Chapter 16, pp. 244-257 Summary

Big Ismail reminisces on how the Chukurova plain used to be. The Turkoman tribes were all nomads and moved between the highlands in the summer and the Chukurova in the winter. The Ottomans forced the Turkomans to settle down and live in farm villages. The Ottomans were defeated in World War I, and there were French occupation forces until they were defeated in an uprising. There is a new national government in Ankara, which does its best to end the feudal landlord system. However, new Aghas arise like the clever Ali Safa Bey. Ali Safa keeps Kalayji's band armed with ammunition and uses the band to terrorize Vayvay village. Ali Safa tells his wife that he must continue to secretly back Kalayji until he is able to take over Vayvay village. In the midst of this, Abdi arrives and...