V
Pahóm inquired how to get to the place, and as soon as the tradesman had
left him, he prepared to go there himself. He left his wife to look after the
homestead, and started on his journey taking his man with him. They stopped at
a town on their way, and bought a case of tea, some wine, and other presents,
as the tradesman had advised. On and on they went until they had gone more than
three hundred miles, and on the seventh day they came to a place where the
Bashkírs had pitched their tents. It was all just as the tradesman had
said. The people lived on the steppes, by a river, in felt-covered tents. They neither tilled the ground, nor ate
bread. Their cattle and horses grazed in herds on the steppe. The colts were
tethered behind the tents, and the mares were driven to them twice a day. The
mares were milked,
and from the milk kumiss was made. It was the women who
prepared kumiss, and they also made cheese. As far as the men were concerned,
drinking kumiss and tea, eating mutton, and playing on their pipes, was all
they cared about. They were all stout and merry, and all the summer long they
never thought of doing any work. They were quite ignorant, and knew no Russian,
but were good-natured enough.
As soon as they saw Pahóm, they came out of their tents and gathered
round their visitor. An interpreter was found, and Pahóm told them he
had come about some land. The Bashkírs seemed very glad they took
Pahóm and led him into one of the best tents, where they made him sit on
some down cushions placed on a carpet, while they sat round him. They gave him
tea and kumiss, and had a sheep killed, and gave him mutton to eat.
Pahóm took presents out of his cart and distributed them among the
Bashkírs, and divided amongst them the tea. The Bashkírs were
delighted. They talked a great deal among themselves, and then told the
interpreter to translate.
'They wish to tell you,' said the interpreter, 'that they like you, and that it
is our custom to do all we can to please a guest and to repay him for his
gifts. You have given us presents, now tell us which of the things we possess
please you best, that we may present them to you.'
'What pleases me best here,' answered Pahóm 'is your land. Our land is
crowded, and the soil is exhausted; but you have plenty of land and it is good
land. I never saw the like of it.'
The interpreter translated. The Bashkírs talked among themselves for a
while. Pahóm could not understand what they were saying, but saw that
they were much amused, and that they shouted
and laughed. Then they were silent
and looked at Pahóm while the interpreter said:
'They wish me to tell you that in return for your presents they will gladly
give you as much land as you want. You have only to point it out with your hand
and it is yours.'
The Bashkírs talked again for a while and began to dispute. Pahóm
asked what they were disputing about, and the interpreter told him that some of
them thought they ought to ask their Chief about the land and not act in his
absence, while others thought there was no need to wait for his return.
