Long ago, cranes preparing for their autumn migration encountered a beautiful young woman near a village. Enchanted, they lifted her on their wings and carried her away, their cries drowning her calls for help. She was never seen again. To this day, cranes circle and call loudly each autumn, echoing their ancient deed in preparation for their journey southward.
Source:
The Eskimo about Bering Strait
by Edward William Nelson
[Smithsonian Institution]
Bureau of American Ethnology
Eighteenth Annual Report
Washington, 1900
► Themes of the story
Supernatural Beings: The cranes exhibit extraordinary behavior by communicating with the woman and abducting her, suggesting a supernatural element beyond typical animal behavior.
Origin of Things: The tale provides an explanation for the cranes’ circling behavior and loud calls during autumn migrations, attributing it to their ancient deed of abducting the young woman.
Transformation: The young woman’s life undergoes a dramatic change as she is taken from her village by the cranes, symbolizing a transformation from her human world to an unknown fate.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Inuit peoples
from St. Michael and other places on Norton Sound
One autumn day, very long ago, the cranes were preparing to go southward. As they were gathered in a great flock they saw a beautiful young woman standing alone near the village. Admiring her greatly, the cranes gathered about, and lifting her on their widespread wings, bore her far up in the air and away.
While the cranes were taking her up they circled below her so closely that she could not fall, and their loud, hoarse cries drowned her calls for help, so she was carried away and never seen again.
Ever since that time the cranes always circle about in autumn, uttering their loud cries while preparing to fly southward, as they did at that time.
► Continue reading…
text
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 