In ancient times, a mysterious lake lay among the granite cliffs and pine forests of the Karkaraly Mountains.
No stream flowed into it, and no river overflowed its banks. However, the lake's water never receded. Even on the hottest summer days, it remained clear and cool.
Local residents believed the water possessed special powers. They would come to the lake, wash themselves, and ask for healing from illnesses. For this reason, the body of water was called Auliekol—the Holy Lake.
Every Friday, wealthy bais (beys) and revered elders would gather around it. They would bring livestock, cook meat, pour kumiss (milk), and recite prayers.
One day, a poor man named Torsykbai came to the lake. He was known among the people for his cheerful disposition and extraordinary resourcefulness. Although he lived poorly, he was never discouraged and knew how to find a way out of any situation. Seeing smoke over the shore, Torsykbai realized that a grand feast had been held at the lake again.
"Perhaps they'll give me a bowl of kumiss and a piece of meat," he thought.
Approaching the assembled group, the poor man greeted them respectfully and sat down near the dastarkhan.
But the wealthy guests looked disapprovingly at his old, torn shapan.
"What do you want here?" asked one of the rich people.
"I was passing by and decided to share your meal," replied Torsykbai. "Shouldn't a traveler partake of the treat?"
"This dastarkhan isn't for the likes of you," said another rich man. "Go on your way."
Torsykbai tried to explain that food prepared with good intentions should be available to everyone. But they didn't listen and sent him away.
The poor man left, nursing a grudge. "You consider yourself better than others only because you have many livestock and expensive clothes," he thought. "The day will come when I will teach you a lesson for your arrogance."
Some time passed.
On another Friday, the bais gathered again at Auliekol. They prepared a multitude of dishes and settled down near the shore.
Torsykbai learned of the upcoming feast in advance. He sewed a terrifying robe from old goatskins, donned it, disheveled his hair, and smeared his face with soot.
As the guests sat around the dastarkhan and were about to begin eating, a piercing scream was heard from behind the large rocks.
The people became wary.
Soon, a strange creature appeared from behind the rock. Covered in fur, it waved its long arms, made terrifying sounds, and slowly approached the assembled group.
The elders began to recite prayers, hoping to drive away the intruder. But the creature didn't stop.
On the contrary, it screamed even louder and rushed forward.
One of the rich men jumped to his feet and cried out in terror:
"Save yourselves! It's the devil!"
He was the first to run down the mountain path. The others, heedless of where they were going, rushed after him.
In their fear, the people by the lake forgot their dishes, clothes, and all the prepared food.
When their footsteps faded, the terrifying creature stopped. It removed its goatskins, revealing a contented Torsykbai beneath them.
"Now no one will say this dastarkhan isn't for me," he laughed.
The poor man calmly sat down near the abandoned food, ate his fill of meat, drank kumiss, then gathered the remaining supplies and headed home.
Soon the story spread throughout the surrounding villages. Some laughed at Torsykbai's prank, while others condemned the rich people who had refused the poor man a treat.
Over time, the story grew more detailed. People began to say that a mysterious creature had indeed appeared near the lake, fearing neither prayers nor human voices.
Gradually, the former name of Auliekol began to be forgotten. The lake became known as Shaitankol—"Shaitan's Lake."
They say that this is how the resourceful Torsykbai punished the arrogant rich and forever changed the name of the mountain lake.
And an old legend reminds us: one should not judge a person by their wealth and clothing, and a treat prepared for a good deed should be shared with everyone.