Story of a foolish woman

A man with a foolish wife decides to test her by switching animals between deadfalls and nets. When they find treasure, the wife reveals it to the chief officer, leading to embarrassment for both. The wife demands a new dress, and the husband gives her a bull’s skin, causing chaos in church. Eventually, he punishes her severely, restoring her to her former self.

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: The husband deceives his wife by swapping the hare and barbot between the deadfall and fish net, testing her gullibility.

Moral Lessons: The narrative imparts lessons on the consequences of foolishness and the importance of discretion, as the wife’s indiscretions lead to public embarrassment and punishment.

Conflict with Authority: The wife’s interaction with the chief officer, driven by her lack of discretion, brings the couple into conflict with local authority, resulting in further complications.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Yukaghir Lore

Learn more about the Yukaghir people

Told by John Sukhomyasoff, a Russian creole, the clerk of the church in the village of Nishne-Kolymsk, the Kolyma country, summer of 1896.

Once upon a time, there lived a man who had a foolish wife. He beat her and chastized her in every way, but could do nothing with her. One time he said to himself, “Let me test her! Perhaps she will become more sensible.” He had some deadfalls in the woods, and some fish nets in the water. He said to her, “Let us go and have a look at them!” They set off. The man examined a deadfall, and found in it a hare; then he found in a fish net a large barbot. He put the barbot into the deadfall, and the hare into the fish net.

That done, he called his wife. They came to the deadfall, and she saw the barbot. “Oh, oh!” said the woman, “how is it now? Barbots are caught in deadfalls!” — “So they are,” answered the man. They came to the fish net, and the hare was caught in its meshes. “And how is this?” said the woman. “Hares are caught in fish nets!” — “So they are,” answered the man.

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They went back to the village, and passed the chief officer’s house. Some cows in the stable were lowing loudly. “Who is that crying?” asked the woman. “It is the chief officer,” said the man. “His women flog him most mercilessly.” — “Poor thing!” said the woman, “he cries so vehemently,” — “Why, he feels pain, therefore he is crying.”

They came home and found a treasure of silver money. “Mind,” said the man, “do not tell any one about it, lest it should be taken from us.” After a while, they had a quarrel. The woman grew angry. She went to the chief officer and told him everything. The chief officer gave immediate orders to bring the man. “Why, you scoundrel! you found a treasure and told me nothing of it.” — “What treasure?” said the man. “I swear, I found nothing!” — “You did, you did!” said the woman. “You are crazy,” said the man. “When did I find the treasure?” — “Ah, when? Just at the time when we caught a barbot in a deadfall and a hare in a net.” — “What did you say?” asked the chief officer, much astonished. “Yes, yes!” repeated the woman, “at that very time, when the women flogged you in the stable. You cried most vehemently.” The chief officer grew angry and turned her out of the house. Her husband gave her a severe thrashing.

However, she was in no way down-hearted. She ill-used the man worse than ever. “It is because you buy no good clothes for me,” repeated the woman, “therefore the people set little value by me, and even turn me out of their houses; and when I pass on the street, no man greets me with as much as a bow.” — “Why, you thrice fool!” said the man, but she would not stop at all. “Tomorrow is a holiday,” said she, “buy me a new dress, or I will give you no rest or quiet.” — “All right!” said the man, “I will buy you a new dress, very costly. You may put it on and go to church.” — “What dress, what dress?” insisted the woman. “Be quiet!” said the man. “It is too late now. Go to sleep. Early in the morning I shall bring you that precious dress.” She went to sleep. The man went to the stable and slaughtered a young bull. He took off the skin in one piece, horns and hoofs, muzzle and tail, and everything withal. This he carried home for his wife. Early in the morning the bells tolled for morning service. The woman jumped up and nudged her husband. “Get up, will you! Where is my new dress?” — “I will bring it presently,” said the man. “Ah, here it is! The woman wanted to strike a fire. “O don’t!” said the man, “listen to the bells! You must hurry! Come here! I will help you dress.” So he helped her into the bull skin, and then sewed it up. He put the horns’ and the tail in their proper places. “Now you look quite well,” said he. “Be off to church!” She hurried on, like a cow walking on her hind legs. Whoever met her fell down with fright. “Ah,” said the woman, “see how they bow to me this time!” She came to the church, and pushed aside all the people with those heavy hoofs. She gored all the ladies, — the wife of the priest, and the daughters of the chief officer, — and took her place in front of all, close to the priest. All the people looked at her and were much frightened. Women ceased saying their prayers, and clerks and chanters stopped singing. The priest came out and said to them. “What is the matter with you? Why did you stop singing?” Then he saw the woman. “Oh, oh! is it the Devil. Who is there with horns and tail?” The people meanwhile one by one backed out of the church. The priest took the censer and tried to expel the Devil. He put plenty of incense into the censer and filled the whole church with dense smoke. The woman sneezed violently, and muttered, “Too much honor, too much honor!” Then she left the church and went home. “Ah!” said she, “this time it was just as I wanted it. The people gave me the best place, in front of all; the children on the street fell down before me; and the priest in the church never ceased bowing before me, and he filled the whole church with clouds of incense in my special honor.” The husband said, “You are not my wife, you are a cow. Your talk is like the lowing of a cow.” He put a halter on her neck and led her into the stable. There he tied her to a post, took the heavy horsewhip that he used on the old bulls and stallions and flogged her with all his might. He cut the bull hide into strips, so severely did he flog her. He chastized her so long that she swooned; then he let up and poured cold water over her head. After that he flogged her again, so that she swooned a second time. At last the whole bullskin fell from her body in mere shreds. “Now you are again a woman!” said the man, and he led her back into the house.

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The Alder-Block

This tale represents a version of the well-known European story. Several details, however, belong to the native life. The underground oven is a primitive device, although it is not used at present in northeastern Asia, being superseded by the so-called Russian oven, made of bricks or of beaten earth. In more ancient times, the oven dug in the ground may have been used by the natives.

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: Alder-Block Boy embarks on a journey across the sea to explore the world’s wonders, demonstrating the classic quest motif.

Family Dynamics: The relationship between Alder-Block Boy and his foster mother underscores themes of familial bonds and responsibilities.

Conflict with Authority: Alder-Block Boy challenges the witch Yagha and her daughters, who represent malevolent authority figures, by defying and defeating them.

► 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 1895.

There lived an old woman who had neither son nor daughter. One time after cooking supper, she climbed to the roof of her house to stop up the chimney hole. Then she heard from within a small child’s voice. She was much frightened, but still she descended hastily and ran into the house. An infant boy was lying on the floor. She swathed him in swaddling clothes, and prepared food for him. She fed him on blood soup and minced meat, and he grew from year to year. She gave him the name Alder-Block. He was an excellent carpenter, and made excellent canoes of boards and of hollowed tree trunks. One time he said to his foster mother, “Mother, let me leave. I want to visit all the wonders of earth and sea.” The woman said, “How can that be? And who will then procure food for me? You are almost full-grown. All my hope lies in you.” Nevertheless, he left at night and went away across the sea. He traveled and traveled, and at last he saw an island. On the island there stood a house. In it lived the witch, Yagha.

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[(Баба-Яга literally, “(old) woman Yagha”) is a she-monster often appearing in Old-Russian folk stories. It is presumed that in the Star mythology the witch Yagha was the personification of winter. Yaghishna is, properly speaking, the name of the daughter of Yagha, formed with the Old-Russian suffix shna, vna. Daughters of Yagha often appear in Russian tales; but their name, Yaghishna, Is known only in the Kolyma stories. And, by the way, those stories confuse the mother and her daughters, and call the witch Yagha also Yaghishna. Yagha, Yaghishna of the Russian tales of northeastern Asia, often appears as a being more like the American Snenek than the Old-Russian Yagha]

[Yagha] had three daughters, one Five-Eyes Girl; another, Six-Eyes Girl; and the third, Eight-Eyes Girl. She herself had ten eyes. The witch Yagha saw the canoe, and said to her daughters, “Here, girls! get ready! a small reindeer is coming from the sea. Do try and lure it hither.” The eldest daughter cooked flour-cakes. She filled a birchbark vessel as big as a man with them, and put it on the shore as a decoy. She hid herself near by in order to catch the boy as soon as he should land. The boy saw the birchbark vessel full of cakes. He came close to the shore, and said aloud, “First eye, fall asleep! second eye, fall asleep! third eye, fall asleep! fourth eye, fall asleep! fifth eye, fall asleep!” The girl fell asleep. He emptied the birchbark vessel into his canoe. He threw the vessel into the water, approached the girl, and, taking off his breeches, he defecated upon her head. After that he struck her back with the paddle, and broke her back. That done, he paddled away across the sea, back to his mother. So he brought to his mother all those cakes. She was much astonished. She asked him, “O child, Alder-Block Boy! where did you get all these cakes?” — “At such and such a place.” The boy told her everything. The old woman was very much scared. “Now,” she said, “I will not let you go even one step from my side. The witch Yagha will devour you.” That very night, as soon as the old woman had fallen asleep, Alder-Block descended toward the water, boarded his canoe, and set off again. The girls saw him, as before. They prepared a vessel with cakes, and put it out on the shore. The second sister hid nearby, ready to catch him. He paddled to the shore, and called out aloud, “First eye, fall asleep! second eye, fall asleep! third eye, fall asleep! and fourth and fifth and sixth eye fall asleep!” Again, the girl fell asleep. He emptied the vessel into his canoe. Then he defecated upon the girl, and broke her back with a blow of his paddle. Then he paddled back across the sea with his booty. The girl, however, came to, and crawled to her mother. The mother sprinkled her with the water of life and youth, and the girl became as sound as before.

The boy’s mother took the cakes, but she reproached him. “O, child, you go away secretly in the night time. I shall lose you and shall not know where to find you. The witch Yagha will devour you. Do stop these awful doings!” The very same night the boy went again. This time the youngest daughter tried to catch him. She also put upon the shore a vessel full of cakes, and hid near by. He paddled shoreward, and counted aloud, “First eye, fall asleep! second eye, fall asleep! third eye, fall asleep! Fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh and eighth, do fall asleep!” He took the cakes and defecated upon the girl. Then he struck her with the paddle upon the back and paddled away. The girl could hardly crawl back to her mother. The next day he came again. This time it was Yaghishna herself who tried to catch him. She put the vessel upon the shore and hid near by. He counted aloud, “First eye, fall asleep! second eye, fall asleep! third and fourth, fall asleep! fifth and sixth and seventh, do fall asleep! eighth and ninth, do fall asleep!” but he forgot the tenth eye. He took the vessel and emptied it into his canoe, but the witch did not stir. He took off his breeches and wanted to defecate upon her; then she caught him by the breeches and carried him home. “There you, dogs, you could not catch this small reindeer, but I have caught him.” They had an oven dug in the ground. The Yaghishna said, “I will call my brother; meanwhile cook this reindeer for our meal. When brother and I come back, we will have a meal of him.” She set off. The eldest daughter brought an iron shovel, and said to the boy, “Well, Alder-Block, sit down on the shovel.” He spread his legs and stretched his arms. She tried to put him down into the oven, but could not do it. “Why,” said she, “Alder-Block, you hold your body too clumsily. Sit down on the shovel, then draw up your legs and keep your arms together.” — “How together? I do not know how. You had better show me how.” — “Look here, you booby!” She took a seat on the shovel and held her body quite close. So he thrust her into the oven, snatched the shovel back, and shut the oven door. In this way he killed the eldest daughter of Yaghishna. The second daughter came and asked him, “Oh, Alder-Block, what makes it smell so strong here of something singed?” — “It does indeed,” said Alder-Block, “Your sister singed a leg of mine, and also an arm, but in the end took pity on me and allowed me to live.” — “I will show you what pity is. Sit down on the shovel, go your way down into the oven.” He spread his legs and stretched his arms just as before. By no means could she thrust him down the oven. “Oh, there! Alder-Block, you hold yourself quite in a wrong way. Draw up your legs and keep your arms together.” — “How together? I do not know how.” “Even so, you booby!” She sat down on the shovel and drew up her legs. He immediately thrust her down into the oven and shut the oven door. There she was roasted. The third one came too, the youngest one. “You, there, Alder-Block! why does it smell so here of something singed?” — “Yes, it does,” said Alder-Block. “Your second sister singed a leg of mine, and then also an arm. Then she took pity on me and let me live.” — “Oh, I will teach you what pity is! Sit down on the shovel, go your way down into the oven.” He spread his legs and stretched his arms. She could not thrust him in. “Oh, there, Alder-Block! You do not hold yourself right. You must draw up your legs and keep your arms together.” — “I do not know how. You must show me how.” She sat down on the shovel, and he thrust her into the oven. After a while all three were done just right. He took them out of the oven, and drew them up to the ground. Then he prepared the meal, cut the meat, and laid it out on dishes and in troughs. All these he arranged on a large table. He put the table near the large bed of Yaghishna, where she usually took her meals and concealed all three heads under the bed near her seat. He hid himself behind the chimney and waited for Yaghishna. After a while she came back. She was driving the mortar, urging it with a pestle, and effacing the traces of the sledge with a big broom. She had not found her brother at home. So she came all alone. She entered the house, and saw the food all ready for a meal: so she felt gratified, and exclaimed, “See there! my daughters have prepared the meal, and they themselves are gone, perhaps for a little walk.” She took a seat near the table and tried to eat, but the first mouthful stuck in her throat. “Oh, oh, oh!” said the witch, “what is the matter? Why does even the first mouthful stick so in my throat? Is it possible that Alder-Block is a kinsman of mine?” She took another morsel, but could not swallow it at all. She spat it out, and looked down under the bed, and there were the three heads of her daughters. She clapped her hands and wailed aloud, “Ah, you hound, Alder-Block! You have eaten all my daughters, and none has stuck in your throat.” She looked around, and found the boy behind the chimney. “Ah, ah, now I have you.” She caught him by the nape of the neck and hurled him across the room and back again. After a few kicks and pushes, he felt nearly dead. Then he called aloud, “O, granny! that is enough. I want to ease myself before I die.” — “Go, then, and ease yourself.” He ran to her storehouse. She had there two wells, — one full of water of life and youth, the other full of water of death. He drank his fill of the water of life and youth, then he changed the places of both wells. After that he came back. He caught Yaghishna and threw her across the room and back again. After a few kicks, she felt very feeble, and asked of him, “O, Alder-Block! I want to ease myself.” — “All right, you may go.” She went to the storehouse, and wanted to drink of the water of life and youth, but instead she drank of the water of death. After that she went back, hardly being able to move. As soon as she stepped over the sill, her belly burst, and she dropped down stone dead. The boy gathered all her wealth — the costly furs, dried meat and fish, and all kinds of provisions — and took it to his mother. He also took along the water of life and youth. His mother drank of the water and became quite young, like a fresh berry. He became immensely rich.

The end.

The Lamut and the Russian

Before Russian contact, the Lamut lived primitively in the mountains, using stone, bone, and antler tools for survival. Russians were impressed by the Lamut’s hunting skills—precision archery and swift reindeer hunting. They offered the Lamut iron tools, weapons, and tobacco, recruiting them as allies against other tribes. The Russians established tribute and positioned the Lamut as their strategic partners in regional conflicts.

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

Cultural Heroes: The Lamut are portrayed as foundational figures whose skills and alliance significantly influence their society and its interactions with the Russians.

Conflict with Authority: The Russians establish tribute and position the Lamut as strategic partners, indicating a dynamic where the Lamut must navigate their relationship with a more dominant external authority.

Community and Isolation: The Lamut’s alliance with the Russians sets them apart from neighboring tribes, highlighting themes of belonging and estrangement within the broader regional context.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Evens (Lamut) Lore

Learn more about the Evens (Lamut)

Told by Ulashkan, a Lamut man, on the upper course of the Molonda River, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1895.

In olden times, when the Russians were not here, the Lamut lived in the mountains. They had no iron, no ax, no knife. A stone tied to a stick served as ax; a rib of reindeer, as knife; splinters of elk thigh bone, as spears; and a thin splinter of reindeer fawn thigh as needle. They had no kettles. They spread the meat upon stones for roasting. They melted the snow into drinking water, putting it in a reindeer stomach, which they hung high above the fire.

Then came some Russian people. They questioned our men, “Who are you?” — “We are Lamut.” — “How do you kill wild reindeer?” — “With bow and arrows.” — “We want to see them.” — “There they are.”

One young man strung the bow and shot at a splinter of wood stuck into a high tussock quite far away, and his arrow with a point of fish bone split the slender bit of wood.

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“Oh, how glorious!” said the Russians. “And how do you do in spring when the snow has a thin ice crust?” — “We overtake them running on snowshoes.” — “We want to see you do it.” Another young man put on his snowshoes and ran off. He sighted a wild reindeer buck, overtook it, and stabbed it with his long spear. “Oh, glorious! Indeed, you are quite active and strong, and successful in hunting, so you must be our closest friends and assistants. You must be our best companions in every way. If some member of a strange tribe should come here with evil intentions, you must kill him without fear. You must give us assistance in every struggle against all kinds of invaders.” [The Lamut consider themselves, and are considered by the Russians, as the closest allies of the latter in every struggle against other more stubborn and refractory tribes, such as the Chukchee and the Koryak.] They gave them iron knives, and axes, match-locks, and kettles, and all kinds of iron ware. “Take this, and be stronger than any of your neighbors. Chastize them according to their deserts and evil intentions.” After that the Russian chief instituted the tribute and noted it down in a big black book. He gave to the young Lamut pipes and tobacco, saying, “Have this to smoke, and with that smoke be first to fight, speeding ahead on your snowshoes.”

A shaman and a boy

A powerful elderly shaman encounters a wandering orphan boy and challenges him to a supernatural contest. They engage in a mystical battle using supernatural creatures: the shaman creates a small bear from his spit, while the boy produces a louse. Surprisingly, the louse defeats the bear, causing the shaman to die. The boy inherits the shaman’s wealth and wives, becoming rich.

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

Conflict with Authority: The boy challenges the authority of the shaman, who attempts to dominate and even threaten his life, leading to a reversal of power dynamics.

Transformation: The boy’s status transforms from a wandering orphan to a wealthy individual, inheriting the shaman’s possessions and wives after the contest.

Cunning and Deception: The boy’s unexpected victory through seemingly simple means underscores the theme of using wit and deception to overcome a more powerful adversary.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Evens (Lamut) Lore

Learn more about the Evens (Lamut)

Told by Ulashkan, a Lamut man, on the Molonda River, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1895.

There was a great shaman who reached a very great age. When angry he could lay his spell on any one, even upon another shaman. One time he as walking about and met a little boy, who roamed about, not knowing where to go. “Who are you?” — “I do not know.” — “Perhaps you are a shaman.” — “What kind of a shaman may I be? Though, indeed, I get up in my sleep and walk about sleeping.” — “I shall kill you.” — “Do, please. I shall not resist. My father and mother are gone, and I wish to follow them.” — “Oh, well! then follow me.”

He took him to his house, and put a plate before him. “Sit down and let us have a match!” — “What kind of a match shall we have?” — “A shamanistic match. You area shaman.” — “No, I am not, I know nothing.” — “Enough. Be quiet, or I shall kill you.” He spat into his palm, and put the spittle upon the plate. It grew to a small bear not greater than a louse.

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“Here is my champion and where is yours?” The boy scratched his head, not knowing what to do, and, lo! a small louse fell down upon the plate, a real louse. “Ah! this is yours. All right, let them fight.” The bear and the louse fought throughout the day, and the louse proved the stronger. It caught the bear by the throat and wanted to strangle it. “Let go!” cried the old man. “Leave the bear alone! I shall die.” — “No, I shall not do so,” said the boy. “It is you who wanted to have this fight.” So the louse strangled the bear. As soon as the bear died the old man fell down and died also. The boy took his wives and all his goods, and became a rich man.

Bear, Wolverene, and Wolf story

Bear, Wolverene, and Wolf, brothers, clash over marriage. When the youngest Wolf seeks the middle Wolverene’s daughter, he is rejected due to their different origins. Bear arbitrates, limiting Wolf to two or three offspring and Wolverene to one child. Wolverene curses Bear to winter-long sleep, making him vulnerable to hunters. Their conflict shapes the reproductive patterns of their species.

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

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the relationships and conflicts among Bear, Wolverene, and Wolf, who are brothers. The tension arises when Wolf seeks to marry Wolverene’s daughter, leading to familial discord.

Conflict with Authority: Bear assumes the role of an arbitrator, making authoritative decisions about the reproductive capacities of Wolf and Wolverene, which reflects a challenge to personal desires by an authoritative figure.

Transformation: The curses imposed lead to significant changes in the natural behaviors of the animals, such as Bear’s hibernation and the reproductive patterns of Wolf and Wolverene.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Evens (Lamut) Lore

Learn more about the Evens (Lamut)

Told by Ulashkan, a Lamut man, on the Molonda River, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1895.

Bear, Wolverene, and Wolf, being brothers, lived side by side. The youngest brother paid suit to the daughter of the middle one. “No,” said the middle one, “How is it that you ask me for my daughter? We cannot join. You are born from the snow, and I am born from the earth.” [The polar wolf is of light gray color, sometimes almost dirty white. The wolverene is brown.] Wolf grew angry and made complaint to Bear. Bear bore judgment and ordered, “If that is so, you must part.” He said to Wolf, “Your temper is worst of all, you shall bring forth not more than two or three children.” Wolf departed sorrowfully. Bear said to Wolverene, “You have a daughter, and refuse her to suitors, so you must not bring forth more than one, child.” He blamed Wolverene, and said, “If you had given your daughter in marriage, our people would be more numerous, so you must meet your fate in the wooden thing.” [deadfall made of logs]

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Wolverene also grew angry, and retorted, “And you must meet your fate underground.” [in the bear-lair when sleeping in winter, and tracked by the hunters] Wolverene laid a curse upon Bear: “You must sleep throughout the winter, and your fate will come to you while you are insensible to it.”

So the Bear’s word caused young wolves to be born by two’s and three’s, and wolverenes singly. The Wolverene’s word caused the Bear to sleep throughout the winter, so that hunters kill him in his sleep.

Story about cannibals

A Lamut family fleeing man-eaters finds refuge with a rich reindeer breeder who buys and marries their daughter. Suspecting they plan to fatten and eat her, a herdsman warns the family. They escape during the night. Pursued by three men, the father ambushes and kills the pursuers in a narrow pass, eventually settling in a new land and remarrying the daughter to a kind man.

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

Conflict with Authority: The family challenges the oppressive and cannibalistic practices of their community by fleeing and resisting their pursuers.

Trials and Tribulations: The family endures a series of challenges, including fleeing from danger, surviving in new territories, and defending themselves against threats.

Community and Isolation: The narrative explores the family’s isolation from their original community due to its cannibalistic practices and their efforts to find a new, safer community.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Evens (Lamut) Lore

Learn more about the Evens (Lamut)

Told by Irashkan, a Lamut man, on the upper course of the Molonda River, in the Kolyma country, summer of 1895.

In ancient times the Lamut in all parts of the land ate one another. There was an old man who had an only daughter. The neighbors wanted to eat her. So the father and mother and girl fled, and wandered off for ten days and ten nights without stopping. They crossed several ridges of hills, and from the last they saw some tents standing in a pass. They descended, and pitched their own tent near by.

The people, however, were also man-eaters, even worse then those whom they had left. Although they had large reindeer herds, they wanted to eat human flesh. A rich reindeer breeder of those people paid suit to the girl. He paid a hundred reindeer for her, and married her.

Every day the husband slaughtered fat bucks to feed his wife with their meat. They gave her of the best fat. Oh, the parents rejoiced!

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A poor young man who had no reindeer of his own, and who served throughout the year, summer and winter as a herdsman to the rich owner, said to them, “There is Do cause to rejoice. They simply want to fatten her before they slaughter her. When she is fat enough, they will kill her.”

And, indeed, in the night time in the very act of copulation, the husband felt with his hand of the haunches and the belly of the woman, and muttered to himself, “Still not enough. Why do you not eat your fill? Eat more fat and marrow.” So the woman understood. The next morning the young herdsman said, “They are weary of waiting. Soon they are going to eat her. Why do you not flee? You may do so this very night, cut a way through the cover of the sleeping room.”

Indeed, in the night time they ripped open the cover of the sleeping room and ran away. They took riding reindeer and rode off. They rode for a night and a day. Then they looked back, and saw three men in pursuit. So they turned in another direction and rode on. They rode again for a night and a day. Then they looked back and saw the same three pursuers who were this time nearer than before. The father grew angry, and said, “I will attend to this.” He descended from the reindeer, and slipped his bow from over his shoulder. “You ride on without me. I shall wait here for the pursuers.” The path was very narrow, and led through a pass, so that the three pursuers had to ride in single file. The foremost hurried on. He did not think of any danger. He only looked ahead.

When he was directly opposite the hidden man, the latter sent forth an arrow and shot him. In the same way he slew another and still another. After that he mounted his reindeer and overtook the women. They came to another country, and lived there. The girl was married again to a rich reindeer breeder, a well-meaning man, who knew nothing of man’s flesh.

A tale of the Chukchee invasion

A group of Lamut men, divided about potential threats, separate their reindeer herds. Despite warnings from elders about being cautious, young men boast of their strength. Suddenly, Chukchee enemies attack at dawn, overwhelming them. During the pursuit, a young woman and an infant are struck by arrows. The men, including those who previously bragged, flee, abandoning their wounded and exhausted reindeer.

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

Conflict with Authority: The younger men dismiss the elders’ cautionary advice, leading to disastrous consequences.

Good vs. Evil: The narrative depicts the Chukchee attackers as a malevolent force overwhelming the Lamut people.

Tragic Flaw: The arrogance and overconfidence of the young men result in their downfall.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Evens (Lamut) Lore

Learn more about the Evens (Lamut)

Told by Hirkan, a Lamut man from the desert of Chaun, in the village of Nishne-Kolymsk, winter of 1896.

At the time of the freezing of water some Lamut men crossed the mountain ridge near the Wolverene River. They came to the upper course of the Chogodon River and lived there. They wanted to separate their reindeer herds. In doing this, they talked among themselves. One said, “We must be very careful. From the east enemies may come to kill us and to drive our herds away.” Another man, young and hasty, answered, “All right, let them come! We can kill them all.” An old man, the oldest of all, whose son and son-in-law were the most active and swift of foot said, “Do not say so! You must be on your guard, and show no arrogance.” Still another young man said, “You are too much afraid, a whole family of cowards. Let them come! We can destroy all of them.” Another old man said, “Ah! stop talking! The evil one is watching for every rash word. He punishes arrogant people.”

After that they separated their herds and went to sleep.

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In the morning at dawn there came from the east enemies as numerous as flees. Even the snowy mountains grew black with the multitude of men. They were the Chukchee. They moved on in large herds like reindeer. They attacked the tents in front, and were killing the people. At that very time those in the rear gathered a few things and moved off. They rode along. The Chukchee saw them and followed afoot, so nimble and light of foot were they.

One of the pursuers shot an arrow and hit a young woman. She sank down on the neck of her reindeer. Her husband, however, — the one who first said, “We can kill all of them,” — only glanced back, and hastily cut off the halter of her reindeer, which was attached to his own saddle. After that he galloped on more headlong than ever.

The Chukchee followed on. Another of them shot an arrow, and hit a cradle. [Among the Tungus and the Lamut, cradles of small children are so constructed that they may form one half of the usual pack load of a pack reindeer so they may be carried along with infants on the reindeer back.] The infant fell out. His father (the one who said, “We may kill all of them”) glanced back, and cut off the reindeer halter. That done, he rode on with all possible speed. They rode across the mountain-ridge, and fled to steep rocks along the narrowest paths, so that the Chukchee sledges could not follow their riding reindeer. Whenever a pack reindeer fell down exhausted, they would not stop to take off the load, but would leave it there, load and all. At last they came to the mountains of Oloi. The pursuers were not there, so they stopped, and after a while pitched their camps.

Chaun story

The Lamut people living on the river Chaun are a branch of this tribe that has migrated farthest to the northeast. They are composed of stragglers from several clans of the Kolyma country, who came to the Chaun desert for various reasons; therefore, they do not form a separate clan. Their ways of living in the treeless tundra of Chaun, however, are different from those of all other Lamut, and are nearer to the mode of life of the Chukchee, among whom they dwell. They number about thirty or forty families.

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 young man’s journey to find other people and a wife represents a personal quest, driving the narrative forward.

Conflict with Authority: The young man’s defiance of his father’s advice and the subsequent tensions with his father-in-law illustrate challenges to familial and societal authority.

Community and Isolation: The protagonist’s initial integration into the new community, followed by his isolation due to cultural differences and moral disagreements, underscores the tension between belonging and estrangement.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Evens (Lamut) Lore

Learn more about the Evens (Lamut)

Told by Hirkan, a Lamut man from the desert of Chaun, in the village of Nishne-Kolymsk, the Kolyma country, winter of 1896.

There was a Lamut man in the country of Chaun who went to East Cape to look for some thong-seal hides. He moved and moved, and so came to the very end of the country. He had with him his wife and also a son, young and active. All around the country was wholly deserted. Not a single trace of man was to be seen anywhere. The young man said, “I will go and look for people.” The father retorted, “Do not go! You will lose your way, and in any case you will find nothing.” — “No, I shall find them. And I shall even take a wife among them.”

He went away on snowshoes, and after a considerable time came to a river wholly unknown to him. There was a large camp there. Several tents were pitched in two clusters. In one of them lived a man who had a single daughter. He entered, and stayed with this family as an adopted son-in-law. One day the father-in-law said to him, “Let us go to the river to catch fish!”

► Continue reading…

There was on the river a large open place. They set off. The son-in-law was very light of foot. He was the first to reach the open water. Without much ado he cast into the water his fish-line, and immediately felt something heavy on it. So he pulled it up, and there, caught on the hook, was a small child, human in appearance. He was much afraid, and threw the child back into the water. After that he again cast his fish-line back into the water, and in a moment drew out another human child. He threw it back into the water, but in the meantime the other people arrived. “Why are you throwing the fish back into the water?” said the old man angrily. If you do so, you will destroy our fishing luck and the fish is our existence. Everything will be destroyed.” — “Oh,” said the young man, “but I caught a human child! I was afraid.” — “I say, it was no child, it was a fish. You are playing jokes on us. Better go away! I was mistaken when I called you a reliable man. Be off! You are no longer my son-in-law.” They cast into the water their own fish lines, and after a while they also caught a small human child. They put it upon a long wooden spit and roasted it, before the fire. Then they sat down and made a meal of it. This done, they went back.

The human son-in-law felt very angry. So he also cast his line and angled for fish. He caught one after another, and all his fish were human. In a short time, he had collected a large heap. He covered them with sticks and stones, and went home late in the evening. “Where have you been the whole day long?” asked the father-in-law quite sternly. “I have been angling.” — “Caught anything?” — “I covered a large heap of fish with sticks and stones.” The old man was very glad. “Oh, indeed, you are the very son-in-law for me!” The spring was coming. The snow was covered with a hard crust. The old man said, “Let us go on snowshoes to hunt wild reindeer-bucks!” They went out on snowshoes, and came to a forest. The old man said to his son-in-law, “You must hide behind this large tree as we will drive the reindeer towards you, that you may kill them one by one.” The young man crouched behind the tree, having his bow ready. The other people drove the reindeer toward him. He saw running past him two giant men, all naked, with long hair that reached to the ground. He was so much frightened, that he did not dare to shoot at them.

The other people came. “Well,” asked the old man, “have you killed them?” — “Whom must I kill? Two giant men passed by, both naked, with hair hanging down to the very ground. I did not dare to shoot at them.” — “Ah!” said the old man angrily, “they were no men, they were wild reindeer-bucks. You spoil our hunting pursuit. This hunt is our very life. Be off! I was mistaken when I called you a reliable man. Cease being my son-in-law! Be gone from my house and family!”

They went home. The young man was angrier than ever. He ran to the forest and looked for some trace of those human reindeer-bucks. He found tracks and followed them. At last he saw those giant naked men. They were sitting on the ground leaning against the trees, and fast asleep. So he crept toward them and tied their long hair around the tree. Then he crept off and made a large fire on their windward side. They were killed by the smoke.

Late in the evening he came home. “Where have you been the whole day long?” — “I found those reindeer bucks and killed both of them.” Oh, they were very glad. Now they had plenty of food, but the son-in-law could not eat it. They slaughtered for him real reindeer. One day his wife said to him, “They are very angry with you because of those everlasting slaughters. They are going to kill you too. You had better flee to your own country.” — “And will you go with me?” — “Yes, I will.” — “And what will you eat in our land?” — “I shall eat fish and reindeer meat. I want no more human flesh.”

Once when she had to keep watch over the reindeer herd, she crept out of the tent quite naked. She took some new clothing from the large bags outside and put it on. They fled, and came to his father. There they made her walk three times around a new fire, and thus her mind was changed. After that they left that country and moved away. They went back to their own land and lived there.

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.

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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.

Big-Raven and Fish-Woman

Big-Raven, struggling with hunger, finds Fish-Woman and brings her home. They live together, but Miti’ grows jealous and kills Fish-Woman twice, cooking and eating her flesh. Each time, Fish-Woman miraculously revives and gives Big-Raven food. Eventually, Fish-Woman leaves, foreseeing that Miti’ will eventually kill her for good, and Big-Raven can no longer summon her.

Source
Koryak Texts
by Waldemar Bogoras
American Ethnological Society
Publications, Volume V
(edited by Franz Boas)
E. J. Brill – Leyden, 1917

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: Fish-Woman possesses extraordinary abilities, such as self-revival and providing sustenance, highlighting her supernatural nature.

Conflict with Authority: Miti’s actions challenge the household’s harmony and authority, creating internal conflict.

Loss and Renewal: The cycle of Fish-Woman’s death and revival represents themes of loss and renewal within the narrative.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Koryak Lore

Learn more about the Koryak people

Collected in the village of Kamenskoye, on Penshina Bay, with the help of Nicholas Vilkhin, a half-Russianized Koryak, Decmber 1900 – April, 1901.

Big-Raven lived with his family. They had nothing to eat. He went to the sea, and found there Fish-Woman. He brought her home. She cast forth spawn and they ate it. Then Big-Raven married Fish-Woman. Miti’ grew jealous. Big-Raven went into the open. Then Miti’ struck Fish-Woman and killed her. She cooked her flesh and ate of it. Some of it she left for her husband.

Then Big-Raven came home. “Fish-Woman, come out.” Then that one who was just cooked, stepped forth from the rear storeroom. He came in and she gave him food. Then she said to him, “Just now Miti’ has killed me, and cooked my flesh.” The next day he went away again. Miti’ again attacked Fish-Woman. She wrung her neck (and thought,) “This time I have killed her.” Big-Raven came back and she revived again and gave him food.

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After that Fish-Woman went away. (She said,) “Miti’ some day will make an end of me.” Big-Raven came back, but she was not there. He came to the sea-shore and called out, “Fish-Woman, come here.” – “I shall not come. Miti’ will try to kill me again.” So he could not call her out.

That is all.