Collected Shorter Fiction, Volume 2

A LIST OF TARTAR WORDS USED IN

‘HADJI MURÁD’

THROUGHOUT this edition I have tried to avoid the use of Russian words, employing their English equivalents wherever possible. In the following story, however, Tolstoy makes use of a number of Tartar words which he does not translate. As there are generally no one- or two-word equivalents for them in English, it would be difficult to avoid following his example and retaining these Tartar words. I have therefore done so, and the reader should refer to the following alphabetical list when he encounters one of them that needs explanation.

AYLMER MAUDE.

Aoul

A Tartar village.

Bar

Have.

Beshmét

A Tartar undergarment with sleeves.

Búrka

A long round felt cape.

Dzhigít

The same as a

brave

among the Red Indians, but the word is inseparably connected with the idea of skilful horsemanship.

Ghazavát

Holy War against the infidels.

Imám

The leader in the Holy War, uniting in himself supreme spiritual and temporal power.

Khansha

Khan’s wife.

Kizyák

A fuel made of straw and manure.

Kunák

A sworn friend, an adopted brother.

Murid

A disciple or follower: ‘One who desires’ to find the way in Muridism.

Muridism

Almost identical with Sufism.

Murshíd

‘One who shows’ the way in Muridism.

Naïb

A Tartar lieutenant or governor.

Pilau

An Oriental dish, prepared with rice and mutton or chicken.

Sáklya

A Caucasian house, clay-plastered and often built of earth.

Shariát

The written Mohammedan law.

Tarikát

‘The Path’ leading to the higher life.

Yok

No, not.