Big-Raven and the kamaks

Source
Koryak Texts
by Waldemar Bogoras
American Ethnological Society
Publications, Volume V
(edited by Franz Boas)
E. J. Brill – Leyden, 1917

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► Themes of the story

Underworld Journey: Big-Raven’s descent into the kamaks’ (evil spirits’) abode represents a venture into a realm associated with death and danger.

Revenge and Justice: After his ordeal, Big-Raven seeks retribution by infiltrating the kamaks’ house again and killing their leader, restoring balance and asserting justice.

Cunning and Deception: Big-Raven’s strategy to swallow a hammer and use it to defeat the kamaks’ leader showcases his cunning in overcoming formidable adversaries.

► From the same Region or People

• North Asia
  • Koryak Lore

Learn more about the Koryak people

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Collected in the village of Kamenskoye, on Penshina Bay, with the help of Nicholas Vilkhin, a half-Russianized Koryak, Decmber 1900 – April, 1901.

Raven-Big said, “I will slide down hill.” [He slid down hill.] He went and found a mountain, which was the largest of all. From that mountain he slid down, and rolled into the porch of the house of the kamaks [evil spirits]. There he came in. Small kamaks went to the porch, and said, “Oh, human game has come to us of its own free will!” – “I am not human game, I am a man.” They took him into the house, and began to eat his body joint by joint. Still he was alive. They consumed Big-Raven. Then he carne home, because he was a shaman.

He recovered his senses, and said to his wife, “Cook some soup for me!” She cooked some soup, and he ate all alone a large kettleful. Then he said to Miti’, “Bring the big hammer!” [a large stone hammer with a narrow groove for hafting] She gave him the hammer, and he swallowed it.