Zazaca Öğren

The Feud Between Nyêrib and Sivan

A feud story that begins when a young man from Nyêrib steals in Horsig and is killed, then moves through threats, battle, and eventual reconciliation between Xalef Agha and Avdulah Agha.

URL: https://zazacaogren.com/lesson/lerch-kauge-nyerib-u-sivani/

Content warning

violence; death

People mentioned

Xalef Agha; Avdulah Agha; Mela Ahmed/Qafon; Huseyin; Hayder Agha; Sele.

Historical context

This narrative connects local conflict memory along the Sivan/Servi-Palu line with the Nyêrib/Hani line. Horsig is very probably the place listed as Horsik among Sivan villages, today's Saklıca. Xalef Agha is warned in the text that he already fought in Hyêni, which places this story after the Nyêrib-Hyêni feud; a reasonable working date range is roughly 1820-1853.

Research note

The identifications Sivan/Servi, Horsig/Horsik/Saklıca, and Nyêrib/Nerib/Kuyular are externally supported. Şelê fits better with the Şelli/Turalı villages on the Hani side, and Kiepert's map also shows a Schel-like name northeast of Hani near Gjaurköi. For Kelan the strongest current candidate is Kelahsı/Kelaxsi in Sivan village lists, today's Doğanlı; Tawricyê remains uncertain. The German reader has been realigned with the Zazaki units. Lerch explicitly leaves the first message about Hyeni unclear; Xalef's next 'I fought with Nerib' also carries a question mark in German. 'Children, we go to battle' versus 'we fight with children', and tabure besta ('cartridges' in the old prose translations), remain unresolved. This story is on printed German pages 65-71 (local PDF pages 109-115); 109-115 is not its printed pagination.

Places mentioned

ZazakiEnglish
Kawğê Nyêrib u Sivani
The Feud Between Nyêrib and Sivan
Veri coan yaw lacêku Nyêrbic şê Sivaŋ, 'Horsigê dızdêyê, bani Mêla A'hmêdi Qafan akêrd, purti Mêla A'hmêdi Qafan gêrawt bêru.
Once a young man from Nerib went to the Sivan tribe, to Horsig, to steal; he opened Mel'a Ahmed Qafan's house and took Mel'a Ahmed Qafan's fur coat and carried it off.
Laci Mêla A'hmêdi 'Husêyni di enoê dızd, tepişt va kê dızdê ra: tê qaŋcaray.
Mel'a Ahmed's son Husein saw that thief, seized him, and said to the thief: 'Where are you from?'
Dızdi va kê: ez Nyêribraya.
The thief said: 'I am from Nerib.'
Laci Mêla A'hmêdi va kê: tê Nyêribdê, qam Nyêribdêy.
Mel'a Ahmed's son said: 'You are from Nerib; from which Nerib?'
Dızdi va kê: ez Deştêy 'Henzira.
The thief said: 'I am from Destei Henzi.'
Laci Mêla A'hmêdi va kê: tê qam me'hladi.
Mel'a Ahmed's son said: 'From which mahalle are you?'
Dızdi va kê: ez me'hlay Şêynaŋda.
The thief said that: 'I am from the Seinān mahalle.'
Laci Mêla A'hmêdi va kê: tê qawi amêy malê mê bêni.
Mel'a Ahmed's son said: 'Why did you come into my house?'
Dızdi va kê: ez Nyêrbida amêya malê twê, dızdêy bıkêra, bêra twê ez dyaŋ, lakimkê ez ha bêna, zor bêna.
The thief said: 'I am Neribian; I came into your house to steal. Since you caught me here, know that I am strong.'
Laci Mêla A'hmêdi wica serêy dızdi têra kêrd, 'habêrê êrşawutê Nyêrib Xalef ağayri va kê: we Xyeni nêbê, twê têdê kawğê kêrdini, tu 'Hyênici pyêru kişti ardi emani ser.
Mel'a Ahmed's son immediately killed the thief and sent a messenger to Nerib, to Xalef Agha, saying: 'Do not come to Hyeni; you fought there; you killed everyone in Hyeni and brought them under safe-conduct.' [Lerch explicitly marks this message as unclear; the final clauses are a tentative reading of the Zazaki.]
Xalef ağay 'habêrê erşawutê Avdulah ağay Kêlaŋ va kê: mê Nyêribdê kawğê kêrd, lakimkê wexti xoêdê 'hadre bê, twê merdümi mê kişt, bızani kê: ez vist merdümi twê yaw merdümi xoê vera kişênya.
Xalef Agha sent a message to Avdulah Agha of Kelan, saying: 'I fought with Nerib, but be ready at your own time; you killed one of my men; know that I will kill twenty of yours for one of mine.'
Avdulah ağay 'habêrê êrşawutê Xalef ağayri va kê: waxtê xoêdê 'hadre bê, ez mêyştê eskêri xoê gêna, yêna awkay Şêlê ver, tızi wicara eskêri xoê bıgi, byê Cayt ver, ma kawğê bıki, nyavawkê tê serêy mê wêni, nyavawkê ez serêy twê wêna.
Avdulah Agha sent a message to Xalef Agha: 'Be ready at your own time; I will lead my army tomorrow and come to the stream Sele; you too bring your army and come toward Dait; we will fight until you cut off my head, or until I cut off yours.'
Xalef ağay 'habêr erşawutê Avdulah ağayri va kê: eskêri mê 'hadraw, enkay ez amêya Dêyştêdê tızi warzê eskêri xoê bıgi, byê awkay Şêlê ver, ma kawğe bıki.
Xalef Agha sent a message to Avdulah Agha: 'My army is ready; as soon as I come to Deste you too rise, lead your army, and come to the stream Sele; we will fight.'
Enoê kawğe Tırkan nyu, enoê kawğê aşiranu, tı byê xoêri vyênê.
This is not a fight with Turks; this is a tribal feud; see that you come.
Avdulah ağay 'habêr erşawutê dawaŋ va kê: çaw mevindi, mêyştê awkay Şêlê verdê kawğê maw, Nyêrbicanu.
Avdulah Agha sent a message to the villagers: 'Let no one delay; tomorrow we have a fight at the stream Sele with the Nerib people.'
Dawaŋ 'habêr erşawutê Avdulah ağayri va kê: mevindê, çikas mali Nyêribi estu bıdê ma, ma pêynyay dawani Nyêribi veşnêni.
The villagers sent a message to Avdulah Agha: 'Do not delay; give us all the property in Nerib, and we will burn all the Nerib villages.'
Avdulah ağay 'habêr erşawutê dawani va ke: metêrsi, seri mıri, mal şımari.
Avdulah Agha sent a message to the villagers: 'Do not fear; the heads are mine, the property is yours.'
Dawaŋ va kê: ma emşoê nyêvindêni, ma vardêni, ma swêni awkay Şêlê vêr, kawğe kêni, mevindê, tızi byê.
The villagers said: 'We will not delay tonight; we will set out and go to the stream Sele to fight, so do not delay, and you come too.'
Sêbah Avdulah ağa werişt bê êspar, eskêri xoê top kêrd, va kê eskêri xoêra: oğil, mevindi, ma şyêri kawğe, metêrsi, Nyêrbici çani, kawğe aşiranu, serê mıri, mal şı-mari.
In the morning Avdulah Agha mounted his horse, gathered his army and said to it: 'Sons, do not delay; we are going to battle. Do not fear; the Nerib people are few; this is a tribal feud; heads are mine, property yours.'
Dumilbazi day püroê, Avdulah ağa kawt eskêri ver, şê awkay Şêlê ver, eskêri Xalef ağay nyamaw, erş kêrd, va kê eskêri xoêra: serê mıri, mal şımari, dawaŋ veşni.
The drum was struck; Avdulah Agha led the army and went to the stream Sele, but Xalef Agha's army had not come; he ordered movement and said to his army: 'The heads are mine, the property yours; burn the villages.'
Eskêrê Avdulah ağay şê dewi Xalef ağay, gêrawti şêş dewi, veşnay, ağêray, amêy kêyê, Avdulah ağa da mal eskêri xoê.
Avdulah Agha's army went to Xalef Agha's villages, took six villages, burned them, returned, and came home; Avdulah Agha gave the property to his army.
Yaw aşmê mênd.
A month passed.
Xalef ağay 'habêrê erşawutê Avdulah ağayri va kê: twe ehêndê eskêri mê kişt, twê şeş dawê mê veşnay, taalan kêrdi, waxtê xoêdê 'hadre bê, ez ena gêlankê yêna, qancawkê dewi twê mê di ez veşnêna, taalan kêna heta yaw şewê, çoacu'hi nyêvêrdana, heminê serê bırmêna.
Xalef Agha sent a message to Avdulah Agha saying: 'You killed some of my army, burned six of my villages, and plundered; be ready at your own time; this time I will come, and wherever I see one of your villages, I will burn and plunder until night; no child will I spare; I will cut off everyone's heads.'
Avdulah ağay 'habêr erşawutê Xalef ağayri va kê: cay xoêdê rê'hat vındê, ekê ena gêlankê ez amêya twêra yaw kêrga koêrê nyêvêrdanu.
Avdulah Agha sent a message to Xalef Agha: 'Stay calmly where you are; if this time I come to you, I will not spare even one blind hen.'
Xalef ağay 'habêr erşawutê Avdulah ağayri va kê: tê byê xoêri, vyênê.
Xalef Agha sent a message to Avdulah Agha: 'See that you come.'
Avdulah ağa werişt bê êspar, dümilbazi da püroê, eskêri xoê ame pyêser.
Avdulah Agha mounted his horse, had the drum struck, and his army gathered.
Avdulah ağa va kê eskêri xoêra: çoacu'hi ma 'ha şwêni kawğe, metêrsi, ena gêlankê çewi meverdi, heminê bıksi, serê mıri mal sımari.
Avdulah Agha said to his army: 'Children, we are going to fight; do not fear; this time spare no one; kill everyone; the heads are mine, the property yours.'
Eskêri va kê Avdulah ağayra: peki, êfêndim, Alah cani twê sağ bêdu, hetakê pêynyay ma nyêmêru, twêri çi çinyu.
The army said to Avdulah Agha: 'Very well, my lord, may God preserve your life; as long as we are not all dead, you have nothing to fear.'
Avdulah ağay va kê: afêrêm oğil.
Avdulah Agha said: 'Thanks, sons.'
Avdulah ağay dümilbazi day püroê, eskêri xoê erş kêrd, şê dyari Mêlêkani, awnya kê eskêri Xalef ağay taburê bêsta.
Avdulah Agha had the drum struck, ordered his army forward, and went into the Melekani district, and saw Xalef Agha's army preparing cartridges.
Avdulah ağay eskêri xoê erş kêrd va kê: seri mıri mal şımari, metêrsi, şyêri bıksi heminê.
Avdulah Agha ordered his army forward, saying: 'The heads are mine, property yours; do not fear, go and kill everyone.'
Eskêri Avdulah ağay şê eskêri Xalef ağay weta amê bı Tawricyê, kawğe kerd, eskêri Xalef ağay rema, eskêri Adulah ağay pêyra kawt, bana dewi pyêru taalan kerdi, suanêy Nyêrbican pyêru kişti, pesi cinê pyêru ard.
Avdulah Agha's army went against Xalef Agha's army and came as far as Tauridye, where they fought; Xalef Agha's army fled, and the army of Avdulah Agha pursued, plundered all the village houses, killed all the Nerib shepherds, and carried off all the herds.
Mênd vist roc, Xalef ağay şê kawt kêy Qotwesan, 'Haydêr ağara va: ez kawta bê'hti twê, Avdulah ağay Kelaŋ eskêri mê pyêru kişt, dewi mê pyêru veşnay, taalan kerdi.
After twenty days Xalef Agha went to Qotwesan, to Haider Agha, and said: 'I came under your protection; Avdulah Agha of Kelan killed my whole army, burned all my villages and plundered them.'
'Haydêr ağa va kê Xalef ağayra: tê mêra vani sê, ez nyêşyêna Sivaŋcandê kawğe bikêra, Sivaŋci pêynyay ma heminê kişêni.
Haider Agha said to Xalef Agha: 'What are you saying to me? I cannot fight with the Sivan people; the Sivan people would kill all of us.'
Xalef ağay va kê: ez kawta be'hti twê, byê mê berê kêy Avdulah ağay, ma pya weşi kê, çıkaskê kêyfi twê wazênu ez mal dana twê.
Xalef Agha said: 'I came under your protection; come with me to Avdulah Agha's house; reconcile us; whatever your heart wants, I will give you property.'
'Haydêr ağa werişt bê êspar, kawt Xalef ağay ver, amêy şi Sivan, kawti kêy Avdulah ağay.
Haider Agha mounted his horse, took Xalef Agha along, came to Sivan, and went into Avdulah Agha's house.
Haydêr ağa hiryê gêlankê şê lawna Avdulah ağa lingêru va kê: tê ağay ena gêlankê bıdi ricay mê Xalef ağay.
Haider Agha went three times and kissed Avdulah Agha's feet, saying: 'Agha, this time spare Xalef Agha for my sake.'
Avdulah ağa va kê Xaydêr ağara: ekê tê nyamêyni mê Xalef ağayra yaw zirot vera nyêdani, ez ka pêynyay dawani Nyêribi veşna, heminê taalan ka, çımkê tê amêy mê Xalef ağa kerd baxşi twê.
Avdulah Agha said to Haider Agha: 'If you had not come, I would not have given Xalef Agha one boy back; I would have burned all the Nerib villages and plundered everything, but because you came, I grant Xalef Agha to you.'
'Haydêr ağay lawna Avdula ağa serêru şê Xalef ağa ard, lawna Avdulah ağa lingêru, Avdulah ağa lawna Xalef ağa destru, pya bê weşi, xalay day pyêra.
Haider Agha kissed Avdulah Agha on the head, then went and brought in Xalef Agha. Xalef kissed Avdulah Agha's feet, and Avdulah Agha kissed Xalef Agha's hand. They reconciled and exchanged robes of honor.
Xaydêr ağa werışt, xatır wayşt Avdulah ağayra, Xalef ağa gêrawt, şi kêyê.
Haider Agha mounted, took leave of Avdulah Agha, took Xalef Agha and went home.
Têrêk na.
The feud was over.

Sources

Russian original edition

Lerch, Peter Ivanovich. Izsledovaniia ob iranskikh kurdakh i ikh predkakh, severnykh khaldeiakh. Vol. 1. St. Petersburg: Imperial Academy of Sciences, 1856. Story "Nepriiiazn mezhdu Neribom i Sivanom," printed pp. 103-108.

Pages: Russian RGO viewer images 117-122; printed pp. 103-108.

Primary scan witness for Lerch’s Zazaki transcription and Russian free translation.

German edition / reprint scan

Lerch, Peter. Forschungen über die Kurden und die iranischen Nordchaldäer. Abth. 1. St. Petersburg: Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1857. Story "Die Feindseligkeiten zwischen Nerib und Sivän," pp. 65-71.

Pages: Internet Archive scan pages n108-n114; printed pp. 65-71.

Used for the German free translation and as a second scan witness for the Zazaki transcription.

Bingöl University thesis transcription

Aslanoğulları, Mehmet. Lerch’in Zazaki Derlemelerinin Çevrimyazımı ve Türlerine Göre Sözcüklerin Tahlili. Master’s thesis, Bingöl Üniversitesi, 2014.

Pages: PDF pp. 50-55; thesis printed pp. 43-48; story heading "Qewğê Nêrib û Siwonı."

Secondary transcription witness used during alignment and review. The transcription text is cited here but is not reproduced in the Interlinear view.