The Origin of the Peoples
told by ANJANG SANYSHKAP
A long time ago, when the peoples were created, there were five kinds of people. A father had five sons. In Chinese one says wuzi*. In Chinese one says: chin hua to fi**. In Yugur one says: wood, water, fire.
Their father died. The five sons became five kinds of peoples. The eldest became a Chinese. The second became a Mongol. The third became a Yugur. Thereupon the fourth became a Turen, a Monguor.
Then they divided their father among themselves. The Chinese cut of his father's head. The Mongol cut of his father's loins. The Yugur looked and looked, and did not find something to cut off. But he had thick legs. He cut off his legs.
And so it happened that the Chinese wear the hats of the magistrates; it was good that he cut off his head. And so it happened that the Mongols became khan, and that all of these people know about the shamanist prayers. But the Yugur did not ask anything.
After the Chinese had cut off his head, he put it in a box and buried it. The Mongol took his share away and threw it away. The Yugur took his share with him and baked it. Just as he was about to eat it, someone came. Then he was ashamed and did not eat it.
And so it came about that we Yugur, when we cremate a person, eat one sausage.
* Probably wu, five, and zi, son.
** Not all elements are clear; fi represents the Northwest Mandarin pronunciation of shui, water.
The Origin of the Peoples was told by Anjang Sanyshkap, 11 September 1913, and published in Malov, S. E. 1967. Jazyk zheltyx ujgurov. Teksty i perevody. Moscow. 212-213, no. 209.
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