Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/33

 In the morning the thief was recognised, and the father drove him into Gobi. On his departure, the criminal stole and took with him a stirring-stick, with which kourmiss is stirred, in a leather sack, and together with it he carried off the luck of the Mongol nation. In Gobi he came to a river, on the banks of which he met a pig. Out of the pig he begat children, from whom the Kirghis have multiplied. The Kirghis are rich in cattle and possessions, because the Beliur of the Mongol nation was taken to the Kirghis Ulus. —(The same as above.)

The Kirghis themselves, especially those living in Tarbagatai and Altai, also say that they are descended from the pig—"Kazaknuin Akêsui Chusko." Therefore, said they, "We do not eat pork."

In former times a mare with her foal and a woman and her son fed entirely upon grass; but the woman and her son did not bite the grass, but tore it up by the root with their hands, so that where they fed grass no longer grew, and the land became desert; therefore succeeding people were commanded to eat not grass but meat.—(Uchja, a Tourgout of Tarbagatai.)

At first only four men and four animals were made, the camel, horse, ox, and sheep, and all were ordered to live on grass. But the men pulled up the grass by the root, made a store of it, and laded their arms with it. Then the animals complained to God that man was thus destroying all the grass; and God asked them, "If I forbid men to eat grass will you consent that they should sell, buy, slaughter and eat you?" The animals consented.—(Siēr Dai, a Kirghis of Tarbagatai.)