Two cousins lived together, both childless. They parted, vowing to see who would first have a child. One prospered, had a son, and later reunited with his cousin, who had tamed a talking deer for companionship. Tensions rose when the deer injured the boy, leading to its death. Enraged, the childless cousin killed the father, causing the son to grow distant. Later, the son avenged injustices, returning peace to others’ lives.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Family Dynamics: The narrative delves into the complexities of familial relationships, highlighting the bond and ensuing conflict between two cousins, as well as the impact on the next generation.
Revenge and Justice: The story portrays acts of vengeance following personal loss, culminating in the son’s quest to rectify past wrongs and restore balance.
Supernatural Beings: The inclusion of a talking deer introduces an element of the supernatural, reflecting the mystical aspects present in Inuit folklore.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
There were once two cousins living together at the same winter-station, and at the time, their wives were both childless. In spring they parted from each other, saying, “Well, we will see who first gets a child.” One travelled away to the south, and established himself for the coming winter. At this place he lived in prosperity, and his wife bore him a child. When the boy grew up, the father took a fancy to return to his cousin. He, however, had still no children; and for this reason he caught a young deer, and trained it up for his amusement. At length it improved so much that it could understand human speech.
► Continue reading…
About that period the cousin returned, and he first beheld the calf running about outside the house. The cousins once more lived together, and the boy and the calf became playmates. The calf, however, soon grew stronger, and sometimes knocked over the boy, at which he wept. For this reason the boy’s father went and shot the calf, though he loved his cousin dearly. The childless man got into a great rage at this, and at once challenged his cousin, and they met, armed with their bows; the childless man shot his cousin on the spot, but was very much afflicted afterwards, and burst into a flood of tears. The son of the man that had been thus killed removed to a distance, for he could not endure the sight of his father’s cousin. When he was full-grown and strong he returned to the place, but he had come too late — the cousin was no more. He heard some rumour of an enormously strong man who used to rob other men of their wives; he challenged him to a wrestling-match, and overcame and killed him, and returned the women to their own husbands.
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Dreamtime Whispers 