The Legend of Maiemer

(Source: Äbilğazinova G. The Legend of Maiemer / G. Äbilğazinova // Naryn Tańy. – 2025. – January 17 (No. 2). – P. 8)

Chroniclers associate the name of the village of Maiemer with the name of Bi Mai.

According to their accounts, in the 1750s, Mai Bi, along with one of the respected figures of the Karatai clan, wealthy Yesbol Kurataiuly and the warrior Zhanibek Shakabaiuly, led a group of settlers to these lands. The long journey and harsh trials had weakened both the people and their livestock. Driving their herds upstream along the Naryn River, they finally reached a vast, green valley. Seeing this fertile land, they decided to stop for the night.

By morning, the exhausted livestock seemed transformed—their coats gleamed, their eyes shone with life, and their legs regained strength. Witnessing this, Mai Bi exclaimed:

— Here, the hungry will be fed, the meat will be rich, the water will grant strength, and the pastures will bring life! This place is like a secret hidden in the heart of the steppe. Let it be called Maiemer!

Since then, his words have been passed down among the people:

«A dome above your head, a flask of kumis at hand what place could be better on this earth?»