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
- I am the khan named Steppe Eagle khan having seventy-two metamorphoses. 62 0 I transformed into a commoner Steppe Eagle, 62 1 and when I was returning [home], a bullet hit me and broke one of my legs. Now you two will live happily this way until your death. But before you die a son will be born to you. Please send that son to me, telling [him] that there is a Steppe Eagle khan living in the direction of the setting sun. - And saying so [the Steppe Eagle khan] left. Thereafter the old woman and the old man lived that way happily for a while when a son was born. Thereafter the old woman and the old man said to their son: - There is a khan named Steppe Eagle khan [living] in the direction of the setting sun, go to him. [52] Upon saying it the old woman and the old man died. Thereafter the lad left running in the direction of the setting sun, to the Steppe Eagle khan. Running, he arrived at the khan's. When he came there, Steppe Eagle khan was standing outside of his yurt. Upon the [lad's] arrival the khan asked him: - What a lad are you? - 1 am the son of the old woman and the old man whom the khan met that time.'' 2 2 Thereafter the khan gave a nice dress to the lad and in addition he gave him a golden box and said: - After you've left my dependants' [territory], put this box of mine under your head and fall asleep. - Thereafter the lad went beyond the dependants' territory and putting [the box] under his head, slept. Having slept, upon getting up he was laying inside a yellow spotted building. There was nobody else near him. Meanwhile a wolf entered, and upon entering it said [to him]: - A khan is going to marry off his daughter here, go and take that girl for me, if you don't take her, I will eat you. - Thereafter the lad left. While going he met the above mentioned Steppe Eagle khan. Thereafter the lad told the khan what had happened to him. Thereafter the [Steppe Eagle] khan said: - A big group of caravaneers are coming hither. 1 will turn into a ram with golden wool [53] and golden horns. Go driving me and when the caravaneers ask you whether you sell your ram, tell them that yes, you will sell it. If they ask you for what you will give it, tell them that you'll sell it for the chestnut horse harnessed to the last cart. - Thereafter the lad went driving his ram. While driving [the ram], he met the caravaneers. The caravaneers asked the lad: - Will you sell your ram? - I will sell it. - Said [the lad], - For what will you sell it? - [They] said. Thereupon the lad said: - I will sell it for the chestnut horse [going] behind. - They gave their horse and took his ram. Thereafter he left riding that horse. That horse was an Arnzl, 62 3 a miraculous horse. Thereafter the lad rode far away. The ram turned into a hare and arrived back running [to the lad]. Thereafter the khan said: - This khan, who is going to marry off his daughter, does not have a [proper] gown. 1 will turn into a fine-looking gown. Sell me to them! If they ask for what you will sell [the gown], tell them that you'll give it for the grey horse that [lies] in the dung. 62 4 - Thereafter the lad took that gown and arrived [at the khan]. The khan asked the lad: - Lad, will you sell this gown? - I will sell it. - Said [the lad], - For what will you give it? - Asked [the khan], - I will give it for the grey horse [lying] in the dung. - Said [the lad], - [54] Thereafter the khan got that gown giving his grey horse [to the lad]. That horse was an Arnzl. Thereafter the lad took that horse " 1 Bálint dalin xoyur xubilyätä Tarbaji xän gedek xän bi , Kalm. daln xoyr xiiwilyata Tarwj xän gedg xän bi. This expression seems to be the epithet of this type of tale-hero. According to Basangova (Bord?.anova) and Gorjajeva there is no variant to this tale in available Kalmyk tale heritage. 62 1 Bálint alaptän (. albatän ) tarbaji bolji , read probably Kalm. alwtn tarwj bolj. "" Bálint xägi teigejiyaboxu cak. Kalm. xäg tigjyawx cag, lit. "while the khan was going or living that way ..." 62 3 Bálint Aranzal. Kalm Arnzl "legendary) kon' (neobyíno rezvyj, vynoslivyj i umnyj)" (Pürbän p 39 ). The designation Amzl for the horse with magic abilities appears frequently in Kalmyk and also in Oirat tales and epics; on this motif: Todajeva 193. 62 4 Bálint bastu bäiksen boro mörinäsii ögönä bi, Kalm. bäst bäsn bor mörnäs ögnäw ; bas read bäs "dung". 94
