The Legend of Zhylandy – «The Land of Snakes»

In the northeastern slopes of the ancient Tarbagatai Mountains flows a narrow, winding river called Zhylandy — meaning «Snake River». It joins the well-known Bazar River, and both the river and the nearby ridge share this name. Some say the river got its name because it twists like a snake through the landscape. Others — especially the village elders — tell a much older story, one of mystery, gold, and a fateful lesson.

Long ago, nestled at the foot of a low mountain ridge in a summer pasture, there stood a lone yurt. An old man sat near the hearth, repairing a saddle, while his wife emerged from the tent with a worried expression.

– «Old man», she said, «I can’t understand what’s happening. Every day, the milk I leave in the basin disappears. It’s like someone is drinking it».

– «It’s not me», he replied. «There’s no one else around. Maybe you’re mistaken. Or the basin has a leak?»

But the woman was sure.

– «This is a brass basin my mother had forged by a master. There’s not a single pinhole in the bottom!»

Then one day, while having tea, she looked into the basin — and gasped.
– «Old man! Look at this!»

Inside, they found a golden coin, round and shining. The old man lifted it, inspected it, even bit it.

– «By Allah… it’s real gold!»

At first, they were confused. But slowly they understood — a snake had been drinking their milk, and in return, leaving behind gold. And so it continued: the old couple began leaving out milk for the snake, and in exchange, it left golden tokens. They grew quietly wealthy, and their fortune caught the attention of the nearby villagers.

One day, suspicious neighbors confronted them.

– «Where did all this gold come from?»

– «Did you steal it?»

– «Tell us the truth!»

With pressure mounting, the old man confessed:
– «A black snake comes to drink our milk. It leaves gold in return. That’s all».

The villagers were stunned – and greedy.

– «Show us where this snake lives!»

Reluctantly, the old man led them to the sunny side of a nearby mountain, where the snake’s den lay. The young men destroyed the den, killed the snakes, and believed they had won a treasure. But they hadn’t counted on vengeance.

That night, the great black snake – the serpent king – came. One by one, it killed every villager involved in the raid. Only the old couple was spared.

One man, however, escaped and fled into the wilderness. The snake pursued him relentlessly. During his escape, the man came upon a merchant caravan. There, the snake coiled itself around the horn of a goat, traveling in secret. An elder in the caravan, sensing something, said:

– «Leave it be. It seeks something. Let it go in peace».

When the caravan split at a fork in the road, the snake slithered toward the lone road. The elder followed. There he saw the fugitive – the last man from the raid.

– «Who are you, wandering alone?»

– «I’m the only survivor from the den-raid. The snake seeks me. I destroyed what should never have been touched.»

The elder nodded grimly.

– «Then your fate is already sealed. It waits for you behind that black rock».

The terrified man approached the rock, shaking. Suddenly, the snake struck – and he fell, poisoned.

This tale is more than just folklore. It reflects a truth deeply embedded in Kazakh culture: never disturb nature’s balance, and never betray the trust of a creature – even a snake. The Kazakh people have long believed in honoring all living beings, pouring milk on the heads of snakes that enter their homes as a gesture of peace.

Every mountain, river, and valley in the land has a name – and every name carries a story, a lesson, and a legacy.

The name Zhylandy, then, is no accident. It is a mark of wisdom, of warning, and of the enduring respect Kazakhs have for the sacred world around them.