The eagle-boy

A battered wife escapes her abusive husband using magical transformation, fleeing with her infant. After a series of supernatural encounters, she finds refuge with an Eagle-Father who transforms her child into a powerful eagle-man. The son ultimately avenges his mother by hunting humans for his supernatural family and dramatically killing his original father through a terrifying aerial pursuit.

Source
The Jessup North Pacific Expedition
edited by Franz Boas
Memoir of the American Museum
of Natural History – New York
Volume VIII
3. The Eskimo of Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
Leiden & New York, 1913

► Themes of the story

Transformation: The woman’s child is transformed into a powerful eagle-man by the Eagle-Father.

Revenge and Justice: The eagle-man avenges his mother by killing his biological father.

Magic and Enchantment: The woman uses magical transformations to escape her husband, and the Eagle-Father uses magic to transform her child.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

This tale was said, by the narrator, to come from the village Nu’yak, on the American shore.

Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, June, 1901.

There was a man of very bad temper. All the time he beat his wife. When he was coming back from sea-hunting, he would call aloud, “There, come out! Shake the snow off my clothes!” If she did not jump out in time and meet him halfway down, he would threaten her, “Oh, I will kill you!”

At last one day his wife resolved to flee. She took a bucket full of water and set it before herself. Into that bucket she put a small package of meat. The bucket turned into a sea; and the package of meat, into a boat. She put her little infant on her back, boarded the boat, and set off.

A current caught her and carried her toward the shore. She came ashore, and saw a large house. She stood before the entrance irresolute. In the house lived a man with his daughter. He was a widower, and had no wife. Then he said to his daughter, “Go and see what woman is standing there!” She went out, and said to the stranger, “My father bids you enter.” She entered, and they had a meal. The host said, “Let us sleep!”

► Continue reading…

They lay down. His membrum virile was a fathom long. In the night-time it moved, and struck her little child. The child cried. “Oh, the child is crying! I had better go out.” — “No, come back!” He wanted to copulate with her, but she staid throughout the night in the outer house.

The next morning he went hunting. Before leaving he said to the woman, “You may look at everything here; but in that corner there lies a white thing you must not look at. It is evil.” — “All right!” But as soon as he was gone, she thought, “Why did he forbid me to look at that white thing?” She looked at it. It was a woman’s corpse, torn and lacerated by a large membrum virile.

Oh, she fled, frightened! Soon he came home and gave pursuit. She took along her water-bucket and the package of meat. She put the bucket down. It turned into a lake. Then she threw down a tuft of her own hair, and it turned into high woods along the lake-shore. She climbed a tree and waited for her pursuer. After a while he came, all the time following her fresh tracks. Thus it happened that he saw her face in the water. She was sitting above, in the tree.

“Oh, you are there!” She nodded on her tree. The woman in the water nodded also. He could not understand his mistake. “Oh, I will catch you yet! Let me plunge down!” He plunged down, and struck his head against the bottom. It was hard wood, being the bucket. He came up to the surface, and stepped out of the water. Then he looked down again. The face was still there. “Oh, I could not reach you!” She shook her head. “Ah, indeed! But I will try once more, and this time I will tie a stone around my neck so as to have more weight.” He plunged down with a stone around his neck, and was nearly drowned. In the end he came ashore, and again he saw the face in the water. “Ah, indeed! I could not reach you by any means whatever.” She shook her head. “Oh, you beloved one!” Then she laughed aloud. He raised his head, and saw her on the tree. “Aha, you are here!” He tried to chop down the tree with his membrum virile, and in a short time cut it down; but the woman jumped over to another tree. The tree, in falling, hit the assailant, and he was killed.

The woman put her package upon the lake, and it turned again into a boat. She boarded the boat, and set off downstream. After a while she came to the shore, and saw another house; but she was afraid to enter there. In the house there lived a man with five daughters. He said to his daughters, “Go and look at that woman and at her child. If it is a girl, drive her away; but if it is a boy, let her enter.”

One of the daughters came out, and said to the woman, “The old man says, if your child is a little girl, then you must go away; but if it is a little boy, then you may enter.” — “Oh, I will not enter! You seem to be evil-minded. Indeed, my child is a boy; but I will not enter.” The girl went back without success. “She refuses to come!” — “Oh, you are too awkward! — Go you, now, and call her.” He sent another daughter; and she said, “The old man says if your little child is a boy, you may enter.” — “Oh, I will not enter!”

Finally the last daughter came out. “The old man sent me to take your boy into the house.” She snatched the child away from her, and carried it in. “Oh,” said the mother, “they have taken it by force! Now I must follow.” She entered, following the girl. A tall lad was sitting in the sleeping-room opposite the entrance. “Where is my child?” — “This is your child!” The old man stretched the child’s arms and legs by pulling them, and made him a grown-up man. “Oh, you are deceiving me! This is not my child. My child is quite small.” — “Indeed, it is your child. You may recognize him by a scar on his neck, caused by that membrum virile.” Then she recognized him. The next day the child went hunting, and killed a mouse. His new father was much pleased. The day after that he killed a hare. Then he killed polar foxes and wolves, and in due time even reindeer.

The eagle dress of his new father was hanging outside of the house, on a horizontal pole. It was crying with the voice of an eagle. The boy tried to put it on, but could not do it. The dress was so heavy, he fell down under its weight. The Eagle-Sisters laughed at his awkwardness. In the evening their father asked him, “How did you try to put on this dress? I presume you put your hands into the wings, and your feet into the feet?” — “Yes, I did so.” — “That was wrong. You should put your hands and feet together into the eagle’s feet, and let the wings hang loose.”

He did so, and the dress proved to be quite light. He put it on, and walked in the manner in which birds walk. Then he flapped the eagle-wings and flew up. He saw under himself a big mammoth (literally, a “master of mammoth’s bone”). He was as large as a house. His feet sank into the ground. He caught him, but could not lift him into the air. The mammoth was too heavy. So the mammoth fell down, and was sinking into the ground. He sank down to the shoulders, but the young man was still unable to free his talons. Then he called on the Eagle-Sisters for help. They came, and aided him to lift the mammoth again, and carried him to their father. The father was pleased. “Oh, oh!” he said, “you are strong. At your time of life I could not do that much.”

After that the young man flew about and brought to his father all kinds of game. One day he saw a large whale, and caught it, but again could not lift it. So he called his Eagle-Sisters, and they assisted him. At last the father and his daughters said to him, “We want to eat man’s flesh. We are not human. We are of a different nature, therefore we have a desire for human flesh.” — “And where shall I get it?” — “There is plenty of it in the world below.” — “All right!” said he. He flew down, and came to our world below. Men and women were walking along. He caught two, and carried them up. On the way he would let them drop, and then catch them again in mid-air. Thus he killed them and brought them home. He dropped them down to the ground near the house. “There is your meat!”

The Upper Beings ate of the human flesh; but his mother said, “Do not eat of it. We are not of their kind. And this is not your real father. Your father is human. He lives there on the earth. He beat me too much. That was the reason why I fled.” — “Then I will go and find him.” His father was paddling in a canoe. The Eagle-Boy descended, and perched on the gunwale of the canoe. “Oh, is it you?” His father recognized him. “Let us go home! I will take you to my home.” — “No, we are of a different kind from you. We live in the upper world. I shall take you to my home.” He took up with his talons the canoe, together with the crew, and carried it up. Then he would let it drop, and immediately overtake it and catch it again in mid-air. Thus he killed his father and brought him to his house. He dropped him down before his mother. “Here he is! He shall not beat you any more.”

That is all.

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The girl in the iron box

A young shaman’s son, guided by his deceased father’s spirit, undertakes an unusual courtship of a girl in an iron box. Through supernatural means and a bizarre ritual, he successfully wins her hand. His brothers’ failed attempts to win her involve sacrificing body parts, while the young man ultimately triumphs through cunning, shamanic powers, and an unconventional approach to marriage.

► Themes of the story

Ancestral Spirits: The deceased shaman father communicates with his son, guiding him from the afterlife.

Trials and Tribulations: The brothers face challenges in their attempts to win the girl’s hand, including obtaining white reindeer with iron halters.

Sacrifice: The brothers are asked to sacrifice body parts in exchange for the reindeer, highlighting the theme of giving up something valuable for a goal.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.

There was a shaman who knew everything. All the people of the surrounding country sent for him in cases of calamity. When somebody became ill, he would immediately restore him to health. He took payment, and would go to another man for another payment. At last he grew ill himself, and could not do anything. After a while he died. He left five sons. The youngest son objected to carrying the corpse into the open air. He said, “The wolves, the foxes, and the ravens will eat it.” So he watched the dead body for five days.

Then, overcome with fatigue, he fell into a heavy sleep. While he slept they took the body and carried it away. After a while he awoke, but the father was not there. “Oh,” said he, “you have deceived me.” He went to the funeral-place, but the foxes had already eaten the corpse. Therefore he cried the whole day long.

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At last, about evening, a voice from the clouds was heard. It sounded like his father’s voice. The voice drew nearer. “Why, my son! Is it true that you love me thus? Nevertheless I cannot stay with you, because I became a to’rnarak. On the other shore there lives a man who has a single daughter. Your brothers are suing for her hand. You must do the same, and I will teach you how you may be successful in your suit. She is enclosed in an iron box. You must spit on it and rub your saliva all over it. Then it will open, and you may enter. You will see a young girl, quite naked, lying upon her back. She will be fast asleep. You must not touch her. Only defecate just between her legs. Then put up your trousers, and say aloud, ‘Oh, it is strange! but at least I have defecated between the legs of this sleeping girl.’”

The young man found the iron box, — rather, it was a house. It had no entrance at all; but he smeared his saliva all over it, and it opened like a two-valved shell. He entered. A girl was sleeping there. She lay upon her back, and was quite naked. He defecated between her legs. Then he said aloud, “Oh, it is strange! but at least I have defecated between the legs of this sleeping girl.” Then the girl awoke and jumped toward him. “Oh, you bad one! what have you done?” He threw her to the ground and overcame her. Then they made their peace and became man and wife. They were all the time together in the iron sleeping-room.

His brothers came, and went to the girl’s father. “What do you want?” — “We are suitors.” — “If you are suitors, you must go and bring it me from the direction of the Morning dawn a team of white reindeer with iron halters. When you have done this, I will call you suitors.” The brothers set off. But the youngest one, in the iron box, being a shaman, knew it all. So, as soon as they were off, he dived into the oil-lamp, and emerged within the house in which the white reindeer with iron halters were kept. He sat there waiting for his brothers.

They rapped at the door. “Who is there?” — “We want the white reindeer with iron halters.” — “All right, buy them!” — “With what? — “With one of your ears.” — “Ah!” The second brother looked at the eldest one. “What of that! I will give an ear, and you may marry the girl.” So he cut off his ear and gave it away. “Now you may enter and take the reindeer.” They entered. White reindeer with iron halters, indeed, were there; but everything was firmly secured in its place with chains. They could not detach it.

They left, and came back to the girl’s father. “Oh, we could not detach it! In truth, we bought it, and even paid for it with an ear of one of us; but we could not bring it here.”

“That is all right,” said the old man. “You may take the bride, since you paid for her with your own skin. Still, in the direction of sunset there is a team of black reindeer with iron halters. Those you must bring here.” The young man dived into the oil-lamp, emerged in that house in which the black reindeer were, and sat waiting for his brothers. They rapped at the door. “Who is there?” — “We want the black reindeer with iron halters.” — “Then buy them.” — “With what?” — “With one of your buttocks.” — “Ah!” The elder brother looked at the second brother. “What of that? I will give my buttocks, and you may marry the girl.” He cut off his buttocks and gave them away. “Now you may enter and take it yourself. I cannot do it.” They tried to take the reindeer, but could not detach them.

So they went back to the girl’s father. “And where are the reindeer?” — “Oh, we could not bring them! In truth, we bought them with one of our buttocks, still we could not detach them from their place.” — “That is all right,” said the old man. “Since you have bought the bride with your own flesh, you may take her.” Then he said to his wife, “Go and fetch our daughter!”

The girl, being also a shaman, knew it all. So she said, “Let us strip ourselves naked and lie down together in the middle of the house! Perhaps they will understand at last.” The mother came and opened the entrance to the sleeping-room; and there they were, lying close together, like two oysters. Oh, the mother screamed and ran away. The father said, “Where is this man? Give me my trousers. I will go and kill him. Those two have bought the girl with their own bodies, and he took her without any payment. I will kill him.”

The young man, being a shaman, knew what the old man said, and sent his young wife to her father. “Go and show him the ear and the buttocks, and then say, ‘These are their payments. I was there before them, and I repaid them in this way for their neglect of our father’s body.’” — “Ah,” said the father, “since that is so, then let him keep her;” and he was angry no more. After that they lived there in joy.

Creation of the world

This fragment seems to include material from two different sources, one belonging to the Raven cycle and borrowed from the Chukchee; the other referring to the creation of Uni’sak and Alaska, undoubtedly Eskimo.

► Themes of the story

Creation: The tale explains the origins of various geographical features and animals, detailing how the world came into being.

Transformation: The Raven and his wife transform parts of their bodies and objects into elements of the natural world, showcasing a theme of change and formation.

Cultural Heroes: The Raven, a significant figure in many indigenous cultures, acts as a foundational character who shapes the world and its inhabitants.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.

The Raven and his wife created the world.

They made the cape of Uni’sak out of a nose of an eider-duck; the peninsula of Alaska, of a long belt-knife; and the island Ima’lik (one of the Diomedes), of a button of the scabbard (with which it is clasped around the hip).

They made reindeer of their hair, and dogs of their nails, and sea-water of their urine.

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The girl who watched in the night-time

In a tale of familial devotion, a young, brave, and unabashedly naked girl saves her ill cousin by capturing a Raven and Fox who are responsible for his family’s mysterious deaths. Through her cunning and directness, she not only heals the boy but also confronts and shames their secret enemy, ultimately leading to their marriage and prosperous life together.

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The girl uses her wit to capture the Raven and Fox, uncovering the deception behind her cousin’s illness.

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the relationship between the girl and her cousin, highlighting themes of familial duty and care.

Moral Lessons: The story imparts lessons on bravery, vigilance, and the importance of confronting hidden dangers to protect loved ones.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.

Two cousins lived in the village of Uni’sak. One had five sons, the other had a single daughter. Then the sons of the former began to die, and only the youngest one remained alive; and even he began to suffer. Then his mother sent to her sister-in-law, and said, “My lost son is suffering. Please send your daughter to cheer him up. He feels quite ill.” The other woman said to her daughter, “They have sent for you. You may go after the meal.” — “No,” said the girl, “Let me go at once!” The mother said, “Then at least put on your clothes.” — “Why should I? It is not a long way.”

She put on only her boots, and, being quite naked, went out of the sleeping-room and crossed over to the other cousin’s house. She entered the sleeping-room. The suffering boy was stretched out upon the skins, moaning. He could neither eat nor drink. Night came, and they lay down to sleep. A new line, made of a thong-seal hide, was lying near the entrance.

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The girl picked it up, made a noose in the shape of a lasso, and crouched near the entrance, watching. She was quite naked, and had on only her boots, as before.

The sun had set, and it was quite dark. Then she heard a rustling-sound from the direction of sunset. She listened attentively, and heard some wary steps. She peered into the darkness, and at last noticed a form. It was a Raven. He approached noiselessly. Behind the house were some scraps of food. He picked at them, and crept slowly to the entrance. The girl threw the lasso over him, and caught him.

“Ah, ah, ah! Let me alone! I have done nothing.” — “And why do you steal in here in the night-time, without giving notice to the master of the house?” — “I am looking for food, gathering meat-scraps and even excrements. Let me go!” — “All right!” She let him go, and he flew away. She watched on, the lasso in hand, quite naked. Then from the direction of midnight she heard a rustling-noise approaching guardedly. It was a Fox creeping toward the house. As soon as she approached, the suffering boy moaned louder. The Fox stopped, and put her nose close to the ground. She listened, and then said, “This time I shall probably carry him away.”

The Fox approached nearer, and the girl threw the lasso and caught her. “Qa, qa, qa!” — “And why are you stealing in here in the night-time? The master of the house knows nothing about you. It is you, probably, who have taken away those boys.” — “Why, yes, I did it.” — “Then I shall kill you.” — “Why will you kill me? — “Why, you scoundrel, you make all the people mourn. You source of trouble!” — “Oh, it is not my fault. This neighbor of yours induces me to do it, and pays me for it.” — “Is that so? Nevertheless, I shall kill you.” — “Oh, I will leave here and go away!” — “No, I shall kill you.” — “I will pay you a large ransom. You shall be happy along with your husband. And I will kill your enemy.” — “Ah, then you may go!”

The Fox ran away. The girl entered the sleeping-room; and her body, which was quite naked in the cold, felt warmer. She awakened the sleeping ones. “Get up! You have slept enough,” she said. The boy did not moan any more, and asked for food. They gave him some. She cut it into small pieces. He swallowed a morsel, then another one, and still another. So he ate five pieces of meat. She gave him some water to drink. Only then she herself ate and drank. They went to sleep. The boy also slept. In the morning they awoke, and the boy was quite well.

But their neighbor came, the secret enemy. “Ah, ah! What girl is that whom I saw last night going around quite naked, lasso in hand? She must be my secret enemy.” The girl took off her clothes and went out. “It was I. Then I know that you also are my enemy.”

He felt ashamed, and from mere shame he fell down and died. They lived on. The girl lived with the boy; and when they grew up, they married. She brought forth many children. All the people loved her. She was rich. It is finished.

The one without arms

Born armless to a tiny Fish-Woman, a supernatural being named Armless demonstrates extraordinary powers through miraculous abilities. He mysteriously travels at incredible speeds, kills numerous people without moving, defeats strong warriors through supernatural means, and ultimately transforms his pursuers into guillemots by a clever ruse, escaping with his companions and continuing their journey home triumphantly.

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: The protagonist is a supernatural entity born from a Fish-Woman, exhibiting extraordinary abilities.

Cunning and Deception: He uses cleverness to outwit and escape his adversaries.

Journey to the Otherworld: His mysterious travels and encounters suggest a venture into realms beyond the ordinary.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.

A man who had no food lived by angling. One time he went to the sea to catch some vakhna fish. He threw his fish-line into the water and drew out a small Fish-Woman no longer than a finger. He was much frightened.

“Oh,” said he, “it is something evil! I will throw it back into the water.” — “Do not throw me back!” said Fish-Woman, “rather take me for your wife!” — “How can I take you for my wife, when you are so small?” — “That is all right. Take me for your wife!”

He married her; and they lay down on the snow and slept together, although she was so small. Immediately she was with child, and early in the morning she bore a son. He had neither arms nor legs. Then the mother jumped into the water and was gone.

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The father took his little son and carried him home. He had also a human wife, and even a companion in marriage. The latter felt aversion against the One-without-Arms. He considered him to forebode evil. Therefore he left the settlement and emigrated in a boat to the opposite shore.

A rich man living on that shore heard about Armless, and became interested. He sent for him, because he wished to see him. “Go and bring me my bag of peltries.” They brought the bag. He drew out a fox-skin. “There!” said he, “give that to his father, and say, ‘The man on the other shore wants to see Armless.’” The messenger reached their house, and, without entering, thrust his head into the sleeping-room and said, “There is a fox-skin for you. A man living on the other shore wishes to see Armless.” The father said, “No!” The messenger, without entering their house, returned home, and reported to the rich man that they did not want to let him go.

The rich man was astonished. So he said again, “Bring me my bag of peltries.” They brought it, and he drew out of it an otter-skin nearly a fathom long, and quite black. “There! give that to them, and say, ‘The man living on the other shore wants to see Armless.’” The father again refused; but Armless said, “Why do you refuse to send me there, since he is interested in seeing me? I want to go.” — “All right!” They got a large boat ready and paddled on.

While on the way, Armless said, “I will go and carry the news to my old mother.” He jumped on the gunwale, and then into the water just like a seal. They paddled along. At last the cliffs of the other shore were visible. Then a voice called to them from a ledge of rock, “Oh, you are slow! I had to wait for you ever so long.” It was Armless. One could not understand how he had reached there in so short a time. But he was sitting on the rock and a small piece of edible seaweed was in his mouth.

They came to the village Nui’ak. The shore was quite black with dense crowds of men. As soon as they came ashore, scores of men took hold of the boat and hauled it ashore, — men and load and all. Then they took Armless and carried him into the house. All the people followed. The house was full, because everybody wanted to sea Armless. The people were crowded close together, and several were trampled to death. They just threw the dead out of the house, and continued to jostle and to push one another. So he killed a great number of people without as much as moving one finger.

The Strong Man of the village heard about it, and grew angry. He said, “Bring me Armless! I will kill him too! Why has he destroyed such a large number of people?” They brought Armless there; and the other one said, “I want to kill you. Let us have a wrestling-match.” — “But how can I wrestle with you, since I have neither arms nor legs?” — “Oh, but you were able to kill many unoffending people!” — “Ah, then, all right! We will wrestle, but you must bring a knife with you.” The Strong Man took a knife and stepped forward. Then Armless sprang high upward; he spun around in the air so rapidly that it was impossible to follow his movements with the eyes. Then he dropped down; and at that moment the Strong Man of Nui’ak also fell down dead, the knife in his heart.

All the people were frightened. Armless set off in his boat, and reached St. Lawrence Island. In the village lived another Strong Man. Armless and his people were still on the water when this Strong Man challenged him to a shooting-match. They prepared for it. The man of St. Lawrence drew his bow and shot at Armless, who jumped upward, so that the arrow passed under his feet. The second time and the third time the same happened. “Now it is my turn,” said Armless. He jumped upward, and spun around in the air so rapidly that the eye could not follow his movement. Then he dropped down; and his antagonist also fell down, the arrow in his heart.

The people of St. Lawrence grew angry. “Do not give them food, let them be starved to death!” They broke their boat, so that the visitors had no means of getting away. “Now we shall starve them to death.”

Armless ordered his companion to prepare a large bucket of bent pine-wood. He made them sit down in a row upon the seashore, and each of them had in his hand a piece of the bill of a guillemot. He gave a signal, and all his companions threw the guillemot-bills into the water and cried out like guillemots. Immediately the people of St. Lawrence also cried out like guillemots, and rushed into the sea. The pieces of bills stuck firmly to their noses. They turned into guillemots. The bucket turned into a boat, and Armless and his companions paddled on, singing, and on their way homeward they hunted guillemots with great success.

The carrier of seaweed

A resourceful grandmother and her orphaned grandson demonstrate remarkable ingenuity in a brief tale of survival. When the young boy returns from gathering seaweed, she guides him to enter their tiny sleeping room through the eye of a needle — symbolizing the remarkable adaptability and spatial creativity of the Uni’sak people in navigating their challenging environment.

► Themes of the story

Sacred Spaces: The tiny sleeping room, accessible only through a symbolic act, can be seen as a sacred or special space within their home.

Trials and Tribulations: The boy’s journey to gather seaweed and the subsequent challenge of bringing it into the small sleeping room represent obstacles they overcome.

Family Dynamics: The relationship between the grandmother and her grandson is central to the story, showcasing their bond and cooperation.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.

An old woman lived with her grandson, a young orphan. One day the lad walked along the shore, gathering edible seaweed. He sang, “I am walking along the shore, gathering seaweed. I will put it into the fold of my shirt, and I will carry it home.” He gathered a heavy load of it and carried it home. Then he entered into the outer house, and called to the old woman,

“Halloo!” — “Ho!” — “How shall I bring it into the sleeping-room?” The sleeping-room was ever so small. “I do not know. Come in as through the eye of a needle!” — “Which needle’s eye?” — “This one.”

She thrust a needle out of the sleeping-room, and he passed through along with his load. So skilful are the people of Uni’sak.

That is all.

► Continue reading…

The dead bride

A skilled sea-hunter from Ku’ne encounters a mysterious woman emerging from a seal breathing-hole, who turns out to be a deceased daughter of a wealthy trader. Transported to her spirit world, he becomes her husband through a complex supernatural ritual involving shamans. Blessed by her father with valuable gifts, the couple ultimately returns to the hunter’s homeland, bridging two worlds in an extraordinary supernatural union.

► Themes of the story

Underworld Journey: The hunter is transported to the spirit world, a realm associated with the dead.

Love and Betrayal: The hunter forms a romantic bond with the deceased woman, navigating the complexities of their union.

Transformation: The deceased woman undergoes a transformation from death to a semblance of life, enabling her union with the hunter.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.

There lived a man in the land of Ku’ne, right opposite the island Ima’lik (one of the Diomede Islands). One day he was going to perform the thanksgiving ceremonial, because he was a good sea-hunter, had killed many whales, and fed all his neighbors. So he prepared everything in his house.

He placed the tips of whale-flippers upon a skin. Then all at once a thong-seal jumped out of the water-hole upon the ice. The village stood high up on the cape, and people were walking along the shore on either side of it. That man had on neither cap nor belt, because he was changing his clothes for the ceremonial. He rushed down to the water-hole just as he stood.

When he was quite close, the thong-seal plunged into the hole, and in a few moments jumped out of another hole. This was one of its breathing-holes. The man pursued it.

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The thong-seal turned to still another hole, and plunged down. The man stood close by the hole, watching for it to come up. When he looked down into the water, he saw a woman’s face, — the face of a daughter of an American Eskimo. Her father was a rich trader. She had died, and had been carried away to the funeral-place. After the funeral, she had left her grave to get a husband.

While the man of Ku’ne was standing there, the woman approached the surface. Her long tresses were floating on the water. She shook off the water, then she caught the man and carried him away to her own land. When they came to the shore, he saw a large house; but, on looking with closer attention, he ascertained that it was only a wooden lodge for the dead, like those the people of the other shore construct. In the lodge lay a corpse. He felt much afraid.

Unexpectedly the corpse sat up and drew a deep sigh. “Oh! I slept too long, I feel quite benumbed.” It was the corpse of a woman. She stretched her arms and legs and shoulders, making the joints click in order to regain their suppleness. “Now let us go to my father!” said she.

They did so. Her father was arranging a religious ceremonial. They stood in the rear of the house. The house was full of shamans. They performed various acts of magic. Some were calling the Upper Gods; others, to’rnaraks and the deceased; still others were calling the sea-gods. Thus they were calling, — one this being, one that.

A young shaman, though having no “living voices,” [ventriloquistic ability] still a very great shaman, was sitting there silent. The old man asked him to practise also. “I am grieving deeply for my dead daughter. You must sing and cheer me up.” — “I cannot sing, I have no voices, I know no songs.” — “That is all right. Sing some other man’s songs.” — “Well, then, I will try.” He began to sing, “I am practising shamanistic art within the house, while the others are practising too. I am practising within the house.”

“There,” he said, “I see her standing in the rear of the house. But this one, the man of Ku’ne, why does he stand close to her?” Thus, being a great shaman, he saw them. Oh, the father felt much joy! He said, “I will give you triple payment. One shall be the boat; another, the harpoon-line; the third, the harpoon, — three payments of great value.” — “All right!” Then the dead bride said to her future husband, “Let us climb to the roof of the house! Otherwise he will catch us.” They climbed to the roof; and the young shaman sang again, “I practise within the house, while the others are practising too. I practise within the house. Whoop!” He drew a deep breath, and with it he drew them into the house. He stretched the skirt of his coat and caught them in it. “Here they are!” The father was much pleased. He kissed his daughter and greeted his son-in-law. They passed a winter there. The next summer they returned in a boat to the land of Ku’ne.