A Tale of How P. P. Semenov (Tyan-Shansky) Won the Competitions of the Sanjyrchi

COMPETITION

The famous Russian scientist P. P. Semenov (Tyan-Shansky) during his journey to Kyrgyzstan visited the aul of Boldysana, a relative of the supreme manap of the Bugyns, Borombai. Pyotr Petrovich had heard much about Boldysana: in the eyes of the Kyrgyz themselves, he was a strange manap - he did not engage in barimtа (cattle raiding), nor did he participate in any feuds. To avoid being disturbed, he migrated with his aul far into the mountains.

More than anything in the world, Boldysana loved to listen to folk singers and storytellers. He was also known as a performer of melodies on the komuz and a great improviser.

In honor of the arrival of the Russian guest, Boldysana, as is customary, organized a toy (feast), where famous komuz players competed.

Then the sanzhyrchi performed - experts in sanzhyr: they knew the genealogy of the Kyrgyz clans up to the seventh and even the tenth generation. The winner was to receive a prize - a fattened ram. P. P. Semenov listened with great attention and kept repeating to the translator Bardashev:
— You must remember, you must remember...

Towards the end, Boldysana himself got carried away: he took the komuz and, accompanied by it, recounted the guest's genealogy. It turned out that the great mırza Semenov traced his lineage directly from angels. The sanzhyr was very amusing, and the numerous guests laughed and clapped their knees; even the translator Bardashev laughed to tears. Pyotr Petrovich smiled and, with some annoyance, tugged at Bardashev:
— Translate it, for heaven's sake!
— There’s nothing offensive for you here... But this Boldysana, what a riot!..

And he began to translate.

Now Pyotr Petrovich was laughing too:
— Undoubtedly, after such a performance, the Boldysana prize will go to Boldysana himself!
When everyone had finished laughing, the host suddenly handed the komuz to the guest. ~ What? - Semenov was frightened. - I can't sing or play...

~ You can't refuse, - whispered Bardashev. Just strum something from Pushkin... "How now gathers the prophetic Oleg!"... And I'll translate.

In Pyotr Petrovich's eyes, little devils danced - surely, he thought of something.

— Well, alright... Here goes nothing! And he began to sing, imitating the Kyrgyz recitative:
— Two and a half thousand years ago, a mighty people lived in Tyan-Shan - the Sakas. Above all, they valued freedom and in the struggle for it defeated many kings.

Then another people came - the Usuns. And the two peoples merged together.

And somewhere far away on the Yenisei lived the Kyrgyz. There were few of them, but many enemies. The Kyrgyz were in a bad way. And Tengri - the Blue Sky - commanded them to move westward. The guiding star Cholpon led them to seek a new homeland. They walked and walked and arrived in Altai. Here the great hero Manas was born. But the enemies did not leave them in peace even in their new place... And the star Cholpon twinkled from above: "Your future homeland is not here yet..." Then the great hero Manas gathered all forty clans and led them to where the star pointed.

The path of the small people was long and hard - through high mountains, turbulent rivers, and lifeless deserts; they had to break through many hostile tribes.

Finally, they reached Tyan-Shan. The star Cholpon twinkled at them from above: "Here is your homeland - from now on and forever!"

And a miracle happened: the inhabitants of these places welcomed the newcomers as good guests. Centuries passed, and a new people appeared in Tyan-Shan - the descendants of the Sakas, Usuns, and Kyrgyz. But they retained the name "Kyrgyz."

— I sang the sanzhyr of the Kyrgyz people, - said Pyotr Petrovich. — Translate it to them word for word, don’t mix it up...

All those present listened with the deepest attention. And when Bardashev finished, there was an outburst of enthusiastic exclamations.

The prize was unanimously awarded to the guest.

Legends