Eme’mqut discovers a mysterious house where he hears La’wa’s voice boasting about hunting humans. Pretending to be La’wa, Eme’mqut deceives the inhabitants, reviving another captive and escaping with him. Later, the real La’wa returns, confused by the situation. The rescued man settles with Eme’mqut’s family, marrying into a reindeer-breeding household. The tale ends with their peaceful life together.
Source
Koryak Texts
by Waldemar Bogoras
American Ethnological Society
Publications, Volume V
(edited by Franz Boas)
E. J. Brill – Leyden, 1917
► Themes of the story
Supernatural Beings: The kamaks, possessing otherworldly abilities, interact directly with Eme’mqut, highlighting the presence of supernatural entities.
Cunning and Deception: The narrative centers on Eme’mqut’s strategic deception to outwit the kamaks and facilitate the escape.
Community and Isolation: The rescued individual transitions from captivity to becoming part of Eme’mqut’s family, illustrating themes of belonging and integration.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Koryak people
Collected in the village of Kamenskoye, on Penshina Bay, with the help of Nicholas Vilkhin, a half-Russianized Koryak, Decmber 1900 – April, 1901.
Eme’mqut lived with his family. One time he went into the open and found there a house. A voice from there said, „Halloo, La’wa! is that you? How are you getting along with your human game?” [Here a man is spoken of as a “wild reindeer.” In other tales a man is spoken of as a “little seal”] He said, “Well, we two have killed some wild reindeer. How is my wife?” – „She has just been delivered of a son. And even we two, staying here at home, have killed one man. Now, La’wa, call to the spirits!” – „And where is the drum?” – „What is the matter with you? Don’t you know? Of course, it is there on the cross-pole.”
Eme’mqut called to the spirits. He put them to sleep, – the kamak-woman, together with her husband. He revived the other man. They fled in the night-time, together with Eme’mqut. In the middle of the night those sleepers wanted to pass water.
► Continue reading…
They came out, and said, “Our son has become quite light of foot. And how is it? There are two foot-tracks, – one to this side, and the other to that side.
They entered, and again went to sleep. Then their real son, La’wa, came home. „Halloo, La’wa! have you come? Not long ago you were here, and now you come back another time.” – „When have I been at home? I have arrived just now.” – „How is your reindeer hunt?” – „Nothing killed. We were famishing.” – „There, La’wa, call to the spirits!” He took the drum. It was made of pieces of skin of women’s breasts sewed together. He began to call to the spirits, “Trai, Tiroi, trai!” Thus was he singing.
The other man lived with Eme’mqut’s family, and married a daughter of a reindeer-breeder. They lived quite happily. They staid there.
That is all.
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Dreamtime Whispers 