Aziz Isa Elkun

Translated by Aziz Isa & Rachel Harris

In the 1860s Russia invaded Ghulja and around 10,000 Ghulja Taranchi (from the Mongol language taran meaning wheat) were moved across the border into what is now Kazakhstan. These people have been moving for centuries – moved from Southern Uyghur region in the seventeenth century by the Qing, 100 households were moved from different villages around Aqsu, Kashgar, Yarkand. Today some places in Ghulja are still called, for example, Dolan Yuz – the hundred Dolan households; Turpan Yuz – the hundred households from Turpan. Some of the families who were moved to Russia fled back to China in the 1930s under Stalin´s white terror.

Thinking of leaving
We made boats
All along the White Khan (Russians) and the Black Khan (Chinese)
Were in alliance together.

You will go to an oasis, they said
But we went to a place like a desert
They do not speak the truth
The blue eyes, hairy heads.

What they call Russians carts
Have small wheels at the front
Living in another´s land
It is hard to pass the days.

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Uyghur version:

Köch-Köch Nakhshisi

Ketmekni khiyal eylep
Keme yasiduq qashta
Aq khan bilen qara khan
Ittipaq iken bashta.

Bostangha bering deydu
Barar yerimiz qumluq
Rast gepini eytmaydu
Közi kök, beshi yungluq.

Orus harwisi deydu
Aldi chaqi pes iken
Kishining yurtigha berip
Kun almaqmu tes iken.