Big-Raven’s relative, Eme’mqut, discovers a whimpering shellfish on the seashore. Upon finding its missing “hood,” which has transformed into a small house, he enters and marries Shellfish-Girl. He brings her home, and they live together peacefully. The tale concludes with this union.
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
Love and Betrayal: The union between Eme’mqut and Shellfish-Girl highlights themes of love and partnership.
Sacred Spaces: The small house, transformed from the shellfish’s “hood,” serves as a significant location where the marriage takes place.
Harmony with Nature: The story reflects a harmonious relationship between humans and natural elements, as seen in Eme’mqut’s interaction with the shellfish.
► 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.
Big-Raven lived with his people. Oh, Eme’mqut walked along the seashore, and found some shellfish. He detached one shellfish, and it began to whimper, “Igigi’!” He said, “Cease your crying! Yonder among the stone-pine bushes (lies) your detached hood.”
Oh, he went and looked for it! It had turned into a small house. He entered the house and married that Shellfish-Girl. Then he brought her home. They lived there.
That is all.
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Dreamtime Whispers 