, Kutunay, wearing a white kalpak, hurriedly rode up to Koshoy.
– Dear Uncle Koshoy! I just saw an unusual man. Since I became your knight, I have never seen such a hero. His shoulders are broad, his face is stern. At the sight of him, everyone feels uneasy next to him, so different is he from ordinary people. A black-spotted panther is ready to leap beside him, a lame gray lion is poised in front. A huge bird Simorg, sharpened to catch anyone, flies above his head. He is girded with a sword without a scabbard, ready to face the darkness of warriors without fear of death, he is like a tiger preparing to slay all who attack him.
Seeing Kutunay's frightened and bewildered look, Khan Koshoy laughed loudly:
– Hero Kutunay, you are so frightened as if you have never seen people before. Is he really so ugly and terrifying that he frightens a man?
– Uncle Koshoy, I honestly admit: when I saw his appearance, my heart began to race. I thought, maybe this is a Chinese, so I rushed to you to inform you quickly. Uncle Koshoy, if this is an army sent specifically, they will be here in an instant, they will attack us, crush the stone walls, demolish the clay walls, and level everything to the ground. They will destroy us all, they will cut off our heads.
– Our esteemed Khan Koshoy, if this is the case, then we better prepare weapons, saddle our horses quickly, and be ready. Who knows what awaits us at this hour? After all, enemies always attack unexpectedly, – the elder Kudainazar gave his advice.
After the alarming news from Kutunay, the people, led by the wise elder Koshoy, were in a flurry. What will happen now, they thought, took up arms, and more than a thousand warriors ascended the foothill. Upon seeing a tall and victorious warrior clad in strong armor, riding the steed Toruchaar, Khan Koshoy immediately understood that this was the long-awaited Manas, the only son of Jakyp, the support and protection of all Kyrgyz, and he immediately spoke kindly:
– Oh, my dear relatives! Look, our falcon Manas has come to us in search of his kin to Ala-Too, who is destined to be the protector of his small Kyrgyz people, who must defeat our wicked enemy and avenge him for all humiliations and sufferings! God has visibly revealed to us the brave Manas! God has graciously revealed to us the mighty Manas!
While Koshoy was speaking, Manas and his knights approached the large crowd. The lined-up knights dismounted, ran, and greeted the people they met along the way.
When Manas arrived, Koshoy, riding the horse Kerkabylaan, rode out to meet him: his white beard was blowing in the wind, his heavy body swayed, his eyes burned like the morning star, and his face was bright.
– Greetings to you, uncle!
– Well, be healthy, my dear son! God has given you a stately body, he has made you brave, though I have not seen you before, I believe you are the only son of Jakyp, Manas. So, how are you, alive and well?
– Uncle Koshoy, my dear elder, my wise saint, I recognized you immediately. If you are indeed my uncle Koshoy, I am ready to fight; give me your armor; if you are my protector, my literate Koshoy, give me your hand here. If I go into battle, be my help and support, my dear hero!
The two Kyrgyz heroes, who had never seen or known each other before, stood for a long time embracing tightly, like a father and son after a long separation. The rest of the people watched their warm meeting and could not get enough of looking at Koshoy and Manas. Tears welled up in their eyes, brotherly and paternal feelings overwhelmed them all.
– How is the people doing, my son? How is the health of my brothers Akbalty and Jakyp?
– Thank God, Uncle Koshoy. Everyone is alive and well. The health of all your relatives is in order. They are healthy and cheerful. They sent their greetings to you.
– May they also be healthy, thank you.
After a long time, the young men joyfully began to jump and run, calling out "Manas," leading Manas with the knights to Khan Koshoy's yurt. There they were met with honor, according to Kyrgyz customs, as has been the tradition among the people since ancient times.
– Now, dear Manas, since you are tired from the long journey, having traveled so many days and crossed so many mountains, rest well. And we will talk about business later, without haste. Listen, people, in honor of my son Manas's arrival, we will hold a celebration; we will feast and rejoice for seven days. Hero Kutunay, start preparing for the celebration right away. Well, my son Manas, let’s go to the guest room and have a bite to eat.
In honor of the guests from Altai, the celebration lasted seven days, everyone rejoiced and celebrated gloriously. When the white-bearded elders, the chosen people of the aiyl, led by Koshoy, inquired about Manas and his friends regarding their brothers, Akbalty and Jakyp, and the entire people, they then left the guests, who had traveled such a long way, in peace so they could rest quietly.
When some time had passed, and it was time to find out the purpose of their visit, Khan Koshoy gathered the white-bearded elders and respected people of his nation to ask about pressing matters, and began his speech as follows:
– Dear son Manas, pay attention to us and listen to me. Surely, it was hard for you among the Kalmyks, who went to seek your numerous people. Even if you were a prince of China, it is always hard without a homeland. Therefore, find your orphaned Kyrgyz people as soon as possible. Altai will not become your homeland, the Kalmyks will not become your kin. In Altai, if you suddenly think of fighting the Kalmyks, you will have no rear, and you will not escape troubles. Therefore, return immediately to your beautiful homeland Talas and quickly reunite with your Kyrgyz people in white kalpaks, my foal.
At this point, the elder Koshoy seemed to decide to tease Manas and continued his speech with the following words:
– My dear foal Manas. Now I will tell you about myself. It turns out, I was born in the desert of Mediyan, in the homeland of the holy Baabedin, at the mazar. When your grandfather Karakhan died, it turns out, a numerous bloodthirsty Kalmyk army began to destroy the Kyrgyz people left without a ruler, doing whatever it wanted, tormenting people as it pleased. I, with forty of my knights, once attacked the numerous Kara-Kitay and Manchus. In fifty-eight days of battle, I lost my best warrior Jugoru, the son of Alp, masters of battle on the berdysh, the best spearmen, all forty knights, and I myself received forty wounds. And then, left alone in the midst of countless Kalmyks, with broken bones, without a horse and without support from my kin, I prayed for a hero like you to arise from the Kyrgyz.
– Dear Manas, I am a witness to that, – echoed the elder Kudainazar. – The entire ancient nation was scattered. Those who resisted were killed, those who survived fled, and those who could not ended up in captivity of the Kara-Kalmyks and Manchus. At that time, our poor people suffered greatly without you. We waited for months and years, we waited for you, our son Manas, we waited for you to raise our banner, we waited for you to free us, and we shed countless tears. And then your uncle Koshoy gathered together the scattered and oppressed of his kin, as if he had raised hunting birds from chicks, he gathered a united people from diverse tribes.
– Well, that’s wonderful, Uncle Kudainazar. May our good deeds continue, and may God prolong our days, – Manas exclaimed joyfully, admiring the deeds of Khan Koshoy.
And Uncle Koshoy continued his speech:
– Thus, my son Manas, the united people settled along the banks of the seven rivers, gradually began to grow, gradually began to prosper. Selecting among them those who could defend their people and homeland, I began to teach them the art of war. All the time I inquired about you from merchants who traveled to distant lands, I learned from clairvoyant wise men. Upon learning of your victories, when the Chinese tried to capture the Kyrgyz, hearing how you defeated them to smithereens, I rejoiced here, regained my spirit, and began to dream of when, finally, I would become your support and protection. Even if you had not come, I would have gone to Altai, I would have caused a riot among the Kara-Kitay and Manchus, I would have returned the Kyrgyz from forty houses to Ala-Too. And for this, I even gathered a council, assembled around me wise men, seasoned with life experience, gathered strongmen with bull necks, ready to crush the whole world, gathered brave warriors who do not fear bullets aimed at them, gathered heroes who fearlessly rush into the crowd even from ninety men, gathered the patient, proudly enduring all the hardships of life, gathered fencers and spearmen, gathered masters of martial arts, gathered the brave who face death.
Manas rejoiced at the words of Uncle Koshoy and also began to speak:
– Esteemed Uncle Koshoy! Hearing about you from the father of Akbalty, I hurried to you straight from Altai. Just yesterday, numerous Chinese captured our lands, just yesterday they humiliated the few Kyrgyz in Altai, and then I fought with them, killing some, crushing others to the end, and driving the third away from our lands. But, seeing that there were countless Chinese, that there were very few Kyrgyz, that there was no one to stand up for me, I despaired. And now, hearing your words this morning, I am infinitely delighted and now do not know how to hide this joy. I honor you like a prophet, Uncle Koshoy. Please be my hope ahead and my support behind. You are a wise leader, and please be my protector throughout my life.
– Dear Manas, then let us not waste time. God forbid, while you are here, that the Kara-Kitay and Manchus, who have suffered from you and lost countless of their warriors, many brave heroes and invincible strongmen, gather an army again and attack us.
The elder Kudainazar echoed Khan Koshoy:
– Oh, from these scoundrels, one can expect anything. Indeed, God forbid they catch us off guard, cause a rout among the Kyrgyz, and plunder all the livestock. God forbid they capture and take our wives and daughters into captivity, that they attack en masse and destroy our entire people.
– Yes, my foal, your uncle Kudainazar speaks the truth. Therefore, go quickly and bring all the Kyrgyz from forty houses with you. God willing, I will still be alive when summer comes and the whole people move to summer pastures; I will raise seven banners, and with an innumerable army, under which even the earth will sink, I will come out to meet you. And even if it is hard for me, I am ready to fight alongside you, my foal Manas, ready to wield a sword and thrust a spear, ready to fight to the death with the Kara-Kitay and Manchus. I am ready to meet you with an army of twelve thousand men. I will prepare armor for you that no arrow can pierce, I will equip you with a horse that no bullet can catch. The only thing I ask you to remember is that as long as the endless land of Ala-Too exists, Altai will never become your homeland, and as long as the numerous Kyrgyz people live, the Kalmyks will never become your kin. Even if you travel the entire vast land, you will not find such land as Talas. Even if the Kalmyks honor you, you will not become their own. My son, move to the endless Talas, which remains from your ancestor Karakhan, and become the support and hope for all the Kyrgyz people.
Thus, Khan Koshoy informed Manas of everything he did not know before, gathered all his kin, and with blessings sent the hero to Altai.
Tale of Manas. About how Manas set out to find Koshoy