A powerful elderly shaman encounters a wandering orphan boy and challenges him to a supernatural contest. They engage in a mystical battle using supernatural creatures: the shaman creates a small bear from his spit, while the boy produces a louse. Surprisingly, the louse defeats the bear, causing the shaman to die. The boy inherits the shaman’s wealth and wives, becoming rich.
Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918
► Themes of the story
Conflict with Authority: The boy challenges the authority of the shaman, who attempts to dominate and even threaten his life, leading to a reversal of power dynamics.
Transformation: The boy’s status transforms from a wandering orphan to a wealthy individual, inheriting the shaman’s possessions and wives after the contest.
Cunning and Deception: The boy’s unexpected victory through seemingly simple means underscores the theme of using wit and deception to overcome a more powerful adversary.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Evens (Lamut)
Told by Ulashkan, a Lamut man, on the Molonda River, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1895.
There was a great shaman who reached a very great age. When angry he could lay his spell on any one, even upon another shaman. One time he as walking about and met a little boy, who roamed about, not knowing where to go. “Who are you?” — “I do not know.” — “Perhaps you are a shaman.” — “What kind of a shaman may I be? Though, indeed, I get up in my sleep and walk about sleeping.” — “I shall kill you.” — “Do, please. I shall not resist. My father and mother are gone, and I wish to follow them.” — “Oh, well! then follow me.”
He took him to his house, and put a plate before him. “Sit down and let us have a match!” — “What kind of a match shall we have?” — “A shamanistic match. You area shaman.” — “No, I am not, I know nothing.” — “Enough. Be quiet, or I shall kill you.” He spat into his palm, and put the spittle upon the plate. It grew to a small bear not greater than a louse.
► Continue reading…
“Here is my champion and where is yours?” The boy scratched his head, not knowing what to do, and, lo! a small louse fell down upon the plate, a real louse. “Ah! this is yours. All right, let them fight.” The bear and the louse fought throughout the day, and the louse proved the stronger. It caught the bear by the throat and wanted to strangle it. “Let go!” cried the old man. “Leave the bear alone! I shall die.” — “No, I shall not do so,” said the boy. “It is you who wanted to have this fight.” So the louse strangled the bear. As soon as the bear died the old man fell down and died also. The boy took his wives and all his goods, and became a rich man.
Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page
Dreamtime Whispers 