Bad Herd and Good Herd

(Source: Kelgembaeva Baykytzhan. People and land: textbook. – Oskemen: Media Alliance, 2005. – 168 p.)

In the old days, a rich man named Shoitemir lived in Tarbagatai. One winter was so severe that his five-thousand-strong herd was in danger of dying. Then, in order to save the horses, Shoitemir divided the herd into two parts and sent them to spend the winter on two neighboring mountain slopes.

In the spring, near the end of March, he returned to check how the horses had survived the winter. It turned out that a quarter of the herd on the eastern slope had died, and the rest were severely emaciated. Since then, this mountain has been called Arygan at – «Skinny Horse», and later – Arganaty – «Herd», or Zhaman Arganaty – «Bad Herd».

On the western side, on the contrary, the horses survived the winter safely, retaining their strength and plumpness. This is how the name of the second mountain appeared – Zhaksy Arganat, that is, «Good Herd».