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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011
In the course of research into one of the earliest known versions of the Central Asian dastan or ornate oral history, Alpamysh, this writer paid a visit in July 1984 to the Kirghiz of the Pamirs. This group, now settled in the eastern part of Asia Minor under the auspices of the Turkish government, fled from their home before the Soviet occupying forces in 1979. Since then, a number of papers on the Kirghiz have appeared, most of which have expressed concern over whether the members of this particular tribe would be able to retain their customs, traditions and ceremonies. Although the primary purpose of the trip was to compile a glossary of Kirghiz terms not found in any available dictionary, it became clear that it would also provide an unusual opportunity to observe other aspects of Kirghiz culture.
1 See Shahrani, Nazif, The Kirghiz and Wakhi of Afghanistan: Adaptation to Closed Frontiers. Seattle, 1979Google Scholar. Dr. Shahrani is currently editing and translating into English the memoirs of Haci Rahman Kul Khan.
2 Remy Dor has published extensively on this topic. For example see his Si tu me dis chante! chante!. . .: Documents pour servir a la connaisance el l'étude de la tradition orale des Kirghiz du Pamir Afghan, Paris, 1981Google Scholar.
3 Hatto, Arthur has been producing a series of studies on the Kirghiz epic since the late 1960s. Among his other works, see Memorial Feast for Kökötöy Khan, 1977Google Scholar.
4 Cf. the description in the story of ‘Boghach Khan Son of Dirse Khan’: “He heaped up meat in hillocks, he milked lakes of kumis”. See The Book of Dede Korkut. Translated by Lewis, G. L., Penguin, 1974Google Scholar, Kumis, being fermented mare's milk, was not yet available in the new Kirghiz home. See text below.
5 See AltayR, H., “Kazak Türklerinde Aşik KemiǦi ve Aşik Oyunlani”, Türk Dünyasi Araştirmalan Şubat 1984Google Scholar, for a full description of the game.
6 Among Persian and Tajik speaking populations of Central Asia, this game is also known as Bozkashi.
7 Some romantic travellers who have ventured into Central Asia also recorded the contest, perhaps not realizing its solemn purpose and traditions.
8 Aksakal: literally white beards, the respected elders of the tribe; while Karasakal (black beards) are the mature middle generation who are above the Bola (Children) group. The latter includes the youngsters still in puberty.
9 In fact, in the heat of the game, the goat is often pulled apart. It is a normal occurrence to stop the contest momentarily to replace the totally obliterated goat.
10 Though this appears to be a development later in the time scale, since cattle husbandry follows that of sheep herding in the history of Central Asia.
11 Sky Wolf, or Blue-White Wolf.
12 For example, see Togan, A. Z. V., Oĝuz Destam, Istanbul, 1972Google Scholar. This work contains a useful bibliography of various versions.
13 The version of Alpamysh to which I refer is currently being translated into English by the present writer