Traditional Outdoor Arrangements for a Ger (Yurt) Encampment. From an article by Natalia Zhukovskaya. Vokrug sveta (Around the World) No. 10. October, 2011. vokrugsveta.ru/vs/article/7498/ Translated, abridged and edited by Nikolai Burlakoff A ger, traditionally, is always oriented from South to North. The entrance is always on the South. Also, traditionally, the West is the men’s side, and the East is the women’s side. 1-In a radius of 15 to 18 feet around a residential ger, items that cannot fit inside, but without which the owners could not do, are arranged in a traditional manner. 2-On the North-East is the corral for sheep and young animals of all kinds. 3-On the South-East—a horse tether—two poles connected with a rope 4-Toilet—two sticks and a piece of old rag stretched between them to form a screen to protect from outside glances. This “luxury” innovation was largely motivated in response of foreigners visiting Mongols. 5-Utility ger—serves as storage for food and necessary objects. 6-A pile of argal—dried cow patties, used as fuel. The pile is protected from wind and precipitation with old skins, secured to the ground with stones. 7-Two-wheeled wooden cart used to transport the ger and belongings. Made without any nails. 8-Basket for collecting argal (dried cow patties) that is fashioned as a backpack. 9-A “shovel” made of willow boughs to collect argal and to place it in the basket. Natalia Zhukovskaya is a professor of ethnology and anthropology with the Russian Academy of Sciences. Between 1957 and 2009 she has participated in 50 field projects in Mongolia. Nikolai Burlakoff is a writer, editor, translator, and publisher. His previous work with Mongolians (Kalmyks) includes a series of articles for the New Jersey Folk Festival: Steppe Notes (1-20) Rutgers University, 2010. njfolkfest.rutgers.edu/2011_festival.html, A Kalmyk Sampler: Mongol Poetry and Mythic Tale, illustrated by Eduardo Barrios, and Dzhomba: Kalmyk Tea.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 12:21:08 +0000