Kilu’ and Yini’a-nawgut, on a walk, encounter a kamak spirit. Yini’a-nawgut is possessed and marries Fish-Man. Envious, Kilu’ deceives Chan-ai into becoming a kamak and marries Fish-Man as well. Both women return home, bearing sons and catching plenty of fish. The story explores themes of envy, deception, and the connection between the supernatural and nature.
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
Transformation: Both Yini’a-nawgut and Kilu’ undergo significant changes, with Yini’a-nawgut being possessed by a kamak spirit and Kilu’ deliberately seeking the same transformation.
Trickster: Kilu’ exhibits trickster behavior by deceiving Chan-ai into becoming a kamak, driven by envy of Yini’a-nawgut’s marriage to Fish-Man.
Supernatural Beings: The narrative features interactions with kamak spirits and Fish-Man, highlighting the connection between the supernatural and the natural world.
► 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 family. Kilu’ said to Yini’a-nawgut, “Let us go for a walk!” They went out walking, and they took a fish-head for (travelling-)provisions. They came to a certain place and began to eat. (Kilu’) threw at her (cousin) the cheek-bone of a fish. She sped away, and said, “Yi’ni has become a kamak.” That one said, “I have not become a kamak.” – “Enough, indeed, you have become a kamak!”
She tried to detach it, but could not do it, so she fell asleep. Kilu’ said, when she came home, and they said to her, “Where is Yi’ni?” She said, “Yi’ni became a kamak.” Then Yini’a-nawgut awoke. There was Fish-Man combing his hair, and a load of winter-fish was there also.
He said to her, “Enough, wake up!” She got up. He married her.
► Continue reading…
They lived there, and caught plenty of fish. After some time they came home to Big-Raven’s house. “They brought your daughter.” – “Which daughter may come here” Our daughter became a kamak.”
“Here I am! I came.”
Kilu’ began to envy (her cousin on account of) her Fish husband. (She said,) “Yi’ni, how did it happen to you?” – “You did this thing to me.” – “But your husband is a good one.”
„Chan-ai’, let us go out for a walk!” They went out, came to a place, and began to eat. They also took a (fish-)head for (all) provisions. „Chan-ai, throw a bone at me!” The other one said, „I will not throw].” (Kilu’) said, „(Do it!). We shall gain much by it.”
She threw the bone at her, but it did not stick (to her face). She took it and glued it on with her saliva. At last it was (sticking) all right. „Chan-ai’! leave me (alone)!” She left her (and went away). „Chan-ai’, I did not become a kamak.” (The other one) again came back. She said again, „Leave me (alone)! Go home and say, ‚She has become a kamak!’”
Big-Raven said, “It is her own mind. Let her be (wherever she desires).”Kilu’ [falsely] pretended to be crying, then she fell asleep. She also woke up; and there was Fish-Man. He said, “Enough, it is all your pretensions.” She got up, and Fish-Man married her. They also staid there and caught plenty of fish.
After some time they went home, to Big-Raven’s house. People said, “They have brought Kilu’.” – “Our Kilu’ became a kamak.” She said, “I am here, I came! Fish-Man married me.” There (both Fish-Men) lived. They were quite successful in catching fish. Yini’a-nawgut and her cousin brought forth sons. They bore some male children.
That is all.
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