Jakip was immersed in a state of depression after hearing about Chiyirdi’s request. “Both the tigers and lions could be found out in the wilderness only if we spare no expense in hiring those experienced hunters. The hunters will bring the tigers and lions for us. But how about the holy bird named Alpuukara which was likened to the phoenix? Where can we find it?” he said to himself.
Jakip turned to Adelbek for advice. Jakip narrated Chiyirdi’s words once again. They sat on the boggy moorland side by side, getting lost in thoughts. They pondered over the problem for a long time but could not find a way out. Adelbek advised to ask Jakip’s younger brother Balta for help. Balta is a knowledgeable genius of quick wits. As soon as they reached agreement, Jakip set Adelbek going over to Balta’s place.
Balta was overjoyed at the news that his sister-in-law would give birth to a child. He had come to believe that the prophesy written on the book of augury would come true in the near future. According to him, it was not hard to satisfy the demands of Chiyirdi though there might be some trouble. He
Legend of Manas
asked his wife to get him a leather pocket with the size of a fist, presenting a steed with a saddle to Adelbek. Then, he went to Jakip’s village together with Adelbek.
A number of people were bustling about in the village. The reason was quite simple: Jakip had already rustled up a group of hunters to allocate different tasks to them. On seeing the arrival of Balta, Jakip ushered him into Chiyirdi’s yurt. Just like a general who had the situation well in hand, Balta began to talk about all the strategies devised by him tirelessly. He said:
“Jakip, what you said
Is not as difficult as the task of touching the sky.
Beforehand, we ought to be extremely cautious in
Scheming behind closed doors.
We need to invite all the Qalmaq tribe chiefs,
To set off on the journey together with us.
We should let them believe that
It is just an odyssey of hunting.
“I have stocked up with all the money
That was Given by Allah.
The horse leather pocket is used
For the sake of storing coins.
Your herds of horses dot the pasture lands on mountain slopes.
Your herds of cattle loiter across the whole boggy moorland.
Your herds of camels graze on Gobi deserts.
Jakip, just make a promise to me,
That you would behave generously this time.
And discard various infamies as a stingy man.
I need to make it clear to you that:
We should select the archers,
Who hit the mark every single time and never miss,
And ask them to kick off the trip with us;
If an archer succeeds in shooting an arrow at a tiger,
A camel should be presented to him as a prize,
As well as a deliberately-chosen steed with gold saddle and silver stirrups.
Invasion of Kyrgyz Nationality’s Territories by Alooke and Manas’
15
Birth at a Time of Danger and Adversity
In addition to that, My dear Jakip,
The archer should also get your benediction and gratitude.
Whoever shoots a lion will obtain such a wide range of prizes –
A hundred sheep and forty female horses,
Plus a high praise for him as an unparalleled hero.
Each warrior who catches both a tiger and a lion is entitled to a big reward of ten cows.
The beef is set to serve as the foodstuff,
Which will help them spend the winter at ease.
You should pray in earnest,
For the upcoming birth of the infant.
If you have no offspring,
Who will be heir to such a large fortune?”
Jakip showed consent to the Balta’s words by nodding repeatedly. Furthermore, he made announcements of both the prizes and honorary titles in public, ordering subordinates to spread the news of hunting even to the most far-flung corners of the grassland.
The trophy was so tantalizing that a total number of five hundred hunters swarmed from different corners of the grassland into the place of Jakip finally. They vied with each other, going on a hunting spree in the depth of the woods. As a result, the peace and mystery of the woods was destroyed entirely. The hunters were immersed in the pleasure of going hunting, not knowing the reason why they were asked to do so. Numerous flocks of wild beasts were startled to flee away from their dens helter-skelter. The hunting lasted for a whole day till the sunset. The primitive forests suffered the fatal ravages. The hunting claimed two tigers, two lions and thirty wolves.
When the hunters returned home with their prey, Jakip began to worry about his own fortune. “The game is not worth the candle. What I need is tigers and lions. What is the point of catching other animals? It suddenly came to me that I already presented a lot of prey and fortune to everyone. What’s the use of running out of my fortune like that just because of Chiyirdi’poor appetite?” Jakip said to himself. He was unwilling to broke his promise in public or live up to his word. And that’s the reason why he became laden with
Legend of Manas
anxiety and sank into a dilemma. When he began to complain, Balta and Adelbek were very pleased because such a wish had come true. Taking both the tiger heart and lion tongue with them, they rode their horses which sprinted the length of the road leading to Jakip’s village as soon as possible. Thanks to their superb culinary art, the tiger heart and lion tongue have turned into the delicacies. The sliced foods satisfied the taste buds of the pregnant women.
“This is an article of tribute that was given to our father, King Orozdu by the king of the city of Uloom. It is nothing but an eye of a phoenix. Just trust me, please. I am not telling a lie. The king asked my mother to take good care of it so she carefully kept it in her waist pack for lifetime. My mother gave it to me immediately before her death. Likened to the king of various birds, a phoenix is famous for its bright eyes. And I would like to ask you to savor it today,” said Balta, who passed a leather pocket on to Chiyirdi. “Oh, my respectable elder brother, you are as kind-hearted as a loving father. My dream has come true at last,” said Chiyirdi, whose face brimmed with broad smiles.