The Muhtar Kara Osman
Fairy Tales passed on by word of mouth
from Uçhisar, Cappadocia

Kara Osman
The Dark Muhtar of Uçhisar

Osman Bey was a well known and respected son of the village. People always wanted to talk to him, not only at his office, where he carried out his duties as muhtar, or elected head-man of the village, but he was constantly being stopped for a chat even on the street. He always had time for all the needs and wishes of the Uçhisar people.

Frequently, his duties and the matters of Uçhisar forced him to go to Ürgüp, where the District Court and Administrative Offices were found at that time. On those days, he would always get up early, collect the necessary papers, put them into a leather bag, tie it neatly onto the donkey’s saddle and off he would go to Ürgüp. The road was steep and dusty and while riding on his donkey, the golden glowing sun shining right into his eyes made him squint. Swearing, he said to himself: “Every time I ride to Ürgüp, I can hardly see my way. It is still morning, but the sun is already strong enough to burn my skin.”

 After he arrived in Ürgüp, Osman Bey would meet with the other muhtars of the nearby villages for long talks about their work, the people’s needs and wants, taxes to be collected and it would seem as if his cheeks were reddened by the exciting and serious conversation. The hours would pass, and when the evening came closer, Osman would again collect his papers, put them into his leather bag, tie it neatly onto the donkey’s saddle and off he would go back to Uçhisar, just as the sun began to set.The donkey would patiently put one step in front of the other and the muhtar could not open his eyes again. Now it was the setting sun, dazzling him and again he would mumble, “Every time I ride back to Uçhisar, I can hardly see my way. It is late evening, but the sun is still strong enough to burn my skin.”

The months went by and the muhtar frequently travelled to Ürgüp, to carry out his duties in the interests of Uçhisar and each time his face became darker and darker.Then one day the patient man had had enough. After he had finished presenting all the other important matters, he stood up and with a serious expression, asked permission to speak - this time for himself.

He said, "I have to come to Ürgüp so often. In the morning the sun shines directly into my face and when I am on my way back in the evening, again the sun dazzles my eyes! Now look at me!” he said. “Since I became muhtar of Uçhisar, my face has become so dark that I soon will look like an Arab. The people of my village already call me Kara Osman.” The others looked at him with surprise. They did not understand how they could help him. “Would it not be possible to transfer the District Council for Uçhisar to Nevşehir?” he asked. “The distance is much shorter anyway.” Then the Muhtar leaned forward and whispered: “And the sun would shine on my back only…”

In fact, the District Council responsible for Uçhisar was eventually transferred from Ürgüp to Nevşehir. It is, however, doubtful if this was done so that Osman would no longer be called “Kara or dark” Osman.