Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/323

Rh blind one (in Turgouth, Sokvir nomuin) has arms ending in hands. The Kirghis do not eat the flesh of these animals. A cap of the fur of Myalēn brings trouble; to a young (fresh) man it will quickly cause sickness, it is only safe to an old man. The Turgouths on the other hand eat the flesh of Myalēn and of the Marmot; if thou askest why they eat it they will answer because "it is very good." It is as good as human flesh. Human flesh is good, it is like sugar, and a man's tongue is sweeter than sugar. God marked Myalēn with beautiful bars of stripes and let her go in the steppe, saying: "Do not become a nation."—(Kirghis of Tarbagatai.)

Three nations, the Chūrchūt (Chinese), the Orus (Russians), and the Kazak (Kirghis), chose as khan a young man, a dwarf (the Kirghis Alasa), and seated him on the alacha (a variegated cloth material which the Kirghis weave), and they wished to raise him upon it. Then they disputed. The Russian says I will take him. The Chinese says I will take him. The Khirgis the same. But when they had raised him the Russian and the Chinese perceived that the khan was very narrow, light and small in stature, and refused to take him as their khan. But the Kirghis thought our nation is a small one, such a khan will just suit us; and they raised him on the alacha with the cry: "Alash, Alash, buldui! Alasa, khan buldui" (Alash, Alash, Alasa has become khan).—(Kirghis of the Chubaraigir race— Tarbagatai.)

Another saying is:—

Alasa Kanuim Kacuinda Kara chakan tusenda, Katun êr tusenda. That is in the times of Alasa, Khan of Karacha Khan and of Katun.—(Same as above.)

Another version of above is:—

Formerly the Kirghis had no khans, but Alasa khan gave a government to the nation. The nation resorted to him and began to ask him to give them a khan. Alasa khan hung a piece of gold money on a tree, and desired all in turn to leap past the tree and fire at the money from a bow, whoever hit the money then he should be