THE CONSPIRACY OF KOZKAMANS
Years passed, and the Kyrgyz lived peacefully with one another. But this very peace troubled their enemies. One day, the Kangai ruler Esen, disturbed by the well-being of his neighbors and fearing that difficult days might come for his own people, gathered all forty clans of the Kalmyks, Kara-Kitay, and Manchus and began his speech as follows:
– Listen everyone and do not say later that you did not hear. The Kyrgyz ruler Manas has united all his tribes into one nation, expelled Alooke-khan. They now live in peace and harmony, their state is flourishing, and the people are happy and prosperous.
If we do not destroy Manas, if we do not rid ourselves of his friends and allies, such as Almanbet, Chubak, and Syrgak, we will not have a peaceful life. Is there a hero among you who could destroy Manas? We will give a golden crown for his head.
No one dared to raise their head and step forward. Then the courtiers went in search of those who would dare to destroy Manas; they found Kokchokoz and Kozkaman, Dzheltibek and Chandayak, Orozon – and all five were dragged to the Kangai ruler. They had once been captured and were relatives of Manas. They had forgotten their native language, forgotten the history of their people, lost the soul of the Kyrgyz – and thus they were bribed with various promises, intimidated with threats of punishment, and forced to go against their own people. This is how the Kozkamans were sent to the Kyrgyz.
And so the Kozkamans set out on their journey, swore to kill all the heroes, kissed foreign shrines, and prepared poison for their own people.
Halfway, Kozkaman sent a messenger ahead with a letter to Manas.
– Lion-like Manas! – he wrote in the letter. – We are of the same blood as you; we were also scattered when all the sons of Orozdu were in exile. We wandered the world for a long time, were lost, were slaves, and now, finally, we have freed ourselves from chains. We have suffered, grown thin, learned much in life, and now we seek protection from you.
Manas was moved, received the Kozkamans with honor and respect. Bakai read the letter to the entire people. The people also felt pity for their poor relatives.
The Kyrgyz warmly welcomed the Kozkamans: they warmed them, caressed them, and gave them the best pieces of food. Manas opened his treasury to them, distributed wealth and food.
Soon the people began to understand that the Kozkamans were completely different people: they spoke a foreign language, observed foreign customs, traditions – nothing Kyrgyz remained in them; they were ordinary Kalmyks. Kanykey was afraid for the Kyrgyz – the Kozkamans would not bring good to Manas.
One day, the Kozkamans invited Manas to their home.
– We are of the same blood, – they said. – You sheltered us, caressed us; we are eternally grateful for this. We will never forget your kindness and generosity.
And Kozkaman handed Manas a cup of kumys. The unsuspecting Manas downed the cup in one gulp and drank the kumys. The poison took effect immediately, and Manas fell to the ground. There were no friends or allies around, and then the Kozkamans, all armed, surrounded the half-dead Manas.
Still alive but weakened, Manas called for friends, relatives, and allies, summoned Bakai and Almanbet, called for Chyrgak and Chubak, called for all forty of his heroes. But they were far away; they did not hear him.
Only Kanykey at home sensed that something was wrong; her heart told her that misfortune had befallen her husband. She tied her braids on top of her head, dressed in her battle attire, jumped on her tireless steed Akkulu, took with her Akayyar, the only one left in the hero's camp, and they rushed to the Kozkamans.
They arrived at the Kozkamans' camp, where the enemies were executing their own justice, surrounding Manas from all sides and trying to kill him. Kanykey rushed into the circle, striking right and left, killing everyone in her path, making her way to her husband in the midst of the crowd. Akayyar followed her, fighting the Kozkamans without sparing his life.
Finally, Akayyar managed to wrest the weakened Manas from the hands of the opponents, managed to carry the giant out of the furious crowd. He handed Manas's heavy body to his wife Kanykey, told her to ride without stopping, not to look back at him, but to save Manas. He himself covered them, trying to hold back the Kozkamans, fighting as best he could, battling as God commanded him.
Kanykey kept racing; the Kozkamans tried to catch up, sending arrows after them, but they could not reach them – Kanykey disappeared into the mountains with her beloved Manas.
Kanykey hid for a long time in the gorge of Kayipchy, where crows and jackals could not reach. Manas, however, could not regain consciousness for a long time.
The treacherous enemies Kozkaman and Kokchokoz captured the brave Akayyar, bound him, and threw him alive into a dungeon. That same day, the Kozkamans gathered and fled back through the passes and foothills, through mountains and rivers back to the Kalmyks, fearing the Kyrgyz's retribution.
At that time, Kyrchylchal happened to return on his horse Kartkuren, saw what had happened, learned the rest from Akayyar, whom he barely pulled from the pit, wept, lamented, and rushed with the burdensome news to his people. He whipped his steed, raced through the mountains and foothills, sped through villages and summer pastures, informing everyone about what had happened, calling out to Kanykey along with Manas, summoning all the Kyrgyz for help.
All the Kyrgyz gathered together, deliberated, discussed how to act, and decided to pursue the Kozkamans. And when they finally caught up with the treacherous enemies, a bloody battle began. Syrgak fought with Kokchokoz, while the others killed all nine sons of Kokchokoz. They took back all the loot taken by the Kozkamans and returned home.
They told Manas how they had destroyed the enemies and celebrated their victory. And in conclusion, Bakai delivered a speech:
– My dear kin! I want to discuss something with you, to consult about something.
Firstly, due to our carelessness, idleness, and our idle life, we almost lost our beloved lion-like Manas.
Secondly, you know we have rules and laws. By not adhering to them, we nearly lost our homeland. No one has the right to violate these laws and rules: neither khan, nor bek – no one.
Thirdly, we have become too indulgent, friends, opened our arms to everyone, opened all the gates, opened all the doors, and began to accept everyone indiscriminately as brothers. But you saw, they are not our brothers: they only seem to be brothers, but they sharpen knives against us.
It is unknown what awaits the Kyrgyz ahead. But whatever awaits us, let us be vigilant and cautious, let us distinguish good from evil, white from black, friends from enemies.
All around are enemies, but there are also friends. Some are ready to come to our aid, while others prepare traps for us. Let us unite and be strong in unity, dear kin! Until now, having lived freely, we have forgotten about order and vigilance. Let us return to order and be cautious. What do you say to this, friends?
The people were silent for a while and then let out a joyful shout, supporting everything Bakai had said.
After long debates and discussions, the Kyrgyz established rules and laws by which they would live in the future, appointed their leaders, decided to allocate warriors and defenders under their command, coordinated all their actions, and went home.
There are no worse enemies in the world than those who come from the Kyrgyz; they shout everywhere about the Kyrgyz, but they are worth less than a broken penny; they have forgotten their native language, their religion, and their own history. They are the worst of enemies because they always strike from behind. They are more treacherous than all because they undermine the unity of the people from within. They are more deceitful than all because they betray their people in difficult times. God, protect my people from such low, treacherous, and deceitful kin!
Unfortunate Kanykey sought means to heal her husband. She found them on her native land. She found them among her people.
She found them among her kin. She found thousands of remedies and began to treat Manas. She gave these medicines to the hero, measuring each drop of the potion with spoons, and indeed healed her husband. To strengthen Manas's health, they slaughtered forty mares, wrapped his body in abdominal fat, and waited forty days until the lion-like hero stood on his feet again. Soon he even mounted a horse.
From one edge to Kokand, from the other – to Kashgar, the Kyrgyz settled, the forty heroes of Manas thrived on the fertile land of Talas, guarding all paths and roads from Kangai to the West. And the Kyrgyz lived together with Manas.
Maksutov Baktybek
The Tale of Manas. The Marriage of Manas to Kanykey