Balta was still in high spirits after going home. He could not calm down any more when he took out the book on augury and read it once again. “The child whom Chiyirdi is expecting is Manas, the future hero. This should not be doubted. Jakip is a narrow-minded person who sees no further than the end of his nose. Manas is not an average person. There might be a lot of difficulties when he is born. I am obliged to look after him at that moment,” thought Balta, who could not calm down the butterflies in his stomach. Balta moved to a residence which stood a stone’s throw from Jakip’s village in a bid to wait for the birth of Manas.
The nine-month pregnancy was over and Chiyirdi’s belly became so large that she could not move easily. The date of birth is approaching nearer and nearer. However, another five months had passed and there was still no sign of the child’s birth. Lying on her bed, Chiyirdi felt as if she were dying. She sent for the elders in the village, asking them to help Jakip re-marry after her death. “If I die during delivery, Jakip’s household will lose its housewife. Although Jakip married Markdoom, she cannot perform a duty as a wife. She has been grazing the livestock on mountains since her marriage. I hope that Jakip would marry Bakdowlet in the future. She is a housemaid and servant girl dowered me by my parents’ home. But she is the daughter of a rich man from Qalmaq tribe. She was presented to me by my elder brother Balta. Is
Invasion of Kyrgyz Nationality’s Territories by Alooke and Manas’
17
Birth at a Time of Danger and Adversity
there any other illustrious identity? Adelbek, I now ask you to be the chief witness at their wedding ceremony. After that, I believe that she will not weep any longer for the sake of her humble identity as a servant girl. I long to hear her call me older sister,” Chiyirdi said.
With others’ unanimous approval, Chiyirdi’s suggestion enabled Jakip to feel really elated. Jakip went into raptures over marrying such a young and beautiful girl.
After a while, Chiyirdi felt pains caused by the forthcoming delivery. According to the customs of Kyrgyz people, the warm sheep lung should be utilized to pat the pregnant on the top of the head immediately after being taken out of a newly-butchered sheep’s body in order to drive away the bad luck and weird diseases. But such a measure taken by the people who were in close attendance was still not helpful in alleviating the pains of the woman expecting confinement. Over fifty persons were invited by Jakip to help Chiyirdi expedite child delivery.
It took her a total of fifteen days and nights to give birth to a child. So Chiyirdi was extremely exhausted. To their dismay, no cry of a newborn could be heard at that moment. After lowering their heads, the people on the venue were shocked to catch sight of a green leather pocket. All the people on the spot sighed with a great surprise. “What is this?” said them.
Adelbek reported what he saw to Jakip in a flurry. Jakip flung himself in front of the leather pocket in a fluster. Jakip was astonished to see what was going on at the delivery room. Jakip did not dare to hold the leather pocket in arms. Instead, he was wet with sweat all over out of amazement. In addition, he felt all at sea with his face turning sallow. He almost collapsed after being struck by a feeling of dizziness. He tried his best to keep perfectly composed, though. Then, he asked Adelbek to let Balta know the whole stuff.