Несказочная проза алтайцев. - 2011. (Т. 30)

spirit (text 117). The origin of the Mundus Clan is linked with Kochkor- Mundus, the Teles with a woman who swallowed two hailstones (text 118), and the Kypchak w ith a snake (texts 124—127). Members of the Ochy Clan are thought to have descended from a birch tree (text 122), and the Modor and Mongol in tex t 129 from a patch of meadowsweet herb ( Filipendula ). The content o f legends about shamans is highly varied. These texts re­ late the wondrous abilities and deeds of shamans who once lived in the past (swallowing of fire and various objects, shape-shifting, ability to fly), compe­ titions between shamans, or about the destruction (by burning) of shamans (texts 133—142). The volume’s collection contains 14 historical legends with 17 variants. A large p a rt of these legends is devoted to historical events th a t occurred in the middle of the 18th century, during the Jungar period in Altai history. They tell about the O irat wars and about leaders of the Western Mongols and Jungars: Amyr-Sana (or Amur-Sana), Shunu, Tabachy (Davatsi), Kaldan- kaati (Galdan-Tseren). The legend about Amyr-Sana (or Shunu, in certain variants) ends with an episode about th e Russian Tsarina Catherine II, who was called Bala- kaan by the Altai Turks (literally, «girl-tsar»). Folklore thus captured the establishment of new political relations between the peoples o f Siberia and Russia. The tsarina in these historical legends is portrayed as a peace-loving ru ler eager for peaceful negotiations with other peoples (text 144). The Altai were forced to fight no t only against Qing armies, bu t also fend off th e incursions by neighboring Kazakh princes who often raided the tribes living in the Mountain Altai region. The Kazakh warrior Kochkorbai is a negative personage in «Byudyuku» and «Legend about Eryuldei» (texts 151—153). In these texts, the prototype of the main hero, an Altai who fought w ith Kochkorbai, is Ereldei (Eryuldei), a person who actually lived in his­ torical time. The cycle of stories about the legendary Yarynak (Jarynak, D’arynak) reflects actual history o f the Telengits during the second h a lf o f the 18th century (texts 154—156). According to historical accounts, a prince by the name Irenak (Erenak, Yarynak) Isheev operated in the south of Khakasia. He was one of the strongest Kirghiz princes and actively resisted the Rus­ sian Cossacks. Prince Irenak, together with his warriors, arrived in the Altai at the headwaters of the Chulyshman River. The legend relates th a t D’arynak was the leader of the troops, came from an unknown location, settled near Altyn-Kel and lived un til old age. He was physically strong, possessed the gift of foresight, and defended his people from raids by neighboring Soyot