All tales / Tale 2
Salur Kazan's Camp
The Plundering of Salur Kazan's Camp
While Kazan is away hunting, enemies raid his camp and take his wife Burla and son Uruz captive. A shepherd shows Kazan the way.
The story
After a feast, Salur Kazan, leader of the Oghuz lords, goes hunting with his men. He leaves his camp, his wife Lady Burla and his home in the care of his son Uruz and three hundred warriors. A spy sees that Kazan is far away and brings the news to the enemy lord, Şökli Melik.
Şökli Melik attacks at night with seven thousand riders. Uruz and his warriors fight but are overwhelmed; the camp is plundered, and Uruz and Lady Burla are taken captive with her forty maidens. The enemy wants Kazan's flock as well, but on the high pasture Karacuk the Shepherd holds off six hundred riders alone with his sling.
Waking from a bad dream, Kazan rides home to find his camp in ruins. He asks a flowing river, then a wolf, for news, and the trail leads him to the shepherd, who tells him everything. Kazan ties the wounded shepherd to a tree to keep him safe, but the shepherd pulls the tree up by its roots and follows him with it on his back.
The Oghuz lords catch up. The enemy cannot tell which of the forty maidens is Lady Burla and threatens Uruz, but Burla does not give herself away and Uruz never loses hope. Kazan arrives at dawn, defeats the enemy, frees his family and makes the loyal shepherd master of his horses.
What this tale is about
Characters
Salur Kazan
Leader of the Oghuz lords and son-in-law of Bayındır Khan. This tale tests his humility as much as his courage.
Lady Burla
Kazan's wife. In captivity, her patience and silence protect her son.
Uruz
Kazan's son. He fights to defend the camp and trusts his father even as a captive.
Karacuk the Shepherd
The shepherd who guards Kazan's flock with his sling and proves braver than the lords.
Şökli Melik
The enemy lord who seizes on Kazan's absence.
Dede Korkut
The bard who tells the tale.
Listen to this tale
The Plundering of Salur Kazan's Camp
While Salur Kazan is away hunting, the enemy lord Shokli Melik raids his camp; his wife Lady Burla and his son Uruz are taken captive. Only the shepherd Karajuk stands his ground with his sling and keeps the flocks safe. Together, khan and shepherd ride after the enemy and bring the family home.
To talk about as a family
Courage is not only in a lord's sword but in the heart of anyone who keeps a trust.
