Legend of the Irtysh River

Legends and tales associated with geographical names also tell about the history and customs of the people. One of them concerns the name of the Irtysh River. Even in the time of Genghis Khan, during the period of enemy invasions, the Kerei and Naimans tribes roaming in the Black Irtysh region sent a messenger letter – «ukili khat», which in the Kazakh language means «owl letter or letter with owl feathers» – to convey urgent news to the people on the other side of the Irtysh. This concept is associated with the fact that the messenger delivering the letter had a whip in his hand, to the top of the handle of which a bunch of owl feathers was attached. Every time the messenger raised the whip, the one who saw the owl feathers let him pass without any obstacles.

One day, following his route, the messenger with «ukili khat» meets an enemy. Having escaped from his pursuit and reached the river bank, the messenger undressed, tied a bundle of clothes on the saddle, let go of the reins, and was forced to clamp the letter between his teeth so that it would not get wet in the water. Together with the horse, he began to cross the river and, so that the horse’s chest would not sink into the water, he freed its head, and he swam next to it, holding on to its tail. Thus, they reached the other bank of the river and the messenger’s letter was safely delivered.

Thanks to such courage of the horseman-messenger, the inhabitants of those places were able to quickly gather and repel the attacking enemies. Later, a feast was arranged, at which the assembled people surrounded the young man who delivered the owl letter and gave him the name «Er-Tis» – «Irtysh», simultaneously also naming the river.