Birtalan Ágnes: Kalmyk Folklore and Folk Culture in the Mid-19th Century: Philological Studies on the Basis of Gábor Bálint of Szentkatolna’s Kalmyk Texts.
FOLKLORE GENRES
- It's a lucky sign. - He said and touched [the boots (?)]. 86 6 He was sitting for a long time and then said: - Sister, give me some food and then I will leave. - Thereafter the woman said: - Leave after spending a night here. - Thereafter our man took his saddle off, let his horse graze on the grass and spent a night there. The next day in the morning he was upon leaving when [the woman] gave him a handful of ash: - Ahead, you will meet a camel bull. That camel bull will pursue you. When it almost catches you, sprinkle this handful of ash. - Said [the woman]. Thereafter Glad Ulaan Khachir left. While he was going, there was another white yurt to be seen on his way. He went there and upon his entering there was a little daughter-in-law sitting and combing her hair. - It's a lucky sign - He said and sat down. He was sitting for a long while and then said: [117] - Sister, give me some food and [then] I will leave. - Thereafter the woman gave him some food and in addition a golden ring. - Throw this golden ring into the sea you will find on your way. A golden bridge 86 7 and a silver bridge will appear and you will be able to cross [the sea] on those two bridges. - Thereafter he left. While he was going, there was another yurt to be seen on his way. He arrived and upon his entering there was a little maid gathering the fat from the kumis. Then he entered the yurt, sat down and said: - Sister, give me some food and [then] I will leave. - Thereafter the little maid gave him some food and in addition a silk carpet. - When you sit on this silk carpet, you can get to any place you whish. Thereafter Glad Ulaan Khachir left. While he was going, [he saw] ten old men coming towards him. Our lad went to them and said: - Are you all in health? From where and to where are you going? - We were strong and mighty young men like you. We went [to participate in] the Aragn'i Dangn'i's wedding. Now, not being able to get there, we are going back. Where are you going? - They said. - I'm going there, [too], [118] Return [home] in health. - He said and left. While he was going, he met one hundred old men coming towards him. - Are you in health? - He said. - We are in health. - They said. - From where and to where are you going? - We went [to participate in] the Aragn'i Dangn'i's wedding. [But that place] is too far and not being able to get there, we are going back. - They said. - Return [home] in health. - He said and left. While he was going further, he turned his horse into a yellow anklebone 86 8 and put it into his pouch. He himself sat on the silk carpet and arrived at the girl's place. Upon arriving he erected a tent close to the well where one gets water from and slept. While he was sleeping close [to the well], the fifteen-year-old Aragn'i Dangn'i arrived [there] escorted by other maids. While they were coming close to him playing, [she] said to one maid: - Go and try to wake up that sleeping lad! - Then that maid went close to him, woke him up and ran back hiding herself. Then our lad stood up, saddled his horse, went to the maid's yurt and sat down at the door. 8" 9 While he was sitting there, he stole and drank the milk-brandy that was to be served according to the custom. Thereafter the maid, not knowing who the lad was, told the son-in-law, Külük Bök, the younger brother of the Tögö Bük 87 0 who was sitting beside her: 86 6 Bálint yar küréi orkäd süba, Kalm yar kiírd okäd süw lit "touched upon [with] his hand and sat". The syntagm is somewhat ambiguous, needs further investigation. 8,1 7 Bálint burum, Kalm. burm "bridge", in other tales usually "lagt", cf. Fourth tale. 81, 8 Báliint Sarang say a, Kalm. sarngiayä. Bálint üdiin xorondu. Kalm. üdn xörnd lit. "between the door[jambs]" 87 0 Bálint: Tögö Bükín dü Külük Bökö, Kalm. Tögö bökín dü Külg Bök "Heroic Wrestler, the younger brother of Round [faced ?] Wrestler". 123
