Mingiyan Lidzhiev, about the Derbet ulus

Abstract

Mingiyan provides a detailed account of the Derbets and their composition: In the past, among the Derbets there lived another large tribe called Tugtun. As the population of the Tugtun grew, the tribe was divided into several clans, including Khorkha-Tugtun, Tugtun-Taltakhin, Tugtun-Shungurtsgakhin, Tugtun-Kaaknakhin, and Tugtun-Saarlakhin. Salyn-Tugtun, by contrast, settled apart from the rest of their clansmen, along the Sal River. Salyn-Tugtun in its turn consists of Tugtun-Lyagir, Tugtun-Shosholdakhin, Salyn-Tugtun and Tugtun-Dogzmakhin, each of which is further divided into smaller units. Tugtun-Lyagir has the following origin. In the past a wealthy Russian, who was a horse dealer, set up a camp where he hired people of the Salyn-Tugtun clan. The Kalmyks pronounced the Russian word for camp as ‘lyagir’, hence Tugtun-Lyagir. Tugtun-Dogzmakhin received their named from Prince Dogzma who was their ruler. The Derbets also include Shebiner which comprises three clans: Iki-Khurla Shebiner, Dundu-Khurla Shebiner, and Baga-Khurla Shebiner. These three clans have the following story. Once a prince divided his subjects into three groups. He himself retained a group who came to be known as Iki-Khurla Shebiner. His two sons were the founders of Dundu-Khurla Shebiner and Baga-Khurla Shebiner respectively. Dundu-Khurla Shebiner, for example, consists of sixteen arvan units. Among them are Bergyas-Shonos and Mu-Chonos. Other clans comprising the Shebiner are Iki-Manlakhin, Baga-Manlakhin, Iki-Bukhus, Baga-Bukhus, Elstin-Bagshin-Shebiner. Tavan-Abganer consist of five arvans: Noynakhin, Aavikhin, Altsyngud-Barun, Ketchener and Asmud. Amon the Derbets there is also a clan called Zed. Baga-Chonos (aimak) consists of eight clans, including Sharnud who also live among the Deed Lamin clan in the village of Arshan-Zelmen. Byudyurmis and Khashkhaner live in Upper Yashkul. Orgakin was founded by those who fled from the Dugtun-Shungurtsgakhin clan. Tavan-Burul people live not far from the village of Orgakin. Tavan-Burul consists of the following arvans: Iki-Burul, Baga-Burul, Kovyudyakhin, Dzhedzhikhin and Mandzhikhin. All these clans and arvan units belong to Baga-Derbet. In contrast, Iki-Derbet people live on the other side of the Manych Lake and have a similar composition.