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Simana’s Diaries -3- Başkam Tüleç
of the tribe was Başkam. His role was much more than simply healing the sick or sending off the dead. He was the one who spoke the language between the heavens and the tribe.
his tent. Inside, there was only the sound of the drum and the breath. And sometimes, nothing could be heard at all; for, in his view, the most powerful call was the one made in silence.
Başkam Tüleç stepped out of the tent, the wind would shift direction. The children’s voices would trail off, and time would stand still for a moment.
tall, but with his straight shoulders and piercing gaze, he brought those around him to attention without a word.
him would bow as if they had seen the walking image of the sky. He wore a cap adorned with a wolf’s head motif and a caftan embroidered with nine rings.
drum, carved from a single piece of cedar, carried the layers of the heavens within its rim. The outer surface of the rim was engraved by hand with motifs: lines arranged like a rainbow, magpie-tail spirals, and an eye opening at the center. At the center of the drum were nine interlocking rings—each symbolizing a layer that must be traversed on the path to the heavens.
drumstick, meanwhile, resembled a staff wrapped in horsehair, with a dried juniper bark at its tip. That drumstick rose into the air only when a spirit was summoned; it was never set down. He raised it only when summoning a spirit.
totem animal was the mountain goat; when its call rose from the steppe at night, Simana knew that Başkam had once again returned victorious from the nine heavens.
Başkam wished to carry a spirit to Ülgen, he would don his special ceremonial attire—the Manyak—during rituals performed for the sons of Erlik and the earth and water spirits.
Manyak was prepared collectively by the entire tribe. It was on these special occasions that Başkam would wear the dark purple Manyak, which had four bells on the right sleeve and five on the left. Nine puppets were sewn onto the back. These puppets symbolized the daughters of the god Ülgen.
It was within this tribe that Simana grew up under Başkam’s guidance.
ground and to pray before speaking. The Chief bequeathed to her not words, but silent wisdom.
