Part V

Pahom 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 Bashkirs 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 Pahom, they came out of their tents and gathered round their visitor. An interpreter was found, and Pahom told them he had come about some land. The Bashkirs seemed very glad; they took Pahom 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. Pahom took presents out of his cart and distributed them among the Bashkirs, and divided amongst them the tea. The Bashkirs 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 Pahom, “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 Bashkirs talked among themselves for a while. Pahom 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 Pahom 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 Bashkirs talked again for a while and began to dispute. Pahom 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.

Part VI
Part IV

Footnotes

  1. Though Pahom assumes that the Bashkirs are ignorant, their amusement—expressed by laughter and shouting—suggests that they are aware of his greed. Further, they possibly seek to exploit Pahom’s obsession with acquiring more land to their advantage.

    — Owl Eyes Editors

  2. Pahom’s perception of the Bashkirs as ignorant is not simply because he disapproves of their work ethic. Rather, he looks down upon the Bashkirs because of their lack of interest in cultivating—and therefore profiting from—their land, which to Pahom makes them particularly easy to manipulate into giving it away. Tolstoy’s depiction of the Bashkirs, particularly through the translation of L. and A. Maud, calls into question the concept of a strong work ethic and suggests that it is connected to greed rather than strength of character.

    — Owl Eyes Editors

  3. Kumiss, which is a fermented beverage made from either mare’s or donkey’s milk, is used as a symbol for life’s simple pleasures. Pahom automatically associates this with ignorance and laziness. Kumiss, which the Bashkirs offer to Pahom as a gesture of friendliness, is later contrasted with Pahom’s spade, which becomes a symbol of his all-consuming greed.

    — Owl Eyes Editors

  4. The noun “steppe” means a flat, usually treeless, tract of land that is common in Russia and Central Asia. Steppes are often subjected to extreme differences in temperature from summer to winter and even from day to night. They are also typically covered with grass and, depending on climate, can support healthy crop growth. The Bashkirs, however, seem content to simply live on the land instead of cultivating it for profit, thus leading Pahom to conclude that they are “ignorant.”

    — Owl Eyes Editors

  5. Pahom continues to become more isolated as he increasingly gives into his quest. First, he removes himself from his community by acquiring more land and fining the peasants for trespassing—thus encouraging class division and general ill will. Then, he moves his family to a new Commune in order to possess more land. Now, he abandons his family in order to convince the Bashkirs to sell him land for less than it is likely worth.

    — Owl Eyes Editors