Two brothers camp together when the younger pursues forbidden porcupine tracks, leading him to a giant. The giant traps him in a tree, anticipating a meal. The elder brother arrives, deceives the giant into handing over his axe, and kills him. Upon splitting the giant’s head, a swarm of mosquitoes emerges, explaining their origin as descendants of cannibalistic giants.
Source:
Tahltan Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.32, No.124, pp.198-250
April-June, 1917
Vol.34, No.133, pp.223-253
July-September, 1921
Vol.34, No.134, pp.335-356
October-December, 1921
► Themes of the story
Origin of Things: The story explains the origin of mosquitoes.
Mythical Creatures: The giant represents a mythical being within the tale.
Cunning and Deception: The elder brother’s deceit leads to their victory over the giant.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Tahltan people
Two brothers were camped together. The younger one went out hunting. Before leaving the camp he was told by the elder one that if he saw small porcupine-tracks, he must not follow them. He forgot, however, and, seeing small porcupine-tracks, followed them. They led to where a giant was, who at once gave chase. The hunter climbed a tree. The giant was glad when he found he had treed the man, and danced and sang around the bottom of the tree at the prospect of a meal. He stripped off most of his clothes, and got out his stone axe to chop the tree. The lad then called on his elder brother, who hurried to the place. When he saw the giant, he said, “Oh, I am glad you have got that boy! He has treated me shamefully. He is really my enemy. Sit down, and give me your axe. I will chop down the tree for you.” The giant gave him the axe, and sat down near the tree. The man told him to shut his eyes, for perhaps some chips might fly into them.
► Continue reading…
He struck the tree a blow, and then with the next blow hit the giant on the head and killed him. The lad then came down the tree. As they viewed the giant’s body, they remarked, “How bad these people are, and still so foolish! It seems wonderful that they are able to do so much harm when they are so simple. They are able to kill people, and yet people can easily fool them. Let us open his head and see what is in it! Let us see what kind of brains he has!” They split the head, and a cloud of mosquitoes came out and attacked the brothers. They found that the giant had nothing but mosquitoes for brains, and closed up the head quickly. This is why mosquitoes attack people and suck their blood. They are cannibals because they originated from the cannibal giants. Had the brothers not split open the giant’s head and let them out, possibly there would be no mosquitoes in the world now.
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