Mr Shamurat is a fifty two year old Kazakh eagle hunter who lives in the Alti mountains with his family and Golden Eagle. Western Mongolia, 2015

Ancient traditions In ancient times Kazakh men would marry several times. Even if a man lost a wife early after a marriage, he would likely marry again quickly. Were he to marry a virgin in subsequent ceremonies, he would have to pay almost a double "kalyn mal." Women of the aul would condemn this practice and gossip, demanding him to give "ui sinigi," which is kind of penalty. Only poor parents would view such a liaison as desirable, for they may have been living from hand to mouth. Poorer families might not even be able to move with their neighbors and kin to another pasture because they hadn't a camel or a horse to transport their yurt. So, the "selling" of a daughter may have been their best way to improve family prospects. Kasakh family, Western Mongolia, 2015.

Arkhangai Province, Mongolia, 2015.