Smallpox in the beliefs and legends of Saha Turks and other [Saha Türkleri·ni·n ve Si·bi·rya'nin di·ger halklarinin i·nanç ve efsaneleri·nde çi·çek hastaligi]

The population of Saha Turks and other nations inhabiting Siberia diminished on account of certain reasons in the past. The major reasons of the population decrease were drought, hunger and epidemics during the long winter months. The resident people had to face with new diseases unknown by then once the Tzar joined Siberia to Russian land. The smalpox among other diseases on which the people had little information as regards its reasons and treatment methods, took a heavy toll of nation's people in certain years. Those deaths and beliefs concerning the disease found a place in the oral folk literature of Saha Turks and other nations of Siberia. This article aims at studying the beliefs of Saha Turks and other nations coinhabiting Siberia concerning the smallpox