In this episode, we continue with the story of “Tsarkin Khan and the Archer”, the Kalmyk Mongol tale.

In our last episode, we met the anonymous Archer who spotted three Gold Cranes who turned into beautiful ladies. He hid the feathers of one and gave them back to her. As a result, they married but his wife drew the attention of his Khan, Tsarkin Khan. Wanting the Archer’s wife for himself, he sent the Archer to get the milk of the Tigeress, feigning to be sick, in the hopes that he would be killed and be able to take his wife. He survived, however, and Tsarkin Khan then decided to sent him to search out No-One-Knows-What in No-One-Knows-Where, once again feigning to be sick.

As we continue this story, take notice of the various magical items that are being used to accomplish his goals. The string used to meet his wife’s sisters, Murza the mystical item that provides and entire meal, the khadak which creates a palace, and the golden stick which summons an army of mounted warriors or archers depending on which end is hit on the ground. All of which he uses to accomplish his goal of getting No-One-Knows-What and returning home to his beautiful wife.

This is clearly a tale with a message on morality, lying, and what happens when a Khan does not act like a Khan.

In the next episode we will continue with the One Thousand and One Nights.