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.
ETHNOGRAPHICA CALMYCICA
shorn in autumn is called möcr 115 2 (Bálint möcir) "short wool", the wool shorn in the summer month is called ul (Bálint utu) "long". Before shearing, the Kalmyks choose the sheep to be shorn from the [herd]. The sheep that are chosen are bound by rope (Bálint zeldii köngnäd, Kalm. zeld kögnäd), or a corral (Bálint sitem , Kalm. sltm)" 5' is built and the [sheep] are led there. The man who shears the sheep takes his scissors (Bálint xäici, Kalm. xäc ), takes a sheep from the group of sheep [to be shorn], drops it [on the ground], and ties its four legs crosswise (Bálint soliji köläd, Kalm. sol'j köläd). One person builds the corral and puts the shorn wool into it. After the shearing is finished, (Bálint nösoTg sabana , Kalm. nősig sawn) two-three pieces of weaves (Bálint terme , Kalm. term)"' 4 are laid out, in order to loosen that wool On the weaves either ox or whatever [animal] skin is laid out. This skin is called by our Kalmyks adsy (Bálint adasxa) "rough skin". For the time of wool loosening a lot of boys, girls, and wives are taken there." 5 5 To loosen [the wool] a pair of thin sticks are taken by each person and they loosen [the wool]. [163] This stick is called modn saw (Bálint modon saba) "wooden stick". Into that loosened wool some lamb's wool is mixed." 5 6 That loosened wool is called saw nösn (Bálint saba nősön) "wool [of the] stick". When the loosening of the wool is finished, the wool is spread out in layers (Bálint, Kalm. zulj)and a lot of old women and wives are gathered in order to make felt (Bálint iskä kend, Kalm. iskä kin/kén). To lay out the wool, [for this purpose] two-three bars (Bálint xäca, Kalm. .väc) 1" are jointed and bound together. Two pieces of felt are laid out between the bars and [the wool] is distributed [on it]. When they are filled with wool, the afore mentioned two pieces of felt are folded alongside and taken outside. Then water in two-three big pots (Bálint xäisän, Kalm. xdsn) is warmed, the pieces of felt are laid out again and the warmed water is sprinkled [on it]. After sprinkling the water, the pieces of felt are folded again, tied with ropes (Bálint aryamaljiär köläd , Kalm. arymjär köläd) and put on the top of many pieces of weaves. After the preparation is finished, about twenty people are called: "Come to the felt [preparing]!" The people who have been taken there arrive and in order to start felt [making] turn their pants up to their tights and sit in a row. They take the rope the felt is tied with, lift it onto their knee and hit the felt on the pieces of weave one thousand five hundred times. [164] That felt is then separated from the other" 5 8 felt, the people who take part in felt [making] stretch their legs, and put the bars on them. Then they put the new felt on the bars and sprinkle water on it. Then that felt is taken fifty times (?) turned on its white coloured [side]. They seize it seven times this way. The people who were sitting with stretched legs kneel up again and press [the wool] with their elbows (Bálint toxoldäd, Kalm. toxäldäd / toxäldäd) hundred and fifty times and make [the felt]. 115 2 The explanatory terms given by Bálint's informants are inserted into the text in the reconstructed Kalmyk form, while Bálint's transcription is given in brackets Bálint möcir. Kalm möcr nösn "kurze Herbstwolle = Kalm Ö. axr nösn " (R. 267), möcr "korotkij (o äersti osennej striZki)", möcr nösn "äerst' osennej striZki" (Mun. 361). 115 3 Bálint sitem, Kalm.D. silm "geflochtener Zaun, Flechtwerk, Zaum für de Schafe, Schafstatte" (R. 361). 115 4 Bálint terme. Kalm. terme, term 1. "dünner wollenes Gewebe" (R. 393). 115 5 Bálint nära lit. "here". ll 5'' Bálint eke geji; the meaning of this expression needs further research. 115 7 Bálint xäca, Kalm, xäc "das Geschlossensein: etwas zugeschlossenes; Verbot, das Zuschließende; Damm. Teich, Abgedämmt" (R. 175). "izgorod', ukritije, zagon (dlja skota)" (Mun 561). "'"I. e. the old felt. 159
