The Legend of the Maukybay and Shamazhan Passes

Since ancient times, the Kazakhs have been able to predict the future by the shoulder blade of a ram. This is how they learned how to survive difficulties and what awaited them in the future. They even determined the weather by it – and acted in accordance with the omens.

Of course, fortune telling by the shoulder blade of a ram revealed not only good news, but also alarming omens. One of these predictions formed the basis of an ancient legend that has come down to us from the lips of the people.

There are two passes in the Tarbagatai Mountains – Shamazhan and Maukybay. They are named after people who lived in the 18th century, during the time of the Dzungar raids.

Shamazhan and Maukybay grazed cattle and guarded the passes from enemy attacks. Both were brave. The first pass, leading to the summer pasture of Kotanashy, was guarded by Shamazhan. The second – Maukybay. Maukybai had a family and children. Shamazhan was thirty, but he was not yet married.

One day, to find out what the future held, they both looked at the shoulder blade of a ram. The prediction showed that the Dzungars were resting carefree at a camp. Believing what they saw, tired of everyday worries, they dozed off.

Meanwhile, the Dzungars also resorted to fortune telling. After performing the ritual, they saw that the Kazakhs were sleeping peacefully and did not expect an attack. Without wasting time, the Dzungars raided: they attacked Shamazhan and Maukybai sleeping at the passes, killed them and took away all the cattle.

The Kazakhs buried both warriors in the very places where they died. Since then, the passes have borne their names.