Early Reports
The earliest mention of the tribes of ancient Kyrgyz in Arabic literature is found in the works of the geographer Ibn Khordadbeh (9th century), where they are mentioned alongside the neighbors of the Toguzguz, "with the Khirghiz mentioned next to the Türgesh, Azkishi, and Kipchaks."
Al-Istakhri on the Kyrgyz
According to Al-Istakhri ("Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik," 10th century), the Kyrgyz inhabited "between the lands of the Toguzguz, Kimaks, the ocean, and the land of Khazlaj." Elsewhere, he notes that the Itil River (apparently the Irtysh) "as it has reached me, originates near the land of the Khirghiz...". According to the Persian translation, it states: "And the Itil River flows from the border of the Khirghiz and from there reaches the Bulgars; and at the borders of the Burtas it flows into the sea."
In Al-Istakhri ("Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik"), it is mentioned that "the land of the Kimaks is located to the north beyond the lands of the Khazlaj, who inhabit between the lands of the Guzz, Khirghiz, and the area that lies beyond the lands of the Saka." Concerning the Toguzguz, it is reported that they "are located between Tubbet, the land of Khazlaj, Khirghiz, and the kingdom of Sin."
According to this information, the borders of the settlement of the Kyrgyz in the west and southwest were located somewhere in the regions of Eastern Kazakhstan, in the southern Altai, on the northern side of Dzhungaria.
Evidently, these were mainly "Western" Kyrgyz tribes.
In the chapter "On Khorasan," Al-Istakhri ("Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik") reports about the mountains, "within Khorasan up to the borders of Bamiyan, all the way to Bandjhir, until they enter the land of Wakhan and the 'Talas' Kyrgyz branch off (then) into Maverranahr, (passing) to the inner limits (of the land) of the Turks up to the borders of Ilak and Shash, near the Khirghiz. In these mountains, from beginning to end, there are silver and gold mines, and the richest of them are those close to the land of the Khirghiz, until they (the mines) reach Maverranahr from the side of Fergana and Shash." From this data, it is clear that the group of Kyrgyz mentioned here inhabited near the inner limits (of the land) of the Turks, "the borders of Ilak and Shash." According to the Persian translation, it states that "the Gūr mountains are located within Khorasan. And they extend to the borders of Bamiyan, Panjshir, and Maverranahr, all the way to Inner Turkestan, to Chacha and the Khirghiz." It is possible that this group of Kyrgyz lived not far from Talas, or in adjacent areas.
Talas Monuments
In Al-Istakhri ("Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik") (according to the Persian translation), it is stated: "Taraz is the border between the Turks and Muslims, and around it are fortified walls, which are also called Taraz. The border of the spread of Islam reaches this place, and from there to the tents of the Karluks. This (at the same time) is the border of Chacha." Apparently, these Kyrgyz were among these Karluks or somewhere nearby. This group of Kyrgyz can conditionally be called "Talas." Evidently, they were part of the "Western" Kyrgyz, having separated from them. However, when and how this group of Kyrgyz arrived here is unknown.
They presumably owned the well-known Talas ancient Turkic runic inscriptions. In them, the combination "Otuzy oglan" is often found (represented in four Talas monuments). Also, in these inscriptions, the title "Chor" frequently appears, which was "the highest title held by the deceased princes, whose epitaphs are erected in the Ayyr-Tamoy valley... The most common attribute of this title was the word - kara, 'black.' Chor - appears in many ancient Turkic ethnonyms: Beg-Chur, Kuli-Chor, Kara-Chor, Moyun-Chor, Oglan-Chor, Kumar-Chor, etc. Kara-Choro, Choro are also present in the names of Kyrgyz ethnonyms. The word - Choro is used in the epic "Manas" as a definition of the closest companion of the hero Kyk Choro, "forty choro" - so they are stereotypically named in the epic as companions of the main epic hero: үйдө жүрсөң бир чоро, жоого чыксаң миң чоро (folk.) — "at home you are one choro, when you go against the enemy, you are a thousand choro." The "Talas" Kyrgyz subsequently, evidently, became part of the right wing of the Kyrgyz ethnicity in the form of the tribal group "Otuzy Uul" (Thirty Tribes).
In the chapter on Maverranahr, Al-Istakhri ("Kitab Masalik al-Mamalik") reports about the mines that are located "in Usrushana, Fergana, Ilak, Shelji, and Labana up to the land of the Khirghiz; all of them are located in the main ridge of these mountains and in the adjacent mountains." However, according to the Persian translation, it states: "And on the opposite side of the main ridge of these mountains (is located) a desert; (it lies) in the region of Usrushana on the border of Fergana and Ilak and up to the Khirghiz, and all this is located near (the main) ridge of these mountains." Apparently, this was referring to the aforementioned "Talas" Kyrgyz. It is likely that the existing assumption that the original work of Al-Istakhri was written "specifically in Persian" is correct.
