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.

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

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

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.


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The Ai’wan and the Reindeer-Breeder

A rivalry unfolds between an Ai’wan whale hunter and a reindeer breeder. The reindeer breeder tricks and kills the Ai’wan, claiming his whale. The Ai’wan’s son avenges him by drowning the breeder, marrying his widow, and slaughtering his herd. A Spider-Woman helps the widow summon her first husband’s spirit to punish the Ai’wan. Bound and humiliated, the Ai’wan bargains his family’s freedom but meets a gruesome end.

Source
The Jessup North Pacific Expedition
edited by Franz Boas
Memoir of the American Museum
of Natural History – New York

Volume VIII
1. Chukchee Mythology
by Waldemar Bogoras
Leiden & New York, 1910


► Themes of the story

Revenge and Justice: The Ai’wan’s son avenges his father’s death by drowning the reindeer-breeder who killed him.

Supernatural Beings: A Spider-Woman aids the widow in summoning her deceased husband’s spirit to punish the Ai’wan.

Love and Betrayal: The Ai’wan’s son marries the widow of his father’s killer, intertwining themes of union and treachery.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Chukchee people


Told by Qo’tirgin, a Maritime Chukchee man, in the village Mi’s-qan, in March, 1901.

In olden times there was an Ai’wan warrior who hunted whales. He had killed a whale. He had a reindeer-breeding neighbor. The son of this neighbor said to his old father, “Now, then, go to the whale-hunter (and ask for some meat).” — “All right!” The Ai’wan said to the old man, “Oh, what do you want?” — “My son sent me.” — “Did he?” He turned out the upper part of his trousers. Then he filled it full with blubber. The old man came home. “What result?” But he felt angry. “Why did you not go yourself?”

Then the son went, in his turn. He came to the Ai’wan. The latter was cutting the whale (in the shallow water). One of his mates said to him, “The reindeer-breeder has come to you.” Then he came to the shore. A walrus-hide destined to be split, with the blubber not yet scraped away, lay buried in the sand. He dug for it with his nails. Somehow then he took it by the holes in the edge with two fingers, and, ceasing to dig any more, shook off the sand. He pulled it out, so strong was he. He spread it upon the ground, the blubber upwards, to serve as a wrestling-place.

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Then they took off their clothes, the Ai’wan and the reindeer-breeder, and they wrestled. It was quite slippery just to tread upon that blubber. The Ai’wan extended his hands.

Then he was attacked by the reindeer-breeder. The latter, catching him by the head, caused it to spring off. The head rolled down upon the ground. He is still standing with extended hands, headless. Then only did the others say, “Oh, how wonderful! the head has sprung off!” The Ai’wan fell down and died. The reindeer-breeder took possession of the whale and went home. His father asked him, “Eh?” — “I came back.” — “What result?” — “Indeed, I took the whole whale.” — “Oh, you are wonderful! Still we have remained without maritime neighbors.”

They went for the whale with a train of pack-sledges. He stood on the seashore. That Ai’wan who was killed had sons; and while the reindeer-breeder, the victor of yesterday, was standing on the shore, the son of the Ai’wan concealed a long thong in the sand (across his path). He tugged at the thong, (tripped up the reindeer-breeder,) and made him fall into the water.

So he was drowned and died. The Ai’wan took the wife of the reindeer-breeder (and also his herd). Nevertheless he did not care very much about the reindeer, only slaughtered them all the time in great numbers. Still he ate no meat, only the tongues of the reindeer. Every morning he slaughtered reindeer. On waking up, he would say to his wife, that of the reindeer-breeder, “Put my clothes on me!” On her refusal, he would beat her so hard that her head would become all swollen from the blows of his stick. “Oh, bring the herd to the house!” Then again he slaughters reindeer. The wife cried, sorrowing for the reindeer, “Why are you crying?” — “So!” — “You are mourning for your husband?” — “No!” — “Then why are you crying?” He was ready for violence.

A small Spider-Woman visited this one who was secretly crying. She came down to that place. “You are married to the Ai’wan?” — “Oh, yes!… And he is all the time exterminating the herd. The whole time he is slaughtering, but he eats only tongues, and consumes no meat.” — “Oh, right away prepare some clothes. When you are ready with them, when you have finished them, promise to the sea a shy reindeer-buck. Then offer to the sea those clothes.” She promised. Then she threw those clothes in the direction of the sea. The Ai’wan was asleep. The wife remained outside, and continued to cry. All at once her husband appeared in the distance from the direction of the sea, the one who was drowned the other day. The wife brushed away her tears. “What is there? Methinks, my husband.” Then he came, “Oh, my! you have come!” — “Yes. Why are you crying?” — “Why, this Ai’wan here, who stays with us, has almost exterminated our whole herd.” Her husband questioned her, and said to her, “Oh, let us seize him!”

They seized him and carried him outside. Then they laid him, stretched out on his back, on a dung-hill. They fastened his hands (to the ground) with spikes. And every morning all the neighbors, on awakening, would pour (the contents of) their chamber-vessels into his mouth. Still he lived. Thus they poured into his mouth urine and excrement. “Oh, let me go! I shall give you my wives. Have them for slaves.” — “Oh, but we do not (want them).” — “I shall give you my riches.” — “I do not believe you!” — “Indeed, I shall give you my wives and children. And you shall have (my) children for slaves.” And, indeed, he was a rich Ai’wan. So they unbound him. The reindeer-breeder followed him. He gave his wives, and his children for reindeer-herdsmen.

Then he brought to his home the small old woman, the Ai’wan old woman, the mother of this one, who before that used to employ evil charms. He took a reindeer, a quite unbroken one; then he undressed her, and attached her (to it) by the ankle. Thus he tied her to the unbroken reindeer. The reindeer ran away. It was winter-time. Then the reindeer dragged her away, at first to the reindeer-herd, then to the open country. After that the reindeer brought her back, and her backbone was all (torn off) and destroyed. From there the reindeer took her to the reindeer-herd again, running. After a while it brought her back, and her whole body was destroyed. Merely her legs were left unbroken. After that, before (the time when) only her legs were left, he unharnessed the reindeer.

Before he freed it, it fell down and died. Then the master began to cough in the manner of a reindeer; and he was tearing (the ground) all the time, reindeer-like. After that he fell, swooning. Then he died.


Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page

The Youth who received Supernatural Powers from the Ke´let

A sick son attracts malevolent spirits (Re’kken) who consume him but restore his life, granting him shamanistic powers. As he gains strength and a wife, he faces betrayal, death, and supernatural challenges. After escaping his enemies with his wife, they ascend to the upper world, where they live until old age, leaving behind legacies intertwined with cosmic forces and spiritual beliefs.

Source
The Jessup North Pacific Expedition
edited by Franz Boas
Memoir of the American Museum
of Natural History – New York

Volume VIII
1. Chukchee Mythology
by Waldemar Bogoras
Leiden & New York, 1910


► Themes of the story

Resurrection: The youth experiences death at the hands of the spirits and is subsequently brought back to life, highlighting themes of mortality and rebirth.

Love and Betrayal: After gaining a wife, the youth faces betrayal by others who covet her, leading to his death and subsequent supernatural challenges.

Journey to the Otherworld: The tale concludes with the youth and his wife ascending to the upper world, indicating a transition to a different realm of existence.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Chukchee people


Told by Ri’nto, a Maritime Chukchee man, at Mariinsky Post, in October, 1900.

Once upon a time there was another man who lived in a single house. There were only three of them. The son was suffering, so the parents (even) could not sleep. A strong gale was blowing. Notwithstanding (the noise), they heard the clattering of sledge-runners. The man’s wife looked out into the darkness and saw the visitors. They were Re’kken [evil spirit]. She said, “Oh, they are coming down upon us! Their reindeer were breathing fire. They came and entered the house. The suffering one immediately even ceased to moan.

“Oh, we come for provisions. Oh, dear! with what are you going to treat us?” — “Oh, with thong-seal meat.” — “We are not used to it. Oh, with what are you going to treat us?” — “With ring-seal meat.” — “We do not eat such things.” They pointed at the direction of the suffering one. “We want that one.” — “Indeed, there is nothing there.”

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Then one of them entered the sleeping-room, caught the suffering one by the ankle and carried him out. As soon as they had caught him, they only did thus with their mouths, why! And only his bones were left. His little mother cried. Then one of the (re’kken) took off his overcoat, picked up the bones and put them into the overcoat. The ke’let did so with the bones of that man.

Then they went out and said, “We are going away, watch us.” The old woman watched them when they were going to their sledges. They came to the sledges and emptied the overcoat, flinging its contents in the direction of the house. And there was that one just now eaten by them. They restored him, the suffering one, to life. He came to the house, quite naked. And he had acquired great shamanistic power. He entered the house naked.

He seemed to be out of his wits. All at once he would strike his own body with a bowlder, and the bowlder would crumble to a mere nothing. From every settlement in the neighborhood there came inquisitive people. They wanted to kill him, and all at once they struck him with a spear. But his body was as hard as stone. And they could not do anything.

After a while he married. His wife was very pretty. So the other people, the wrong-doers, felt a desire to have this woman. They took this shaman and carried him to the (open) country. There they strangled him, and he was killed. They took his wife and went with her to the house. Then they saw the one whom they had just killed sitting in the house, as before. “Oh, again! Oh, dear! What shall we do?” The woman was too pretty.

So they dug a cellar, filled it with insects, [mere] hairy grubs. These grubs soon became quite large in size. Then they called him. (He said to the woman,) “Oh, but now I must give up the struggle. Now they will take you for good. But you must remember to dig the ground in the cellar.” They pushed him into the cellar. The grubs caught him and consumed him. Then (his enemies) took the Woman.

As soon as night came, she went away quietly and followed a trail. This was the working-trail of her husband. She followed the trail, and found the duodenum of a reindeer hanging on a bush. She stopped there and made a fire. After that she departed again and felt thirsty. She saw a river quite filled with grubs, so she did not drink from that river. After a while she saw a lake. It was full of fish, but from this lake she could take a drink. At last she found her husband. He was standing outside a house, and was working at something. He said to her, “You have come?”

Meanwhile he had married also among the ke’let. The other wife said to her, “Put on my combination-suit!” But her husband said, “Do not put it on, you will die.” His other wife said, “At least do look upon me!” Her husband said, “Do not look upon her. She will take your [female] soul.” This was a ke’le-woman: therefore, if she had looked upon her, she would have died immediately. The other woman said again, “At least do sit on my pillow-bag!” — “Do not sit down. She will kill your child.”

The human wife went out and busied herself in the outer tent. His other wife had made a cellar in the outer tent. In the darkness the human wife fell into that cellar. At last the child began to cry quite loud. Their husband said, “Oh, where is she?” He questioned his other wife. “Don’t you know anything about her?” — “Oh, I do not know anything at all.” Oho, the child was crying quite loud.

Their husband said, “Now, then, give me the drum!” Then he looked for his wife among the various Beings and could not find her. Then he set off (to visit) other kinds of Beings, those of the Morning Dawn, and she was not there. “Oh, oh, oh! How very extraordinary! I cannot find her.” Again he struck the drum. This time he went to the Mid-Day, and searched for her there. She was not there.

He said to his ke’le-wife, “It is you, who did (harm) to her.” The ke’le-wife answered him, “Why should I have done (harm) to my working-companion, my wife mate?” — “Now then, give me the drum again!” He searched for her among the Ground-Beings and saw her. He said to her, “Oh, what are you doing here? She was starving. She said, “It is your wife who made this cellar for me with the desire of murdering me.”

Then her husband said, “Now let us leave her! She is bad, and so we shall be made childless.” — “Oh,” he said to his ke’le-wife, “you are an experienced shaman! Do practise your art a little, and let us have some recreation.” — “Aha, all right!” The woman practised her art. The shaman, her husband, made a man of excrement, to give her the usual answers.

Then the woman practised her art. The man made a fire all around the house, and flames flashed up. Meanwhile the mannikin made of excrement was giving answer, “Git, git, git.” He proved to be quite lively. Then the ke’le-woman felt quite warm, because the house was ablaze, and the fire approached the sleeping-room. The husband and his human wife went far away, taking with them their obsidian scraper.

At last the ke’le-woman appeared from the sleeping-room, because she felt too hot. And the man made of excrement, who was giving answer, was downcast, because the excrement was melting. He could only call out feebly, “Git, git,” because this lively answerer was melting in the heat.

Then the tip of the tongue of the ke’le-woman jumped out and rushed in pursuit of the fugitives. It was quite swift, and soon drew near. The man said, “Now put down the obsidian scraper!” A big mountain originated, quite slippery. The tip of the tongue would climb up halfway, and then slide down again. Still, somehow it succeeded in crossing it, and continued the pursuit.

They stuck into the ground a piece of wood, and it turned into a dense wood. The wood had no openings, and was quite thick and dense. When passing through that wood, the tongue came to be covered with blood. Still it passed through it, and continued the pursuit. Then the man said to his wife, “Draw a line on the ground with the little finger of your left hand!” This time a river originated. As soon as the tongue left the bank, it was carried down by the current, because the river was flowing in rapids. Still it crossed the river. Then the man said to his wife, “Draw another line on the ground!”

They apply all kinds of means: it crosses again and pursues them. At last he ordered her to draw a line with soot [the lamp, and everything connected with it, are considered a highly efficient protection against spirits] of her lamp, using her right hand. When the tongue came to that soot river, it felt superstitious fear, and could not cross it. Then they went away and disappeared. The tongue probably turned back.

The human beings ascended to the Morning Dawn. There in the upper world they died of old age. The name of the shaman is Tai’pat. His son took his abode on the moon, and became a Sacrifice-Being. They throw up to him some thong, and in doing this they throw that thong upon every kind of game. They sacrifice also blood to the moon.

The mother was immortal. And she became the Left-Side Morning Dawn. Those probably were the people from the time of first creation.

Those that possess evil charms also dwell upon the moon in another place. Also [Ite’yun, Spirit of] Epilepsy was created. Of old the people were immortal. Also Coughing-of-Blood comes from there. And also a man who is visited by his enemy’s anger and ceases to catch game, his misfortune is also from there. It is necessary to be on guard, else even the lucky one may feel want. Truly, the game is made scarce by supernatural means. Then it becomes hard to kill. The sacrificing-shamans also have been created from there, and every kind of “Beings,” [Va’irgin, benevolent spirits] at least part of them.

The end. Let the wind cease!


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The Unfaithful Husband

At Eekakhlee, a shaman feigned death to escape his wife and live with two young women far away. Guided by a bird, the wife found him and, in vengeance, killed the women. Transforming into a bear, she confronted her husband and devoured him and his belongings, exacting retribution for his betrayal. Thus ended the shaman’s deceitful life.

Source
Two Aleut Tales
recorded by Rev. T. I. Lavrischeff
American Anthropologist

Vol. 30, Issue 1, January-March 1928


► Themes of the story

Revenge and Justice: The wife’s actions in seeking out her husband and punishing him for his betrayal highlight themes of retribution.

Transformation: The wife’s metamorphosis into a bear signifies a physical change driven by emotional turmoil.

Love and Betrayal: The narrative is rooted in the husband’s betrayal of his marital bond and the ensuing consequences.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Aleut people


Eekakhlee was the name given in the old days to present Johnstone Point on Hinchinbrook island, and the mountains between there and Nutchek were called Keeliagat.

At Eekakhlee lived an old man with his wife. They existed comfortably, but the old man did not love his spouse and hoped to desert her. As he was a shaman, or sorcerer, it was easy for him to go into a trance and appear as dead.

His wife buried him, according to custom, in a cave on a mountain, and his bows, arrows, clothing and bidarkas were laid beside him in a cavern.

For three days the disconsolate widow came to the cave to weep and wail. When she came on the fourth day she did not find the body nor the bidarkas and clothing. Stupefied, she stood there puzzled by the disappearance of the corpse. Search for traces of it were fruitless and her grief increased.

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But a little bird on a tree sang to her:

“Cheer up, thee! up.
“Far beyond the Kiliagat the old man lives.
“Cheer up, cheer up.”
“Far more than before, he enjoys his life.”

At first the woman paid no attention to the bird and went to her house. On the next day she renewed her search, but the bird again sang the same song. The old woman asked it, “Where is my husband?” At this the feathered creature chirped:

“On the top of the mount,
Near the peaceful bay,
The old man lives quietly there.
He does not love thee,
He will not come back;
Two nice girls entertain him there.”

Still skeptical the old woman replied, “If you tell me the truth, take flight to the place where he lives.” Thereupon the bird set out, with the Woman following silently.

It was a long journey across the forest, through brush and over mountains, but from time to time the bird rested, permitting the old woman to catch up with it. Finally they came to the top of a hill near the bay at Nutchek. From this spot the wife saw her husband in a bidarka far out to sea. Just below her on a sandy beach she espied two attractive girls. Quietly descending, the old woman stopped behind a tree to observe them. The girls were cooking soup and when it was ready she stepped out.

“Hello, girls,” the wife exclaimed, “I see you have prepared your soup in the right way. Now I will show you best how to drink it.” With this she seized the pan and turned it over the heads of the girls.

“That is the way the old man used to eat his soup in our birthplace,” she gloated.

When both girls were dead the old woman made the feature of one appear as though she were scolding and the other seem to be laughing. Then she set their bodies on the beach and again hid herself behind a tree.

The old man came back and saw the maidens, one apparently angry and the other laughing.

“Why do you quarrel?” he asked. “Live in peace. I love you both. I have brought two otters as a present for you. Do not fight.”

Upon hearing these words the old woman turned herself into a bear, an easy thing for her to do, as she was also a shaman. Then she sprang upon her husband, exclaiming, “Here am I – your wife. You left me without your care and food. I have suffered very much. Now that I have found you here you shall die. Akcheenkoo.”

And with that she ate up the old man, together with his bidarkas.

Such was the end of the unfaithful husband of old Eekakhlee.


Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page

The woman without a nose

An Aleut hunter deceives his wife, feigning death to join another woman. Guided by a bird’s message, his wife discovers his betrayal, kills his mistress, and confronts him. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, the man drowns himself in the sea. This myth explores themes of loyalty, deceit, and the emotional toll of betrayal within isolated lives.

Source
Eskimo and Aleut Stories from Alaska
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore

Vol. 22, No. 83, Jan. – Mar., 1909


► Themes of the story

Love and Betrayal: The husband’s deceit and abandonment of his wife for another woman highlight themes of infidelity and treachery.

Cunning and Deception: The husband’s feigned death to pursue a new relationship exemplifies deceitful behavior.

Revenge and Justice: The wife’s actions in discovering the betrayal and confronting her husband underscore themes of retribution and the restoration of moral order.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Aleut people


Belkovsky story

At the head of a long bay lived a man and his wife apart from other human beings, of whose existence they were hardly aware. Every pleasant morning the man went hunting, returning in the evening with a bidarka full of seal-meat. One day, however, he failed to come back at the usual time. This made the woman uneasy, and she kept a look-out for him; and when he finally appeared, he had only one small seal. To the numerous questions of the wife he merely replied, “The seals are scarce, and I have to go far to get them.” She believed him. The next day he was again late, and had the same hard-luck story to tell. He looked worried, ate little, and refused to talk. Occasionally he would be gone two and three days at a stretch, returning with but little game.

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Finally he told his wife that he was ill and about to die, and made her promise that when that sad day should come, she would dress him up as if he were going hunting, and leave him with his boat and weapons in the open air. A few days after this conversation she found him dead, and she faithfully carried out her promise. In the evening, being exhausted from much weeping and hard work, she went into the hut and fell asleep.

When she woke up, neither husband, nor bidarka, nor weapons were to be seen, but on the beach she discovered tracks made by her husband in carrying the boat to the water. “Ai, Ai, Y-a-h. This is why he died, and asked to be buried in this manner!” For a whole day and night she sat as if stupefied, trying in vain to solve the mystery. After the first shock was over, she did the best she could to adjust her life to the new conditions and accept the inevitable. But one day while she was cutting grass, a little bird perched itself on a bush near her and repeated three times, “Mack-la-cluili woani.” The woman listened attentively, and concluded that the bird meant for her to go in search of her husband. She hurried home to put on her torbasas (soft skin shoes) and belt, and set out. Over hills and valleys she walked before she came in sight of a bay, where she noticed a man in a bidarka fishing, and she suspected him of being her husband. Not far from her was a hut, to which she directed her footsteps; and on going in, she saw a woman around the fire cooking seal-meat. A better look at the woman disclosed the fact that her face was quite flat; there was not even a sign of a nose. Yet she sniffed the air and said, “Fati. I smell a human being. Where did it die, on sea or on land?” — “I died neither on sea nor on land,” said the new-comer, “but came to find my husband.” On the floor was a large knife, which the visitor picked up unperceived, and, watching her chance, attacked the noseless woman and cut her head off. Her body was carried outside, the head replaced, and she was made to look as natural as possible.

This done, the deserted wife hid near by to await the coming of her faithless husband. As he approached, he called, “I am coming!” but receiving no reply, he shouted again, “I am coming!” Still no reply. A third time, “I am coming! Are you angry again today? I did not go anywhere.” When he pulled up his bidarka, he spoke again, “Why are you angry? Here I am.” He went up to his mistress, and, on touching her, the head fell off. Just then his wife appeared, and said, “This is how you died.” He looked at her and then at the mistress, and began to weep. Turning his back on both of them, he got into his bidarka, pulled away a short distance from the shore, turned it over, and drowned himself.


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The woman who became a bear

An Aleut husband fakes his death, abandoning his wife and children to live with another woman. Guided by a bird’s warning, the wife discovers his betrayal, murders the rival, and dons a bear skin. When confronted, the husband’s pleas for forgiveness fail. Consumed by rage, she kills him, her children, and retreats to the wilderness, becoming a savage bear.

Source
Eskimo and Aleut Stories from Alaska
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore

Vol. 22, No. 83, Jan. – Mar., 1909


► Themes of the story

Love and Betrayal: The narrative centers on the husband’s deceit and abandonment, leading to the wife’s feelings of betrayal.

Revenge and Justice: In response to her husband’s infidelity, the wife seeks vengeance by killing his new partner, him, and eventually her own children.

Family Dynamics: The story delves into complex familial relationships, highlighting the impact of the husband’s actions on his wife and children.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Aleut people


Kadiak story

On the bank of a river lived a man with his wife and several small children. One day the husband told his wife that he was ill and going to die, and requested her that when dead she should leave him on the ground uncovered, with his bidarka and bow and arrows near him.

The next morning she found him dead, and she did with him as he had asked. For three days the body rested where she had left it, and around it she with her children sat weeping. But on the morning of the fourth not a sign of the body or boat was to be seen. She puzzled over the matter for a time, but the calls of her children for food kept her from brooding over it too long.

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Not many days after this mysterious disappearance, a little bird settled on the barabara and sang. Although the woman listened attentively, she could not make out what it said. About the same time on the succeeding day the little bird sang again; but this time the woman thought she heard the bird say, “Your husband is not dead. He is living with another woman at the mouth of the river.” This same song was repeated on the third morning. Hearing this sad news, the woman felt very bitter towards her husband, and she wept a great deal. She spent the rest of the day in preparing food for her children to last them three days, and early next morning set out for the mouth of the river. From the top of every hill she searched diligently for signs of habitation. Towards noon she sighted a hut, to which she walked and went in.

There she was greeted by a very beautiful woman, whose skin was white, and who sat on the floor (with the knees under the chin) making mats. The new-comer inquired of the white-skinned woman whether she was married. “Yes, my husband is hunting and will be back this evening.” As the hostess knew nothing at all of the history of her visitor, she treated her hospitably, setting food before her, and for a time they chatted very pleasantly. In the course of the conversation the white-skinned woman asked the other one what she did to make her cheeks look red. “That’ s very simple,” replied the visitor; “I boil a pot of water, and hold my face over it until it turns red.”

“I think I will do that, too; it will make my husband love me more,” said White-Skin. She boiled a pot of water and held her face over it. Red-Skin encouraged her in this, telling her how beautiful she was becoming, but at the same time advised her to bend over a little more. Not suspecting treachery, she leaned over; and Red-Skin, who stood directly behind her, pushed the face of the woman into the boiling water and kept it there until life was gone. The dead woman was then fixed up in a sitting posture.

In the hut the deserted wife came across a piece of skin of a bear’s face with the nose on it. She chewed and stretched it to make it cover her whole body, when she looked and felt like a bear. On each of her sides she put a flat rock, and went outside to wait for her husband, who appeared towards evening with a load of game.

“Come out, my lovely one,” he called, “and see how much game I brought.” No one answered; so he called again, “Why don’t you come out as you always do?” He became angry and walked into the hut, where a painful sight stared him in the face. “I know who did it — my other wife. She shall pay for it.” He took his bow and arrows and started for his former home; but when not far from the hut a bear crossed his path. He said, “It was not my wife after all, but this bear who tore the skin from her face. “Taking aim, he shot an arrow at the heart of the bear, but it rebounded on coming in contact with the rock. All the other arrows were wasted the same way without doing the bear any injury. The bear took off the skin, and the hunter recognized his wife.

“That’s the way you treated me,” she cried. “You made believe you were dead, and left me to provide for the children while you were living with another woman.” She abused him until he begged for pardon and mercy and promised to be faithful in the future. His pleadings were, however, to no purpose. She put on her bear-skin, and thus becoming as savage as a bear, she rushed for him and tore him in pieces. With his blood on her, she ran home and destroyed her children in the same savage manner, and then ran away to the woods to live with other bears.


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The Woman with One Eye

A fisherman with two wives feigned death and instructed them to bury him in a barabara with his belongings. As they carried his body, he secretly smiled whenever one wife struggled. Upon reaching the barabara, he escaped at night, loaded his bidarka with his possessions, and departed to live with a one-eyed woman. His wives, discovering his absence, mourned in despair.

Source
Eskimo and Aleut Stories from Alaska
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore

Vol. 22, No. 83, Jan. – Mar., 1909


► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The fisherman deceives his wives by pretending to be dead to escape from them.

Love and Betrayal: The fisherman betrays his wives by abandoning them to be with another woman.

Moral Lessons: The tale imparts lessons about trust, deception, and the consequences of one’s actions.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Aleut people


Told in English by an Aleut boy of Unga, and here reproduced verbatim

Once upon a time there was a man and he was married to two women. He was a fisherman. He was fishing for a long time and he saw a sand-spit and there was fire burning there and he saw smoke. Then he went ashore. Soon as he came to the house he saw an old woman with one eye. That old woman asked him if he was married and he said, “Yes.” Then he gave the old woman some of his fish and went back to his place. He came to his home and told his women if he dies to put him in a barabara and his bidarka and bow and arrows, spears and knives. His wives said, “Yes, we will do what you say.” Then he died after that; then the two ladies put him inside the bidarka and put his things inside the bidarka and some other things into the barabara. Those two ladies were crying like anything.

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That other lady — the one carrying the stern of the bidarka — dropped her end of the bidarka, being too heavy for her. That man he laughed a little, he smiled a little. That head-lady said, “This dead fellow laughed a little.” And that lady who dropped her end she was growling, “You think a dead people will laugh.” — “I saw him laughing myself,” that lady said.

Then they walked on again to the barabara. It was a long ways to that barabara. That lady, she was tired all the time and she dropped her end again. When she dropped her end the man laughed again, and he did not want the ladies to know that he is not dead, he was making out that he was dead all the time. They brought him to the barabara. Then these two ladies were crying all the time. They went home to go to sleep. Then at night that man he woke up, he took his bidarka to the beach and he loaded his bidarka with his things that he had in the barabara, then he started off for that woman with the one eye.

When those two ladies woke up in the morning they went to the barabara to see if that man is there. When they came to that barabara they did not find that fellow in there. Then they were crying more again.

Then that man was fishing for the woman with the one eye. (The sequel to this story is very much like that in the story of The Woman with One Eye given above.)


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The Woman with One Eye

An Aleut hunter vanished, leaving his two wives in despair. A bird revealed his survival with a new partner, a grotesque one-eyed woman. The wives confronted and killed her, then discovered their husband. Enraged by his betrayal, they drowned him despite his pleas for reconciliation. This cautionary tale warns against deceit and neglect in relationships, emphasizing justice over betrayal.

Source
Eskimo and Aleut Stories from Alaska
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore

Vol. 22, No. 83, Jan. – Mar., 1909


► Themes of the story

Love and Betrayal: The hunter’s abandonment of his two wives for another woman exemplifies betrayal within a relationship.

Revenge and Justice: The wives’ actions in confronting and ultimately killing both the one-eyed woman and their unfaithful husband highlight themes of retribution and the pursuit of justice for personal wrongs.

Cunning and Deception: The hunter deceives his wives by feigning disappearance or death, while the wives employ cunning to discover his whereabouts and exact their revenge.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Aleut people


Unga story

An Aleut with his two wives lived in a bay far from other people. Each day the man would go out in his one-hatch bidarka to hunt, leaving the women at their work, and in the evening they would all meet again. One day he departed as usual, but did not return in the evening, and many weeks passed before anything was heard about him. Food and wood were giving out, and the poor women did not know what to do. Worry and anxiety about the fate of their husband made them old and ill; and the only thing that kept them alive was hope, for they could not believe that he was dead. From an eminence near the hut they daily took turns watching for his coming. While one of the women was thus occupied, a bird alighted on an alder-bush, and said:

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“Chick, chickee, chick! Your husband is not drowned. He lives. By yonder point there is a beach, near there a hillock, close to that a barabara in which there is a woman with whom your husband is at present living. Chick, chickee, chick!”

The frightened woman ran quickly to the hut to tell her partner in desertion the news, but the latter would not believe it.

The following day the two went together, and while they sat there the little bird came; and this is what it sang, “Chick, chickee, chick! Your (plural) husband is not dead. He lives. Around the point is a beach, close to it a little hill, alongside of it a barabara in which there is a woman with whom your husband lives. Chick, chickee, chick!” Having said this, it flew away.

Both women felt that the bird had told them the truth, and they decided to find their husband. For several days they walked before they rounded the point where they saw the beach, the hillock, the barabara, and in the distance, out in the bay, a man fishing. They neared the hut very quietly, and, on peeping through a hole, were startled to see an old woman who had in the middle of her forehead one eye very much diseased, giving her a very ugly appearance. One-Eye somehow became aware of the presence of people outside, and called out, “Come in, come in !” The visitors entered and sat down near the fire, over which was boiling a pot of soup, of which they were asked to help themselves. But as no clam-shells with which to dip were offered them, they could not eat. One of the visitors then asked One-Eye who the person was in the bidarka fishing. She replied that it was not a bidarka at all, but a rock which at low tide seemed like a man fishing from a bidarka. She again invited her guests to eat, but they told her that they could not without spoons (clam-shells). The hostess tried to show her visitors how to eat without spoons by bending her head over the pot; but before she finished her illustration, the two women jumped on her and shoved her face into the soup until she was dead. Dressing her in her parka (fur cloak), and taking her to a conspicuous place on the beach, they propped her up into a natural position and left her there.

Towards evening the fisherman pulled for the shore, and, as he came close to the beach, the two women in hiding recognized their long-lost husband. He got out of the boat and went towards One-Eye, and, holding before him a fish, said, *’ Whenever you love me, you come to the beach to greet me.” But as he received no answer, he came to her and put his arms around her, which caused them both to fall over. While he was in this attitude, his two wives jumped out and appeared before him. On seeing them, he made a dash for his boat. They followed, and came up with him just as he was about to paddle away. One seized the bidarka. and the other grabbed the paddle, and said to him, “We thought that you were dead, and we mourned and suffered, while you were here all the time. Now we are going to kill you.” — “Don’t kill me! I will go home with you, and we will live as formerly.” — “No, no! We will kill you.”

Saying this, they pushed the bidarka out until the water reached their necks, and there turned it over and drowned their faithless and cowardly husband.


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A Story for Husbands

An Aleut man, passionate about hosting a grand play, was betrayed when his guests abandoned him, taking his wife. Stricken with shame, he sought her, finding her remarried in another village. He publicly humiliated and punished her, later reconciling but abandoning his carefree ways. This cautionary tale warns against neglecting responsibility in relationships and misplacing blame for infidelity.

Source
The Songs and Stories of the Aleuts
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore

Vol. 20, No. 77, Apr. – Jun., 1907


► Themes of the story

Love and Betrayal: The protagonist’s wife abandons him during his grand play, leading to feelings of betrayal.

Revenge and Justice: Upon discovering his wife’s infidelity, the man seeks her out, publicly humiliates, and punishes her, believing he is administering justice.

Tragic Flaw: The man’s excessive passion for hosting plays leads to his neglect of personal relationships, resulting in his wife’s departure.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Aleut people


There was a certain merry Aleut, who was exceedingly fond of plays (evening gatherings, the usual time and ways of amusing themselves); and when present at such, would masquerade in various masks and dance. One time he decided to give a play (party) such as would astonish and arouse the envy of all. The preparations for this occasion were especially tiresome and of long duration, and when everything was ready he went to the different villages to invite guests. When the guests arrived they, as customary, encamped on the beach in their traveling tents.

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The impatient host could hardly wait till evening, and at the proper time he sent his wife to bring the masks, while he commenced singing the songs which he had composed for this special occasion, and playing on the drum.

It was already late, and still his guests did not come, neither did his wife bring the masks. He waited awhile, and then began singing and playing as before. In this manner he, being heated and in an ecstatic state, sang and played the whole night, entirely by himself. As it began to dawn, he came to himself and realized the situation; and a little later went out in the street, and what does he see? His guests had all gone home; and to his great shame they added the greatest insult in taking his young wife with them. The unfortunate play-lover tore off all the clothes and ornaments which he had on, put on shabby clothing, and for three days he neither ate nor drank. On the third day he was told that two bidarkas came from that village from whence his former guests were. He requested that the new-comers be invited to his house, and after seating them gave orders that they be treated with the best he had. When they commenced eating, he too began eating and drinking. While eating, he told them of his misfortune and grief, and then asked them whether they knew or had heard where they had taken his wife, and to which village. His guests told him that his wife was in their village, and was already married, living in the largest barrabara, situated in the very centre of the village, dressed always in her gala parka, and always painted; and in the middle of each day she sat near the fire sewing for her new husband a kamalayka from sea-lion’s intestines. After thanking his guests for the information he dismissed them.

The following day he went to the village where his wife was, and found her in the very place and situation as his late guests had described to him. At that time all the men from the village were out hunting. He then, not saying a word, seized his wife by her long hair, dragged her outside, tore off her holiday attire, leaving her naked, and in this condition dragged and placed her in his bidarka. Bringing her home, he tied her outside the barrabara, at the entrance, and left her there in the same state (naked). In this condition and position he kept her three days, then pulled her inside and shut her in, in some kind of a storeroom for seven days, and still in the same state, while he himself sat near the entrance. There he sat for seven days without eating and drinking, neither did he appease the hunger and thirst of his wife. At the expiration of that time he went to sea to hunt, but before going he told his mother that in his absence she should wash his wife, dress, and feed her. Returning from the hunt in the evening, he went to his house and met his wife with such a face and expression as if nothing at all had happened, and began to live with her in peace and harmony, as formerly; but his passion for play turned to hate, and he became more careful and thoughtful on account of his wife.

This story is composed for the benefit of those who, being themselves cause of the disobedience and unfaithfulness of their wives, throw the blame on them.


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A Sea-Otter Story

A man discovers his wife and nephew’s betrayal. In a fit of rage, he kills the boy, giving his head to the woman. Keeping her vow to die with the boy, she flees to a seaside bluff and leaps into the water, transforming into a sea otter. The man watches in despair as two sea otters emerge, leaving him alone.

Source
Aleutian Stories
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore

Vol. 18, No. 70, Jul. – Sep., 1905


► Themes of the story

Love and Betrayal: The narrative centers on a man’s discovery of his wife and nephew’s betrayal, leading to tragic consequences.

Revenge and Justice: The man’s act of killing his nephew serves as retribution for the betrayal he suffered.

Tragic Love: The wife’s commitment to die with the nephew highlights a sorrowful and doomed aspect of love.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Aleut people


This story differs but little from the one before it, and was told me by an old Aleut of Belkofsky (Alaska Peninsula). I give all the versions I have of this same story in order to show how it differs from village to village.

In a certain place there lived a man with his wife and nephew. One day the man went away, and on his return learned that the two had dishonored him during his absence. When he went away a second time the woman said to the boy, “I will die when you die.” On his return the man noticed a number of sticks (used as tools) and asked his wife, “Who made these for you?” “Your nephew,” she replied, “made them.” Observing some wooden clamps, he inquired once more, “Who made these for you?” Again she answered, “Your nephew made them.” Then the man began to prepare some roots for eating, and when he had finished he called to his wife and nephew to eat. The boy tried to eat the food, of which he was generally fond, but somehow he could not swallow it. This was so funny that it made the man and woman laugh. The man then upbraided the boy and his wife with their criminal conduct, and ended by cutting the boy’s head off and giving it to the woman.

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She turned to it and said, “I promised that I would die with you and I will.” Putting on her parka, she took the head and started for the bluff close to the sea. The husband, seeing the way she was going, started in pursuit, but she was already on the summit before he could come up to her.

She waited until he was quite close and then turned to the head and repeated, “I said I would die with you and I will.” This said, she threw herself off the bluff and disappeared in the water. The man stood there watching, and very soon he saw emerging two sea-otters who went out to sea.


Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page