THE COSSACKS OF MIDDLE ASIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 111, 7 April 1930, Page 11

THE COSSACKS OF MIDDLE ASIA

(Formerly named Kirgiz.) The following is an extract from an ■ article supplied by a ltussian medical student to the Esperanto weekly, Gennaciulo: “From the town of Chemkent where I am now practising I was sent to an entirely nomadic legion in order to inoculate cattle against an epidemic of epizoon. A region isolated by high mountain ranges and waterless deserts, where there are no roads, therefore, no wheeled vehicles; all travelling having to be done on horses, camels, oxen, or ; on foot. I reached there after three tiring days of travel under a burning : sun. It must be understood that my | remarks on these Turkish-Mongol people refer to the most backward people, i culturally, in the Russian dominion. They have no fixed abode except during winter, and wander front place to place with their cattle, where feed is obtainable, and travel many hundreds of miles during the year. They make no provision of winter food for themselves or cattle, consequently during a severe winter when the homes are unable to break "the ice crust on the ground covering the grass, a rich Cossack might become a pauper in . a few days. Whether in winter encampments or during the summer wanderings, land areas are defined according to tribal rights. Fights between tribes and the lust for a bloody private vengeance has not yet been suppressed. It happened in my practice that Cossacks from neighbouring tribes would not bring their beasts for treatment to the one with whom I was lodging because of enmity between them. ' “In the Cossack family life, the chief is the sole master and owner of all the property. Each member must fulfill his orders without demur. All work, except with the rich who hire servants, is done by young women; though many avoid th© need to hire servants in order to seem poor and thus to be free of the Government income tax. Expropriation of the wealth of the rich did not take place in this region until last year, when 80 per cent, of their cattle and 20 per cent, of their household goods were taken from them and given to the poor; 700 of the rich were removed from their encampments to a distance to prevent them creating a rebellion against the Soviet system. “The more or less rich Cossacks do no labour. They, may sit in the tent the whole week, eat mutton, drink kumis and sleep; only going out in the evening to talk with neighbours. If, however, a Cossack hears of a feast among any of his friends, even 60 miles distant, he will ride the journey to take part. Often groups of idlers will wander from village to village and crouch in a tent babbling during the time a sheep is killed and cooked for them. Having eaten, off they go wholly careless of their duties as masters, husbands or fathers. “The women do absolutely all the labour, including the preparation of food, the care in respect to the breed- • ing of the cattle, and work on the soil ■ —always occupied. If she visits a neighbour she carries her spinning., wheel with her. They nearly all are , illiterate. They rarely go out of their , own village; few have ever been to the i nearest town; and happy, indeed, is the woman to be taken to a bazaar. Polygamy and the purchase of women is prohibited, but secretly the custom still exists. Probably it is due to this fact that the relations between the husband and wife are rarely intimate, , but rather that of master and servant. Owing to abominable living conditions and ignorance, the women are subject to illness so ‘that one seldom sees healthy; fresh-looking women. they ; i have an appearance of old age while yet young in years. ' ‘ “The children grow up without any { kind of education. Up to the 6th and , 6th year the boys, during the summer, run naked, but the girls are always thin and unhealthy ; and in consequence of the want of care of the children generally, the death rate is very high among them. The fathers hardly ever . caress the children or in any way attend to them, considering such duty beneath the dignity of a man. . fh® ; suckling cries while the mother is occupied at her labours until fed and . tranquilised by the equally suffering mother.” —Translater: S. Andrew. FOR THE - WHOLE FAMILY. Bee Ointment is good for everybody. It is the great healer. Rapidly heals cuts,’ sores, bruises, burns, scalds and abrasions. Also soothes rashes and all such skin irritations. Always keep a pot of Bee Ointment handy in the home. Is 6d at all chemists and stores. —Advt.