Grass-Blade-Girl

An old woman finds a miraculous blade of grass that transforms into a girl, Grass-Blade-Girl, whose beauty and magical abilities attract a suitor. On her journey to her husband’s home, she is abducted by the witch Yaghishna, who impersonates her. Eventually, the truth is revealed, and the suitor kills Yaghishna. Grass-Blade-Girl returns to her rightful place as his wife, embodying resilience and renewal.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Transformation: The metamorphosis of the grass blade into a human girl highlights themes of change and transformation.

Supernatural Beings: The witch Yaghishna represents the involvement of supernatural entities influencing human affairs.

Trials and Tribulations: Grass-Blade-Girl’s journey, including her abduction and eventual rescue, illustrates the challenges and adversities she faces.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Katherine Rumiantzev, a Russianized Yukaghir woman, in the village of Pokhotsk, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1896.

An old woman lived all alone. She had no children. One time she went for a walk. She saw a patch of yellow grass. One blade was growing higher than any of the others. She gathered that grass for her bedding, and kept this long blade apart. She carried the grass home, put it under her mat and slept over it. In the night time the long blade became warm from the heat of her body.

In the morning the old woman mounted to the roof to open the chimney hole. Then she heard something crying in the house. It was the grass-blade which had turned into a little girl. The old woman swathed her in thin skins, fed her and nursed and caressed her. Thus Grass-Blade-Girl lived in her house and grew up. When the time came for her to be married she was a wonderful girl. When she wept her tears were costly pearls. When she smiled, her smile was all precious stones. She would swing her right sleeve, and sables and martens would drop from it.

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She would swing her left sleeve, and red foxes would fall out of it. She was also very pretty. The like of her was not to be met. A strong young man heard about her, and went to pay suit to her.

On his departure, he told his brothers, who had remained at home, to make arrows and to feather them well, that he might shoot with them sables and foxes for his future bride. He ordered them also to prepare bags for the skins, and boxes for the precious stones and pearls.

He went to the old woman and saw the girl. She was all that people had stated her to be. Pearls and precious stones dropped from her mouth, sables and foxes fell from her sleeves. He offered his suit, and was accepted. Then he married her and took her to his house. On the way, they passed the house of Yaghishna. Just as they were right opposite it, the bride said, “Oh, my dear! I am very thirsty. Bring me some water.” He took the ice-pick and went to a lake. He cut through the ice, but there was no water. The bottom was dry. He tried another place, and still another. There was no water anywhere, and at last he went so far toward the middle of the lake, that he disappeared from the sight of the woman. In the meantime the dogs of the, team scented the house of Yaghishna. So they rushed off with the sledge, and she could not keep them back. They arrived at Yaghishna’s door. The witch came out, took the young woman by the hand, and led her into the house. She made her take a place on a new reindeer skin, and went to prepare some food and hot tea for her; but when she took the first cup of tea, the witch unexpectedly pulled out the bedding from under her seat, and the young woman fell into an underground cellar a hundred fathoms deep, a hundred fathoms wide, and quite dark.

She prayed and prayed to be let out: “O grandmother! help me out! I will give you anything you may ask of me.” — “All right,” said the witch, “take off your clothes and give them to me, then I will help you out.” The young woman took off her clothes, saving only her undershirt, and made them into a bundle. The witch dropped a long line into the cellar. The young woman tied the bundle to the line. The witch pulled up the bundle, put on the clothes, and all at once became exactly like the young bride. So she took her place upon the sledge, and hurried back to the former place. After some time the husband came. He brought some water, but the bride refused to take it. “I do not want it. I did not ask you at all to fetch any water.” They even had a quarrel. “Why,” said the young man, “you were so thirsty. Have I not cut the ice maybe in twenty places to get water for you?”

After that they continued on their way. When they reached home all the people gathered to look upon the bride; but she had neither pearls nor sables. She coughed and spat, blew her nose; and only once a small glass bead fell down, which, moreover, was pierced awry. In due time, however, she bore a son. Her husband was an excellent hunter. He brought home geese and swans, reindeer and elks. The house was full of meat and of all kinds of skins. He passed most of his time in the open air, and paid no attention to the ways of his wife with their little boy. One time, however, he came home, and his wife prepared some dinner for him. While waiting for it, he took up the boy, who began to cry. “There,” said the man, “the boy is crying. It is time to give him some food.” The witch took the boy and turned her face toward the wall. After that she began to take off her left boot. He looked on with great wonder, and thought, “What is this? I wanted her to suckle the boy, and she takes off her boots.” The woman took off the boot, and instead of the breast she gave the boy her left heel to suck. He was very angry. “Why,” said her husband, “is this the way you feed our boy? Truly, you have grown up in the wild country, and you are of wild blood. You are good for nothing. I took you for a treasure, and instead you are an unclean thing. You suckle your boy in this unhallowed way. Tomorrow morning I shall take you back to your mother. I do not want you any longer.” They quarrelled all night long, and did not sleep. The next morning he carried her back to her mother. They arrived there, and lo, Grass-Blade-Girl was living with the old woman again.

She had been left quite naked in the underground cellar of Yaghishna’s house. When groping about in the cellar, she found it full of dead bodies of men and women. She heaped them up and mounted to the top. In this way she succeeded in making her escape. The Witch, though living far away in the house of the young man, became aware directly of the flight of her prisoner. She sent some bears and wolves in pursuit, which overtook the fugitive. They tore her to pieces, and the blood flowed all over the ground. A new thin yellowish-green grass grew up from the blood. The old woman found the grass, and gathered it; and so again she had in her house the same Grass-Blade-Girl, as before.

The young man carried his wife back to her mother, and found there also this Grass-Blade-Girl. He recognized her immediately as his former bride. They had supper, and then lay down to sleep. The old woman said to Grass-Blade-Girl, “Tell us a tale.” So the girl began, “There lived an old woman. She found a yellowish-green grass blade and took it home. She put it under her bedding. The next morning she went out to open the chimney-hole, and something was crying within the house. The grass-blade had turned into a little girl. The girl grew up, and a young man came and married her. He took her to his house. On the way she asked for a drink. The bridegroom went for some water. Near the trail stood the house of Yaghishna. The dogs scented it and rushed there.”

As soon as she reached this place in the story, Yaghishna grew angry and interrupted her. “Enough of your prattling! We want to sleep. No need of your silly tales!” — “Not so fast,” said the husband. He took Yaghishna and with twelve new arrows he shot her dead in front of the house. Then he carried Grass-Blade-Girl to his house.

The end.

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A bear tale

A beautiful Tungus girl is abducted by a bear and becomes his wife. Rescued by her shaman brother-in-law, who defeats the bear in a mystical battle, she returns home, traumatized but alive. Months later, she gives birth to a boy with bear ears, named Bear-Ear, who grows into a mighty hunter, blending human and bear traits.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: The bear exhibits human-like behavior, abducting a woman and providing for her, indicating a supernatural aspect.

Quest: The shaman brother-in-law embarks on a mystical journey to rescue the abducted woman.

Family Dynamics: The narrative explores complex relationships, including the woman’s abduction, her marriage to the bear, and the birth of their hybrid child.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Nicholas Kusakoff, a Russian creole in the village of Pokhotsk, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1896.

A clan of the Tungus lived in three tents. The family in the first tent had two daughters. The elder daughter was married, and the younger lived at home. She was very pretty; and her parents made her sit in her sleeping room all the time, lest any strange eye should behold her beauty. An old woman lived with her, who gave her drink and food, and acted as a nurse. Even her parents rarely visited her. Once in a while in the night time she would go noiselessly to their sleeping room to be caressed by them.

One time when she was sitting alone in her sleeping room the lower edge of the cover was lifted up. No human hand appeared, but the flap of the cover continued to be lifted up, and at last there appeared a bear’s muzzle. The girl was so badly frightened that she could not cry. The bear entered the sleeping room as far as his belly, and then caught the girl.

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He covered her mouth with his huge paw, and carried her off to his lair. It was in the middle of the fall; so he put her into the lair, and went in himself. He stopped up the entrance, as bears do, and they slept. They slept most of the time, but sometimes the girl would wake up and feel hungry. Then she would make known to the bear by signs that she wanted food. He would growl, stretch out one of his paws toward her, and she would suck at the thickest part of it. After she had sucked a while, fat would drip from it. She felt satisfied and went to sleep again. One time, as the days grew longer, the girl was awakened by a heavy weight that was pressing her down. She was unable to resist, and so became the wife of the bear.

At last the warm season came again. The bear left his lair and roamed about, looking for food. Every day he brought back all kinds of game — reindeer, hare, or at least ptarmigan. He never came home without something. He ate the raw meat. She could not eat it. So she prayed to the bear, “O bear! grandfather. You see I cannot eat raw meat. How shall I subsist? Please bring me some fire!”

[The Russianized natives of the Kolyma have a very strong superstitious fear of the bear. They never mention its name, but call him “he” or “grandfather.” The bear is considered as a mighty shaman, the man of the wood. “He knows everything,” say the people. None of them dares to attack a bear, even when the latter comes to the fishing camp and plunders the stores of dried fish and oil. Even the setting of deadfalls for bears is considered by most people as a sin against the bear. It is curious to notice that among the natives (Yukaghir, Tungus, Chukchee) this kind of superstitious fear and worship, though it also exists, is never felt to such an extent as among the Russian creoles and the Russianized natives.]

He let forth a growl and set off. For a long time he did not return. Then he brought in his mouth a firebrand. He procured a knife and an ax (goodness knows where he got them!); and, moreover, he brought her large masses of every kind of meat. She made a fire, and roasted the meat on wooden spits. On this she lived all the time.

All the snow had melted off, and patches of last year’s berries appeared. She roamed about, picking berries for her own food and also for the bear. Once she heard a human voice. She hurried to the place whence it came. It was the voice of her brother-in-law. He was a great shaman, and since the fall had been looking for her on land and on water, but had found no trace of her. Now she heard his call. She hurried to the spot, pretending, however, to pick berries along the way. He came toward her, and they met, “What is the matter with you?” asked the shaman. “Who caught you and carried you away?” She answered, “A bear carried me away, and made me his wife. He keeps me close to the lair, and does not allow me to wander far away.” — “Ah!” said the man, “even now when you go back, he will be very angry, and he will give you a severe thrashing with his heavy paws. Then you must say to him, ‘O, grandfather! why do you beat me thus? The berries are getting scarce, and, moreover, I feel a great longing for my parents and family, and this makes me restless.’ Be that as it may, you must come again to this place.” Then she went back. The bear was very angry. He pawed the ground and threw it about in great lumps. Then he caught the woman and gave her a severe thrashing. The woman said, “O, grandfather! why do you torture me so? The berries are getting scarce, and, besides, a longing for my people overpowers me. I am growing restless, and cannot stay in the same place.” The bear ceased beating her. The next morning she awoke and prepared some food for herself. She ate her meal, and then set off, pretending to go berrying. As soon, however, as she was out of sight of the bear, she ran as fast as her legs would carry her to the place where she had met her brother-in-law who was already there expecting her. He said, “You must run on with all your might.” He dropped to the ground, and turned into a big bear with a bell on his left ear. He rushed off to meet the other bear. On his departure, he said to her, “Run as fast as you can, but in running try to listen behind you. When the earth begins to tremble and to sway right and left, then know that we have met. Listen to the bell! If it rings with a full sound, then know that I have conquered; but if the sound grows fainter, then it is that he has vanquished me. Know then that you also will not live.” She ran off, but tried to listen. At last the ground trembled. The bell was ringing quite loud; but gradually the sound grew fainter and fainter, and then ceased altogether. “Oh,” thought the woman, “we are lost!” She ran off in more haste than ever. Then all at once the bell sounded again, stronger and stronger. Her brother-in-law had vanquished the other one and was coming back. She arrived at home, but did not enter neither the sleeping room of her parents nor her own. She entered the sleeping room of her sister who was sleeping. She fell down at her side and lost consciousness. Her brother-in-law arrived soon after her and resumed the form of a man. He awakened his wife and their parents, and they tried to restore the girl. She was very ill, however, and swooned again and again. The bear spirit was tormenting and oppressing her. After three days she came to, and in a few months she gave birth to a boy, who had bear-ears. This boy grew up and became a strong hunter. His name was Bear-Ear.

That is all.

Yukaghir tale

An old man feigns death to secretly eat an elk he had hidden. After being caught by his wife, who uses a ptarmigan to attack him, he returns home and confesses. The old woman scolds him, ensuring he shares the elk with her. Reunited, they resume their life together, learning the value of honesty and sharing.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: Both the old man’s ruse and the old woman’s clever use of the ptarmigan to expose his deceit highlight the use of wit and trickery.

Moral Lessons: The story imparts the value of honesty and the importance of sharing within a family.

Retribution and Justice: The old woman’s actions serve as a form of retribution, ensuring that the old man faces consequences for his selfishness.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Katherine Rumiantzev, a Russianized Yukaghir woman, in the village of Pokhotsk, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1896.

There once lived an old man and his wife. They had an only son. They lived together for a long time. One day the old man came home from the woods and said to his wife, “O wife! I am going to die tomorrow morning. Here in the neighborhood is a small abandoned hut. Put my body there; and take with it a kettle and an ax, a strike-a-light, and some food.” The next morning the old man was as if dead. The old woman cried over him; then she put his body, with everything required, upon a sledge, and hauled it to the funeral place. The boy went along, and helped his mother haul it. On the way they came to a brook. The old woman pulled across it with all her might, and at last broke wind. The old man giggled. The boy noticed it, and said, “There, mother, father is laughing!” The old woman grew very angry and struck the boy. “He is dead. How could he laugh?” They continued hauling the sledge, and after a while they came to another brook. Again the old woman pulled with great force and broke wind.

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The old man giggled again; and the boy said, “See here! father is laughing.” She struck him again. “Why, you liar! our father is dead.” They came to the abandoned hut, and put the old man inside. They shut the door and went away. After a few days the boy passed by the house, and he saw smoke ascending from the chimney-hole. He ran to his mother. “Mother, come! There is smoke over that hut.” She went, and saw the smoke. Then she approached with great caution and looked in. The old man was making a fire. He was cooking some fat meat over the fire. Before he feigned death he had killed a big fat elk, and had hidden it in the hut; and he now was eating it all alone. The old woman went home and said to the boy, “Go and set some snares for ptarmigan. I want some ptarmigan.” The boy set his snares and caught a ptarmigan and brought it to his mother alive. The old woman took the ptarmigan and plucked it well, leaving only the wings. Then she spoke to the ptarmigan as follows: “O ptarmigan! you have wings, and your talons are sharp and pointed. Now fly off to my old man, enter his hut through the chimney hole, and scratch his body with your sharp talons. Draw blood from his body with your talons.” The ptarmigan flew to the hut, and dropped into it through the chimney hole. It attacked the old man and lacerated his body with its sharp talons. The old man was much frightened. He left the hut and ran home to his old woman. He came to the house, but the door was shut tight. He said in the Yukaghir language, “Oh, there, old woman! Open the door!” — “Why should I open it? You are not my old man. My old man is dead.” — “No,” said he, “I am really your old man.” — “How can that be? From which world, then, did you come, — from this one, or from the other one?” — “So help me God! I am really your old man.” She opened the door and then snatched the poker and beat him on the head. “Mind you do not eat alone without your old woman!” The old woman swore that he should never do that again. He brought home the elk carcass, and they continued to live together.

That is all.

Raven tale

A childless couple prays to God and is granted children. Their daughter is abducted by Raven-Man, and their sons, attempting rescues, perish. The youngest son, armed with cunning and determination, outsmarts Raven-Man, burns him, and revives his brothers with the water of life. They reunite, return home, and their parents, overwhelmed with joy, turn to ashes.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Divine Intervention: The childless couple prays to God and is granted children, highlighting the influence of deities in human affairs.

Trickster: Raven-Man embodies the trickster archetype, using cunning and deceit, while the youngest son employs wit to outsmart him.

Family Dynamics: The narrative explores complex family relationships, including the bond between siblings and the lengths they go to for each other.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Nicholas Kusakoff, a Russian creole, in the village of Pokhotsk, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1896.

There once upon a time lived a man and his wife. They had neither son nor daughter. They lived together for a long time. Then they talked to each other. The old woman said, “Well, old man, what do you think? We are getting old, and we have no children. Who will take care of us when we are still older? Who will bring us food?” So they prayed to God, and at last God gave them a daughter. The daughter grew up rapidly to womanhood. One day she went berrying. Then Raven-Man caught her and carried her away. The old couple wandered about, looking for their daughter, but could not find her. So they prayed again to God, and asked for a son. God heard their prayer again, and gave them a son. They nursed him and fed him, and soon he was full grown. The young man said to his father and mother, “Did you never have any other son or daughter? I long to have a brother or a sister.” They did not tell him. “We had none whatever.”

► Continue reading…

He walked about in the vicinity, and shot in every direction with his blunt arrow. One time his arrow entered the house of the old woman, Underskin, through the chimney-hole. He almost cried for fright, still he went in to ask for his arrow. The old woman, Underskin, went out to meet him. “O you bad boy! Why are you wronging me? I am old and without defence. Why are you shooting at my house? Rather than shoot at my house, you had better shoot at Raven-Man, it was he who carried off your own sister.” The boy cried aloud and went home. “Ah!” said he, “father and mother! You did not want to tell me about my unfortunate sister, but Underskin has told me all. Now, you cannot keep me back. I shall go and search for her.”

He set off, and after a long journey, he saw a house in the desert. He entered it, and his sister was sitting on a bench. “Why did you come?” she said to him. “Raven-Man will kill you.” — “Ah, he has taken you! Let him kill me! I shall not demur.” She gave him food and drink. After a while Raven came. He croaked three times, then dropped upon the roof, and turned into a young man. Raven-Man entered the house, sniffed around, and then exclaimed, “Ah, ah, ah! We did not hear it, we did not see it, the Russian body came to us of its own will; not a strange man, either, but my own brother-in-law. There, wife, go and bring us some nuts! We will have some fun with them.” The woman brought some iron nuts, about four dozen of them. They began cracking nuts; but while the young man was trying to open one nut, Raven-Man was ready with two or three. Then Raven said, “Go now and get ready a steam bath in which we may steam our little bones.” She prepared the steam bath. They went to the bath house. Raven said, “You enter first,” and the young man said, “No, you enter first.” Raven got the better of the young man and pushed him into the bath house. It was as hot as an oven there, so the young man was roasted. Raven took out the body and ate it. Then he went home, and said to his wife, “Go and get your brother’s bones, pick them clean, put them into a bag, and hang them up on a tree.” [The ancient Yukaghir used to gather the bones of their dead in pouches, and carried them along, or put them away in secret places.] She cried for a long time; then she sewed up a pouch, gathered all the bones, and put them into the pouch which she hung high up on a tree.

The parents waited and waited, but their son never came home. So the old people prayed again to God, “O God! give us a child, a son or a daughter.” So God gave them another son. The boy grew up, and inquired of his parents, “O father and mother! was there never at any time another brother or a sister of mine?” They denied it more strongly than ever, lest he too should go away. He walked about, playing with his bow and blunt arrow; and one time he sent an arrow into the house of the old woman Underskin through the chimney-hole. Underskin went out. She was very angry. “Why do you shoot at me? I am old and defenceless. You had better shoot at Raven-Man, who carried off your sister and killed your brother.” He went to his father and mother, and cried for vexation.” Oh, father and mother I you did not want to tell me; but old woman Underskin has told me everything. She told me that I had a sister and a brother, but that they were taken by Raven-Man. I shall go and look for them, whether you are willing or not. I shall go away.” They tried arguments and tears; but he paid no heed, and set off instantly. After a long journey, he arrived at the house. His sister was sitting inside. “Why did you come?” she said. “He will devour you.” — “Let him do it! I shall not demur. He devoured my brother, and I am no better than he.” So she gave him food and drink, and they waited for Raven. Raven flew homeward croaking, “food, food, food” [in Russian, Кормъ, кормъ, кормъ imitative of the sound of the croaking]. He alighted on the roof and turned into a young man. He entered the house. “Ah, ah, ah! we heard nothing, we saw nobody, but the little Russian bone came to us of its own will. He is Dot a strange man, he is my own brother-in-law. Go wife, and bring us some iron nuts! We will have some fun with them.” So she went and brought some iron nuts, about four dozen of them. They cracked nuts; but while the young man was struggling with a single one, Raven was ready with two or three. Then he said again, “Go and prepare a steam bath for us. We want to take a bath.” She heated the bath house. They went there. Raven said, “You enter first,” and the young man said, “No, you go in first.” Raven had his way and pushed the young man in. The bath house was so hot that the young man was roasted alive. Raven drew out the body and ate it. He went home and said to his wife, “Go and pick clean his bones, then gather them into a pouch and hang them high up on a tree.” She cried bitterly, then she made a pouch and went there. She gathered all the bones, even the smallest joints, and put them into the pouch which she hung high up on a tree.

The parents waited and waited, but the boy never came. And how could he? So they prayed to God, “O God! give us a son or a daughter.” God heard again, and gave them a son, the very last one to be given. The boy grew up and became strong of body. He also said to his parents, “O my father; and my mother! I want to know whether lever had any brothers or any sisters?” They were less willing than ever before to tell him, lest he too should go away and perish. So he walked about and played with his bow, and at last he shot an arrow into the chimney-hole of old woman Underskin. She went out quite angry, “Why do you shoot at me. I am old and defenceless. Better shoot at Raven-Man. He took away your sister and destroyed your brothers. He is a better target for your shooting.” He cried aloud and went to his parents. “Oh, father and mother! You did not want to tell me, but old woman Underskin has told me the truth. Raven-Man destroyed my brothers and carried off my sister. I shall go and look for him, no matter whether you are willing or not to give me your blessing.” They wanted to keep him back, and almost died with sorrow. Still he set off. After a long journey he found the house, and his sister was sitting in it. She recognized him all at once, and cried bitterly, “Why did you come? He will devour you like the others.” — “Let him do it! I shall not object. He ate my elder brothers, let him finish the whole breed!” She gave him food and drink, and they waited. Raven-Man flew home, and croaked, “Food, food, food!” He alighted on the roof of the house and turned into a strong man. He entered and said, “Oh, oh, oh! we heard nothing, we saw nobody; but the little Russian bone entered of its own will, not a strange man, either, my own brother-in-law. Go, wife, and bring us some iron nuts. We will have some fun with them.” She brought the iron nuts, four dozen of them. They cracked the nuts; but while Raven was trying to open a single one, the young man was through with two or three. “Oh, oh,” said Raven-Man, “you are a good one, O brother mine! You crack the nuts even quicker than I do.” — “Why,” said the young man, “I crack them in the only way that I know.” — “All right!” said Raven-Man. “Now, wife, go and get the steam bath ready. We want to steam our little bones.” So she went to the bath house and heated it. All the while she was crying most bitterly. Her whole face became swollen with crying. At last she came home. Raven looked up at her, and said, “There, woman, it seems you have been crying again. Take care, lest I swallow you some day!” — “Ah, brother mine!” said the young man, “so you swallow human beings?” — “Oh no!” answered Raven-Man, “it is only a little joke. Nevertheless let us go and have our steam bath. You must be tired from your long journey.” So they went to the bath house; and one said to the other, “You enter first,” and the other said, “You enter first. You are my guest.” — “And you are my host.” The young man had his way and pushed Raven into the bath house. Then he set fire to it and burnt it up together with Raven. He scattered the ashes to the winds. Then he asked his sister, “Where are the bones of our brothers?” She climbed to the tree and took them down. He entered the storehouse, and there was preserved a bottle containing the water of life and youth. He took the bones of the oldest brother and joined them all together. Then he sprinkled them with the water of life and youth. The first time he sprinkled the bones they were covered with flesh; the next time he sprinkled, the flesh was covered with skin; the third time he sprinkled, the young man sat up, and said, “Ah, ah, ah! I slept too long, but I am quite refreshed. — “Ah!” said the youngest brother, “if it had not been for me, you would not have awakened at all.” Then he did the same with the bones of the second brother, and restored him also to life. They gathered all the goods Raven had in his house, and went home, all four of them. They went to their father and mother. The old people were quite joyful, and from very joy they became ashes that were scattered around.

The end.

A Yukaghir tale

A clever Yukaghir girl is carried away by a whirlwind to a mountain. Using wit, she climbs the rock, overcoming rivals and meeting One-Side, a strange being with magical servants. Destroying his helpers, she proves her resourcefulness and earns her place. Ultimately, she reunites with her transformed husband and returns to her mourning parents, whose joy turns them to ashes.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Quest: The girl’s journey, initiated by the whirlwind, leads her to a mountain where she undertakes a series of tasks to achieve her goals.

Supernatural Beings: Encounters with entities like One-Side and his magical servants highlight interactions with the supernatural.

Cunning and Deception: The protagonist’s use of deceit, particularly in dealing with her fellow captives, underscores this theme.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Innocent Korkin, a Russianized Yukaghir man, in the village of Pokhotsk, the Kolyma country, summer of 1895.

Once upon a time there were some Yukaghir people. They had an only daughter, who was very active and clever. One time when she was walking, a whirlwind carried her off to the mountains. A big rock, which extended from the ground up to heaven was standing there. The whirlwind carried her there and left her close to the rock. She sat there, and after awhile she saw a bluejay flying by. “O Jay, go to my father and mother and say to them, “Your daughter asks you for some glue and a glue pot, for a line, and for climbing hooks.” — “I will not go. When you were still living with your father and mother, you were nasty; whenever I wanted to pick up some meat, you drove me away. I will not help you.”

A snow-bunting passed by. She said to it, “Go and tell my father and mother, ‘Your daughter would dearly love to have some glue and a glue-pot, a line, and some climbing hooks’.”

► Continue reading…

“I will go. When you were still living with your father and mother, you were very nice. I used to come and peck at the drying meat, and you would even leave for me some spare bit or a piece of dried roe; so I will help you. My wings are young. I will bring each and everyone one of the things you asked for.” And really it brought everything. The girl felt glad, and sang aloud.

O jay, blue jay!
Give me your talons
To mount the rock
And to get my overcoat.
O bunting, snow-bunting!
Give me your talons
To mount the rock
And to get my overcoat.
Keyom-da, Keyom-da,
Keyom-da, Keyom-da!

After some time the whirlwind brought another girl there, and then a third one. The first one said to her fellow-prisoners, “Why, sisters! there is no use to sit here and wait. Let us try to climb the rock! She prepared three lines and three sets of climbing-hooks. Then she threw her line upward. It caught around the stone, and she climbed up. The other two followed. When half way up, she asked of one, “Well, now, sisters, perhaps we shall find only one man there, and all three of us are going to marry him. Shall we then have quarrels and fights, as usual?” — “Of course we shall,” said the other. So the first one, without more ado, cut off the line; and the unhappy girl fell down and was killed. Then she asked the second girl, “Well, now, sister, perhaps we shall find only one man and we shall both of us marry him. Shall we then have quarrels as usual?” — “Of course we shall,” answered the girl. So she cut her line, and the poor girl fell back to the ground. After that she herself climbed to the top of the rock. She was full of joy, so she danced and sang:

How active she is!
How clever she is!
She climbed the rock.
Keyom-da, keyom-da,
Keyom-da, keyom-da!
The active ones climbed to the top
The slow ones all perished.
Keyom-da, keyom-da,
Keyom-da, keyom-da!

The top of the mountain was a high plateau. She walked across it and after a while she saw a house, well arranged and quite large. She entered. The furniture and appurtenances were of the best, but people there were none. Along the walls stood long rows of boxes and bags filled to the brim with costly furs. She opened one box and entered it. Then she closed the lid above her, and waited for events. In the evening a man came. It was One-Side. He had one leg, one arm, one side, one eye. As soon as he entered, he said aloud, “Chimney, burn! Teapot, bubble! Kettle, cook food! Take off my boots! they are too heavy.” He lay down. The chimney began to burn, the teapot bubbled, the meat in the kettle was done just right. His clothes and boots were taken off and hung up to dry. Still the girl could not see anybody. The next morning One-Side went off. Then the girl left the box, and again investigated the house. Not a living person was in it. At last behind the chimney she saw a large flint stone. She lifted it; and under it there were mice and ermine, worms, flies, mosquitoes, and all kinds of larvae, as many kinds as existed in the surrounding country. Some were sewing and some were weaving, some scraping skins, and some again currying soft hides. These were the female assistants of One-Side. The girl felt jealous and angry. She filled with water the largest kettle that she could find. She hung it over the fire and when the water was scalding hot, she poured it over the vermin, and scalded them all to death. After that she crept back into the box and waited till evening. One-Side came home, and called aloud, “Chimney, burn! Kettle, bubble! Let meat be cooked! Take off my boots! I am very tired.” He waited and waited, but nothing happened. The chimney did not burn, the kettle did not bubble, and nobody came to take off his boots. “What is the matter with them? Perhaps my incantations have lost their power. Maybe I am going to die. Then let me have a last look upon my peltries. Before I die, I want to see once more my wealth, my goods, peltries, and clothes.” He carried all his bags and boxes into the middle of the house and opened them one by one. At last he found the girl. “Ah, it is you!” said One-Side. “Come out! You have destroyed all my people. It seems you object to having servants and female assistants: so now just stir about yourself and make yourself useful. Get the household things ready. In the morning three reindeer herds will come to you. You must catch the living-reindeer and harness them to the sledges, and then move away to another place. He did not indicate the place where she was to go. Early in the morning, before sunrise, she awoke, arranged all the sledges, and was ready to move. Then the three reindeer herds came to her. She caught all the pack-reindeer and attached them to the sledges. After that she drove on in front of the first line of sledges, as is customary. She looked back and saw all three lines of sledges, ever so long. Thereupon she rejoiced, and struck up her song:

What an active one,
What a clever one!
I arose early,
And got myself ready.
My moving road,
Just like a new-spun thread,
So straight it is,
So finely it is done.

Then she continued:

I wish I had some poor tent poles!
I should pitch my tent
And sleep in it alone.

Then she saw some tent poles on the trail. They were of the poorest kind; but she took them and pitched her tent. She slept alone in this tent; and the next morning she moved on; and so throughout the day from sunrise to sunset. She sang again:

I wish I had some good tent poles!
I should pitch my tent,
My husband would come
To sleep with me.

She saw some tent poles on the trail. They were of good quality. So she pitched a large tent, new and handsome. In the evening a young man came who wanted to stay. She saw him coming, and met him outside. “Who are you, and what do you want?” — “I am your husband.” — “No you are not! My husband is one-sided, and his name is Li’giman.” — “I say I am your husband.” He went out and climbed a tree. Then he turned to the sun once, twice, three times, and was again one-sided. “There!” said he, “you would not believe me, although I am your husband. See, now! I am one-sided again.” She felt much joy that he was really her husband. He turned three times toward midnight and became again a young man, quite handsome, and clad in white skins. They entered the house and slept there. In the morning they moved on. On the way they saw a lake. Some people were playing football on the ice. One of them shouted, “Ah, ah! Run home and tell the chief that his daughter is coming.” They came to a village. The front house was covered with black skins as a sign of mourning. It was the house of her father and mother. They arrived at the house. The old people ran out and rejoiced. From mere joy they fell down and became ashes that were scattered by the wind.

The end.

One-Side

A one-sided hunter who could transform into a handsome man marries a goose-woman after stealing her wings. Their son is later kidnapped by her sisters and mistreated. The hunter finds his son, kills his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and reunites with his family. Eventually, he reveals his true form—a beautiful young man—to his wife, and they live happily together.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Transformation: The hunter possesses the ability to transform into a handsome man, and the sisters can change into geese.

Love and Betrayal: The youngest sister marries the hunter, but her sisters betray her by kidnapping her and her son.

Revenge and Justice: The hunter seeks justice by rescuing his son and punishing his deceitful in-laws.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Katherine Rumiantzer, a Russianized Yukaghir woman, in the village of Pokhotsk, in the Kolyma country, in the summer of 1896.

There was a family of Tungus. They lived in a tent. They had three daughters. The girls, when going to pick berries, would turn into female geese. In this form they visited the sea islands. One time they flew farther than usual. On a lonely island they saw a one-sided man. When he breathed, his heart and lungs would jump out of his side. The Geese were afraid and flew home.

After some time, they had nothing to eat, so they went again to the sea islands for berries. Wherever they chose a spot on which to alight, One-Side appeared and frightened them away. At last they found a place full of berries. They descended and laid aside their wings. They picked so many berries that they could hardly carry them all. They went back to the place where they had left their wings. The wings of the youngest daughter were gone. They looked for them a long time. At last, evening came and the sun went down. It grew very dark.

► Continue reading…

The two elder sisters reproached the youngest one: “Probably you have taken a liking to One-Side, and you have asked him to hide your wings. Now remain here alone and let him take you!” She almost cried while assuring them that their suspicions were unjust. “I have never seen him and never thought of him.” They left her and flew away. She remained alone.

As soon as they were out of sight, One-Side appeared carrying her wings. “Well, now,” he said, “fair maiden, will you not consent to marry me?” She refused for a long time, then she gave in, and said, “I will!” — “If you are willing,” said One-Side, “I will lead the way.” He took her to his house. It was the usual house, made of wood, with a wooden fireplace. [The type of house generally used among Russian creoles and Russianized natives, a square log cabin, having a fireplace in the corner, with a straight chimney made of wood and plastered with clay, the so-called “Yakut chimney.” It is improbable that this chimney is really a Yakut invention. The ancient type of Yakut house had only an uncovered fireplace, with an opening in the roof above it. However, the “Yakut chimney” is used everywhere among the Yakut, as well as among Russian creoles.] He proved to be a good hunter, able to catch any kind of game. Still he had only one side, and with every breath his heart would jump out. They lived together for a while, and the woman brought forth a son. The young woman nursed the infant. But One-Side did not want to stay at home. He would wander about all the time, and bring back reindeer and elk. They had so much meat that the storehouses would no longer hold it. He was a great hunter. He hunted on foot on snowshoes, for he had neither reindeer, — nor horses for traveling.

One time he set off to hunt as usual. Then his wife’s sisters suddenly came and carried the youngest sister and her little son off to their own country. The small boy, while carried on high, shouted, “O father! O my father! We are being carried by aunties to their home, to their home.” One-Side ran home as fast as he could, but he came too late. They were out of sight. Only the boy’s voice was heard far away. Then he shot an arrow with a forked head in the direction whence the voice seemed to come, and the arrow cut off one of the boy’s little fingers. One-Side found the arrow and the finger, and put them into his pouch.

Then he started in search of his boy. He walked and walked. A whole year passed. Then he arrived at a village. A number of children were playing “sticks” [a game of Russian provenience much in use among the Russianized natives]. He looked from one to another, thinking of his boy. There was one poor boy who was dressed in the poorest of clothing. His body was mangy, and his head bruised and covered with scars. First, One-Side paid no attention to him, but when he finally looked at this boy he saw that the little finger on his left hand was missing. He snatched the finger out of his pouch and placed it beside the hand, and indeed it fitted! The poor boy was his son! “Whose boy are you?” asked One-Side. “I am mamma’s boy.” — “And where is your father?” — “I have no father: I used to have one, but now I have none.” — “I am your father.” The boy refused to believe it, and only cried bitterly. “If my father were alive, we should not be so wretched, mother and I.” The elder sisters had married and made their youngest sister a drudge in the house. “Why is your head so bruised and scarred?” asked One-Side. “It is because my aunts order me to enter the house only by the back entrance, and every time I try to go in by the front entrance, they strike my head with their heavy staffs.”

[This passage is interesting, since it shows that perhaps some of the native peoples on the Kolyma River had houses with two entrances, and that some members of the family were not allowed to pass through the main entrance. This recalls the type of house of the Maritime Koryak and Kamchadal, with its different entrances for winter and summer. Among the Koryak, as well as among the Kamchadal, in former times, women and children, also transformed shamans, often entered, even in the winter time, by the rear entrance from the storage room, while men considered it beneath their dignity to do so. It is quite certain that this tale, though it mentions the Tungus, must have referred, not to the nomadic reindeer-riding Tungus, with their light tents of curried reindeer skin, but to the people living more or less sedentary lives along the Kolyma River or on the seacoast near its mouth. On the Bear Islands, for example, were found remnants of some houses, deserted long ago. The people living along the Kolyma were chiefly Yukaghir; and along the seacoast, also the little known Ca’achet and Shelags. At the present time, among the Russian creoles and the Russianized natives on the Kolyma, several type of houses are in use; but the ancient type of house cannot be ascertained, because of the preponderant influence of the Russian log cabin with its wooden chimney of so-called “Yakut” type.]

“Let us go to your house.” They arrived at the house. The boy went ahead and One-Side followed him. They came to the front entrance. As soon as the boy tried to go in, his eldest aunt jumped up and struck him with her iron staff. Then the woman saw the boy’s father, and felt so much ashamed, that she fell down before him.

He entered the house. They hustled about, brought food of every kind, and prepared tea. They ate so long that it grew very late and it was time to go to bed. On the following morning, after breakfast, he said to his brothers-in-law, “Let us go and try which of us can shoot the best with the bow! You are two, and I am only one.” They made ready their bows and arrows and began to shoot at each other. The elder brother-in-law shot first; but One-Side jumped upward, and the arrow missed him. The second brother-in-law also shot. One-Side jumped aside and dodged the arrow. “Now I shall shoot,” said One-Side, “and you try to dodge my arrows.” He shot once, and hit his elder brother-in-law straight through the heart. With the second shot he killed his other brother-in-law. Then he went back to the house, killed his wife’s sisters, and took home his wife and his son.

One time he set off, as usual, to look for game. When he was out of sight of his wife, he took off the skin that disguised his true form and hung it up on the top of a high larch tree. He became a young man, quite fair and handsome, just like the sunrise. He went home and sat down on his wife’s bed. While he was sitting there, he was about to take off his boots. The woman began to argue, “Go away from here! My husband will be here soon, and he will be angry with me. He will say, ‘Why have you let a strange man sit down on your bed?’” “I am your husband,” said he. “Why do you try to drive me away?” “No,” said the woman, “my husband is one-sided, and you are like other men.” They argued for a long time. At last he said, “Go and look at that tree yonder. I hung up my one-sided skin on it.” She found the tree and the one-sided skin, and now she believed him. Then she caught him in her arms and covered him with kisses. After that they lived happier than ever.

The end.

Reindeer-Born

A Tungus man, fearing the reindeer-eating foster son Reindeer-born, flees and finds an iron house with a beautiful woman. She gives him a magical neckerchief to protect him. When Reindeer-born pursues, the man hides behind a tree, and the kerchief transforms into a saw that kills Reindeer-born. The man returns to the iron house and marries the woman.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: The tale features Reindeer-Born, a creature with both human and reindeer characteristics, highlighting interactions with entities beyond the natural realm.

Cunning and Deception: The protagonist employs cleverness to escape and ultimately defeat Reindeer-Born, showcasing the use of wit to overcome challenges.

Sacred Objects: The magical neckerchief given by the mysterious woman serves as a powerful artifact that transforms into a saw, playing a crucial role in the story’s resolution.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Innocent Karyakin, a Tundra Yukaghir man, on the western tundra of the Kolyma country, winter of 1895.

There was a Tungus man who had a large reindeer herd, and no son at all. One time he came to his herd, and saw that a doe had brought forth a fawn which looked quite human. “What is this?” asked the man. “This is a small boy,” said the doe. “I brought forth for you. Take him and have him for a son.”

The Tungus took the boy, who grew up quickly. Every day he would swallow live reindeer, — one in the morning, another at noon, and still another in the evening, — three meals a day, three living reindeer. So this man, who was rich in reindeer, soon had almost none at all, and was poor. Then he felt afraid, and said to himself, “He will finish the reindeer-herd, and next it will be my turn.” He left his house and goods, and fled away, not knowing where he was going. He walked on for a long time. Then he saw an iron house.

► Continue reading…

In the house was a very pretty girl, so pretty that all the food she swallowed was visible though her transparent body. He thought in his mind, “Oh, I wish I had a wife like that girl!” And she answered immediately, “Really, you wish it?” She knew his thoughts, though he had not uttered a single word. She called him in and gave him food and drink. Then they lay down to sleep together. He stayed in that iron house three days and three nights. On the fourth morning his wife said, “It seems that you area runaway.” He said, “Maybe I am.” — “From whom were you running? I wish you would tell me the truth.” Then he said, “I took a foster child from the herd, Reindeer-Born; and I was afraid he would eat me up, together with my last reindeer.” — “All right,” said the woman, “have no more fear! Go back to your home. Here, take this neckerchief, and if the Reindeer-born should see you and should pursue you, run to some tree and hide behind it. Reindeer-born will not be able to catch you. And it Reindeer-born should not desist, touch the tree with this neckerchief.”

The man went back and came to his house. All at once he saw Reindeer-born, who rushed straight for him. The man turned about and ran for his life. He came to a tree, and hid behind it. Reindeer-born gave chase, and ran straight into the tree, striking his forehead against it with all his might. “Ah!” said Reindeer-born, “Your strength is greater than mine. I cannot make you fall.” In the meantime the man took the neckerchief and touched the tree with it; and instantly the kerchief turned into iron, and its outward shape was similar to that of a saw. This saw sawed at the tree and cut it down. The tree fell and struck Reindeer-born directly upon the head. It broke his head as if it had been an egg-shell, and killed him outright. The man returned to the iron house and lived there, having the young woman as a wife.

Tale about three storks

Here is the 55-60 word abstract for the provided text:

A man, unhappy with his monstrous wife, meets a water-woman who helps him find a cure. After many trials, he retrieves a stork to save her. He marries the water-woman, but on their journey home, his wife is kidnapped by an Eagle-Man. With the help of the youngest stork, she is rescued, and they live happily.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: The story features entities like the She-Monster, the water-woman, and the Eagle-Man, highlighting interactions with supernatural beings.

Quest: The man’s pursuit to find a cure and later to rescue his wife from the Eagle-Man represents a classic quest narrative.

Love and Betrayal: The man’s relationships, from his forced marriage to the She-Monster to his union with the water-woman and her subsequent kidnapping, underscore themes of love and betrayal.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Innocent Karyakin, a Tundra Yukaghir man, on the western tundra of the Kolyma country, winter of 1895.

There lived a man who did not know where he was born. We think, however, that we were born of this man. He was rich in everything. One time a She-Monster came to him and wanted to be his wife. The She-Monster said, “You must take me for your wife. Otherwise, I shall devour you.” So he married her, and they lived together. After some time he felt sorrowful and thought to himself, “Is it fair, that I being a man, so strong and rich, must have for a wife this unclean monster?”

He came to a water-hole, and sat down there. For three days and three nights he cried from vexation near the water-hole. One time, when he was crying there, a girl appeared out of the water. He said, “I am lonely. Sit down by my side and cry with me?” — “How can I sit by your side? Your Monster Wife will surely kill me.” The man spoke fair words to the girl.

► Continue reading…

Three times she appeared out of the water-hole and talked to him. The She-Monster said, “What is the matter with you? For three nights in succession you have stayed near that water-hole. Did you not find another woman there to spend your nights with?” The man answered, “Where should I find a woman better than yourself? And why should I look for another woman?” They lay down and slept together.

Early in the morning the woman arose from the bed. She threw her thimble upon the man; and his sleep grew sound and strong, almost like death. He slept throughout the day, and on until midnight. The Monster-Woman took his bow and arrows and went to the water-hole. She lay there in ambush, holding the bow strung and ready to shoot. At last, the water-woman appeared out of the water-hole. The Monster-Woman shot at her, and hit her straight in the heart. She fell down, and sank to the bottom.

The Monster-Woman came home and picked up her thimble from the man’s bed. The man awoke instantly. He looked around, and said, “Ah! how long have I slept?” So he put on his clothes and ran to the water-hole. It was full of blood. He saw the blood, and cried bitterly. “Ah!” said he, “it is my wife who has spilled this blood.” He plunged into the water-hole head foremost.

When he reached the bottom, it was like another earth. He looked about, and saw that every bush had, instead of leaves, small copper bells, and the tussocks were covered with sableskin instead of moss. “What a fine place!” thought the man, and he walked onward along the beaten track. After a while, he came to a river. On the other shore stood a tent of Lamut type, made of silver. [The Lamut cover their tents with well curried reindeer skin. The Tundra Yukaghir use partly birchbark, partly reindeer skin clipped short and well smoked, bought chiefly from the Chukchee.] He came nearer and heard voices within. So he entered.

A woman lay on the bed of skins, moaning with pain. Two strong men were sitting by her, right and left. The men jumped up and laid hands upon the visitor. They shouted, “This man has killed our sister!” And they wanted to kill him on the spot; but the woman said, “Do not kill him! He did me no harm. His wife killed me.” He looked at her more closely. An arrow was sticking out from her heart, and the woman was ashen from pain. She moaned pitifully, and said, “Bring him nearer!” They brought him close to the woman, and he took his place by her bed. She cried, and he cried with her. He wanted to pull out the arrow; but the woman said, “Leave it alone! I shall die at your first touch. But if you want to restore me to life, go off across two stretches of land. In the third country you will see a silver hill and three she-storks are playing on it. You must creep close to them, and catch one of them. Then you must bring her to me.”

He set off, and after passing through these two countries he saw the silver hill. Three she-storks were playing on the hill, and amusing themselves with their stork-play. He tried to creep nearer, but after some time the storks noticed him. He fell to the ground full of despair, and in his despair he turned into a little shrew. Then he heard the storks talking to one another, plainly, in the Lamut language. The youngest one raised herself on her long legs, stretched her neck, and asked, “O sisters! where is that man? And what is coming now, so small and mouse-like?” The other said, “Why do you stretch your neck in such a manner? This is no man at all. Otherwise we should have noticed him sooner than you.” They flew up and circled around the hill.

In the meantime, the man had reached the top of the hill. The storks descended again; but the youngest said, “Ah! my heart misgives me. This man is hidden somewhere.” But the two others retorted, “Ah, nonsense! We should have noticed him sooner than you.” The two eldest ones descended to the hill; the third was still circling around in the air. All at once the shrew turned into a man, who caught one of the storks by her long leg. “Ah, ah, ah!” blubbered the stork, “and how does our other sister at home fare? Is she still living, or is she dead?” He told them everything. They were greatly moved and said, “Go home, and we will follow you.” He went home, and the three storks followed him on high, with much talking and many songs. He reached the house and entered it; but the storks were circling on high, singing their incantations. They wanted to pull out the arrow. The oldest said to the youngest, “Do try and pull out the arrow!” — “You are older than I. You have more skill than I.” — “No, we are unable to pull it out. Do try to get it out!” Then the youngest stork flew upward, and for a moment stood still directly over the vent hole of the silver tent. Then she dropped down like a stone; and when half way down, she soared up again. They looked up, and the arrow was in her beak.

The patient sat up directly and wiped away the tears of pain. Then she said, “Indeed, our youngest sister is a shaman.” She entered the house, and also praised the man. “Your heart is true. Will you take me for your wife?” He took her for his wife, and on the bridal night they slept in the silver tent; and the three female storks were circling above all night long, keeping watch over them and singing incantations. In the morning, the storks said to their two brothers, “You must send our brother-in-law, together with his wife, back to his home.” — “All right,” said the brothers. “Let them stay here for one day more, and then we will get them ready for the trip; but you must fly first, and see that everything in their home is in order.”

The storks flew off, and came to his house; and that very evening they came back. The man said to them, “How shall we go home? I have great fear for my young bride.” The storks answered, “Have no fear. We caught your old wife, and threw her into the sea. She turned into a big sea-worm.” The next morning they started on their journey; and the youngest stork warned them, “Be sure not to sleep on the way!” They moved on, he in front, and his young bride close behind him, both on reindeer-back. Half way along he was overpowered with sleep. Do what he would, he could not keep awake, and at last he fell from the saddle like one dead. The wife tried to wake him and said, “Did not our sisters warn us against sleeping in the way?” But he did not hear her words.

In the meantime, while she was busy over him, nudging him, and pulling him up, a big Eagle-Man with two heads came, and shouted, “I have been making suit for her since her earliest years.” The Eagle-Man caught her by her tresses and threw her upon his back. Then he flew off, and carried her along. After a while the man awoke, and his wife was nowhere to be seen. He cried from grief, and then looked around. No trace was left upon the snow, he saw only their own tracks made when they were coming to that place.

The three storks arrived. The youngest one said, “Did we not tell you not to go to sleep? Now what is to be done? The giant Eagle-Man is the mightiest of all creatures. They flew away in pursuit of the Eagle-Man. The young man followed behind on foot. After a while they overtook the Eagle. He was flying on, carrying the woman. Then the two elder storks told the youngest one, “Why, sister, we can do nothing. You alone must try your skill and good luck. All we can do is to aid your efforts.” “I will try,” said the youngest stork. She flew straight upwards, and vanished from sight. Then she fell straight down upon the Eagle, and snatched the young woman from his talons; and he still flew onward, noticing nothing at all. The youngest stork put the young woman upon her back and carried her back to her husband. They prepared for the journey again. The youngest stork said, “Now, you must go home. Nothing evil will befall you. You shall live there in wealth and good health. Children shall be born unto you every year. Take our blessing and go away.” They went on, and came to their country. There they saw that the silver Lamut tent was standing in their own place. They entered. They lived happily and quietly.

The shaman who turned into a fox

A shaman tests the strength and resilience of potential suitors for his daughter. Many men fail the tests, drowned or harmed by the fox’s tricks. However, the wanderer, a poor and aimless soul, endures every challenge. In the end, rather than accepting the daughter, the wanderer shows his strength and cleverness by killing the fox. This act, while seemingly violent, highlights his resourcefulness and resolve, proving him capable of overcoming even the greatest trials. The story reflects a complex interplay of fate, survival, and choice, with the wanderer choosing not love, but power over his circumstances.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Trials and Tribulations: The shaman, in his animal forms, subjects potential suitors to rigorous tests, including dragging them through rivers, rocky terrains, dense forests, and across the sea, to assess their resilience and worthiness.

Cunning and Deception: The shaman employs trickery by transforming and leading men into perilous situations, often resulting in their demise, to find the most suitable husband for his daughter.

Conflict with Authority: The wanderer’s refusal to marry the shaman’s daughter and his choice to kill the fox signify a defiance against the shaman’s authority and expectations.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Innocent Karyakin, a Tundra Yukaghir man, on the western tundra of Kolyma, winter of 1895.

There lived an old man who had a pretty young daughter. He was a great shaman, and he wanted to find a husband for her, the best of all human kind. So he turned into an arctic fox and ran along. Whomsoever he met, by him he would allow himself to be caught. And as soon as the man caught him, his hand would stick to the fox’s back. Then the fox would rush onward, dragging the man along. The fox would come to a river and turn into a fish. Then it would dive into the water, dragging the man along. And so the man would be drowned.

Another time he turned into a red fox and ran along. Whomsoever he met, by him he would permit himself to be caught. Then the hand of the man would stick to the fox’s back. The fox would rush onward, dragging the man along, and soon would drown him in the river.

► Continue reading…

A third time he turned into an ermine, and the same happened as before.

Finally, he turned into a black fox and ran along. He met a young man, a wanderer, who knew neither father nor mother, and who walked about without aim and in great poverty. The fox allowed himself to be taken. Then the hand of the wanderer stuck to his back, and the fox rushed on, dragging the man along. The fox ran to the river, turned into a fish, and dived into the water, dragging the man along. The fish crossed the river, came to the opposite shore, and turned again into a fox. And, lo! the young man was still alive. The fox rushed on, and came to some rocks. The rocks were all covered with sharp-pointed spikes. The number of the rocks was ten. The fox ran through between all of them, and the man along with him. The man was winding along like a thin hair, and he was still alive. The fox ran into a forest, which was as dense and thick as the autumn grass. The bark of one tree touched the bark of another. They crossed this dense forest, but the young man was still alive. The fox came to the sea, and plunged into the sea. He went across the sea to the opposite shore, but the man was still alive. Then the fox said, “Oh, you are an excellent man! I want to have you for a husband for my daughter. I will let go of your hand. So please let go of my back.” The man said, “I do not want to have your daughter. I want rather to have your skin.” He lifted the black fox high into the air, and then struck it upon the ground with much force. The fox was dead.

That is all.

Creation story

The bear was made master of all beasts, but the reindeer refused to obey. A fawn, spared by the Forest-Owner over several years, eventually killed him with its antlers. The fawn then refused to bow to the bear, leading to a battle between the two sides. Though the fawn killed the bear, it was ultimately killed by a wolf, marking the reindeer’s fate of dying only by wolf attacks.

Source
Tales of Yukaghir, Lamut, and Russianized Natives of Eastern Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
The American Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Papers, Vol. 20, Part 1
New York, 1918

► Themes of the story

Creation: The tale describes how the world and the hierarchy among animals were established.

Divine Intervention: The Forest-Owner, a supernatural being, influences the events by sparing the fawn and setting the stage for the ensuing conflicts.

Sacrifice: The reindeer fawn sacrifices itself in the battle, leading to the establishment of the natural order where reindeer are destined to be preyed upon by wolves.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by Innocent Karyakin, a Tundra Yukaghir man, on the western tundra of the Kolyma country, winter of 1895.

When the Creator created the earth, the bear was made the master of all the beasts. The wolf, the fox, and the wolverene paid homage to him. But the wild reindeer refused to obey him, and ran about free, as before. One day the Forest-Owner was hunting five reindeer-does; and one doe, in running, brought forth a fawn. The Forest-Owner caught it and wanted to devour it. The Fawn said, “Please give me a respite. My flesh is too lean. Let me grow up to be a one-year-old.” — “All right,” said the Forest-Owner, and he let him go.

After a year the Forest-Owner found the fawn, and wanted to devour it; but the fawn said once more, “Don’t eat me now! Let me rather grow more and be a two-year-old.” — “All right,” said the Forest-Owner, and he let him go. A year passed, and the reindeer fawn had new antlers, as hard as iron and as sharp as spears.

► Continue reading…

Then the Forest-Owner found the fawn and wanted to devour it. He said, “This time I am going to eat you up.” — “Do!” said the fawn. The Forest-Owner drew his knife and wanted to stab the fawn. “No,” said the fawn, “such a death is too cruel and too hard. Please grasp my antlers and wrench off my head.” The Forest-Owner assented, and grasped the fawn’s antlers. Then the fawn gored him and pierced his belly through, so that the intestines fell out and the Forest-Owner died. The fawn sought his mother. “Oh, you are still alive! I thought you were dead.” — “No,” said the fawn, “I killed the Forest-Owner, and I am the chief of the reindeer.” Then the bear sent a fox to the fawn. The fox said, “All the beasts pay homage to the bear, and he wants you to do the same.” — “No,” said the fawn, “I killed the Forest-Owner, I also am a chief.”

After that they prepared for war. The bear called together all those with claws and teeth, — the fox, the wolverene, the wolf, the ermine. The reindeer-fawn called together all those with hoofs and antlers, — the reindeer, the elk, the mountain-sheep. Then they fought. The bear and the reindeer-fawn had a single fight. The fawn pierced the bear through with its antlers of iron. Then it stood still and felt elated. But its mother said, “’There is no reason to feel elated. Your death is at hand.” Just as she said this, a wolf sprang up from behind, caught the fawn by the throat and killed it.

Because the reindeer-fawn gored the Forest-Owner to death, no reindeer dies a natural death. It lives on until a wolf, creeping up from behind opens its throat and kills it.