A skilled hunter once ate snake meat despite his friends’ warnings. Consumed by unquenchable thirst, he sought water at a river where the Mam, a supernatural force, captured him. His friends and wife pleaded for his release, burning copal, but the Mam refused. Bound to a mountain ever since, his fate serves as a warning against defying sacred taboos.
Source
Ethnology of the Mayas of
Southern and Central British Honduras
by John Eric Thompson
Field Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Series, Pub.274, Vol.17.2
Chicago, 1930
► Themes of the story
Divine Punishment: The hunter’s transgression of eating forbidden snake meat results in his capture and eternal imprisonment by the Mam, exemplifying retribution from higher powers for breaking taboos.
Forbidden Knowledge: The hunter’s curiosity and desire to experience the taste of snake meat, despite warnings, lead him to forbidden actions with dire consequences.
Moral Lessons: The narrative imparts a cautionary tale about respecting cultural taboos and the consequences of defying sacred prohibitions.
► From the same Region or People
Once there was a man who was a very good shot and, whenever he went into the forest, he always shot something. One day he went out with three friends to hunt, and seeing a large snake, he shot it. He said to his friends, “I have eaten every kind of meat except that of snake, so now I’m going to try this snake. It must be good.”
His comrades told him that he must not eat it, but the man cut off a large piece, and taking it home he ate it. Shortly afterwards he was overtaken with great thirst, drinking up every drop of water that there was in the house.
► Continue reading…
As his thirst was still unassuaged, he went down to the river to get some water. There he came face to face with the Mam who carried him away. Next day his comrades, missing him, searched and found his trail. They followed it to a large mountain, in the middle of which they saw the man imprisoned. They prayed to the Mam to release him, but without success. Next day his wife too came and burnt copal, but the Mam would not release him, and the man has remained there ever since; for the Mam have forbidden man to eat snake’s meat.
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 