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
straight on it. So [the bird] is given the previous [amount] of meat. The meat is given this way every day, and when [the bird] has got accustomed to it, two days are spent [without feeding], then [the meat] is given again. When this bird flies and swoops on the lure without forgetting it, it is kept this way for some days and then [the bird of prey]" 7 1 is let first on a bird [of booty]. A hood made of morocco leather is put on the head of a domestic goose. Its two eyes are left uncovered. On the top of the hood meat with sugar (?) is attached. That goose is hit with a thin strip on its feet. Behind [the goose] the bird of prey is let free from a distance of "six shouts"." 7 2 A horseman gallops behind the bird of prey. The bird catches this goose two-three times and when it catches [the goose] last time, the goose is cropped (?)" 7 3 and its heart given to the bird of prey. The bird of prey trained this way catches later wild geese (Bálint zerlek yaliin, Kalm. zerlg yalü) and ducks (Bálint nuyus, Kalm. nuysn) and swans (Bálint xung, Kalm. xun) and other birds flying in groups. 117 4 Our Kalmyks hunt with birds of prey (Bálint sobücilana, Kalm. sowüclari) in autumn months and look for birds. While going for hunting [the Kalmyks] ride a fast horse, take the lure and the whistle (Bálint dülxu , Kalm. dülx), and the bird is set on the right hand. Possibly not on a bare hand, but on a glove made of morocco leather (Bálint zuzän särisär kéksen xuryunä belä, Kalm. zuzän särsär késn xurynä belä). One carries the bird of prey wearing the gloves, otherwise it will harm with the claws of its hobbled legs. While one carries [the bird] this way and a [wild] bird is to be seen, [the bird trained] is let behind as if tossed above. Then [the bird trained] chases it and upon catching it pushes it on the ground and kills it [with its beak] until the owner comes. The owner comes quickly on his horse and takes the booty." 7 5 Right thereafter the bird is given some meat at that very place in order to train it for catching [booty]. If there is a group of birds, the bird of prey catches one from above and lets it on the ground; then chases it further and catches it. A goshawk swoops only once from above and catches the bird. If the goshawk cannot catch it swooping once, it will not chase it any more. That is why our Kalmyks have a proverb: "The Khan has three (one)" 7 6 order, the goshawk has an only swoop."" 7 7 The Kalmyks obtain much booty from falconry. The reason is that a destitute Kalmyk might hunt ten swans" 7 8 in seven days and these seven swans earn him ten horses. The reason is that if he presents these ten swans to ten rich Kalmyk noblemen, he, the destitute [person] gets a horse [in return]. If a presented swan was caught by this bird of prey, he gets a horse and above it ten or fifteen "Lion" Rubbles" 7' 1 or sometimes even more. Additionally there are rich Kalmyks who hunt with birds. A long time ago, when the Tatars and our Erketens" 8 0 lived in peace, our falconer (Bálint sobuci, Kalm. sowüc) Kalmyks dressed in a [nice] gown, rode their fast horses and presented a bird of prey to the Tatar officials and put money [received in return] into the pocket and came back. The Tatar falconers also dressed in a [nice] gown, rode their fast horses and presented a bird of prey to the Kalmyk officials and put money [received in return] into the pocket and came back. Nowadays it is not so. The reason is that they steal each other's livestock, kill each other's people and are very hostile. Our Kalmyks hunt with birds and get booty this way, as it is written here. (Baldariin Muushka) 118 1 117 1 Hereafter I use the lexeme "bird of prey" for the birds trained, in order to distinguish from birds of booty. The Kalmyk texts uses for both the designation Sowü. 117 2 Bálint zur/an dünä yazräsu, Kalm. zuryän dünä yazräs, the expression refers to the usual measurement of distance, indicates a space where a shout is to he heard Here: "a distance of six shouts". "Stimmeweite auf 500 Klafter" Cf. Bergmann It. p. 181. 117 3 Bálint saläd. 117 4 Bálint xung. Kalm. xun. "swan" is a bird tabooed for hunting, however Bergmann and DuSan mention its hunting. 117 5 Bálint sobüyän, lit. "the bird". Il 7'' Bálint's supplement 117 7 On the proverb cf. Thirteenth tale. 117 8 NB! Hunting swans is tabooed, cf. above. M 7'' In detail cf Thirteenth tale. """ Erktn is a clan designation, in detail cf. notes to Song Nr. 16. 118 1 Bálint Baldarín Müäka, one of his main informants, in detail cf. Introduction 161
