The children carried away by a giant

A whale hunter’s children are lured away by a deceitful canoe paddler and left in a dark, freezing jaw-bone house. Through the sister’s resourcefulness, they escape and are rescued by gulls, who return them to their father. Grateful, the father rewards the gulls. However, tragedy strikes when the children are ceremonially anointed: one survives, while the other perishes, marking a poignant end to their ordeal.

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

Supernatural Beings: The giant, an otherworldly entity, plays a central role in the narrative.

Trials and Tribulations: The children endure hardships, including captivity in a freezing jaw-bone house and the struggle to find sustenance.

Loss and Renewal: The story concludes with the poignant loss of one child during a ceremonial anointing, juxtaposed with the survival and return of the other to their father.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Chukchee Lore

Learn more about the Chukchee people

Told by Qo’tirgin, a Maritime Chukchee man, in the village of Mi’s-qan, November, 1900.

One time a man was hunting whales. And he killed a great number of whales. They departed in skin boats. Two children were playing on the seashore, — one a girl, the other a boy. The father was hunting whales.

From the open there came a man in a canoe. He was quite big. He said to them, “Father said, ‘Go and fetch them!’” His paddle was very large. So he moved, (working) with the paddle, right ahead of the children, who were walking along the shore. Then he said to them, “Sit down here upon my paddle!” They sat down. But he deceived them.

He carried them away to the middle of the sea, putting them inside of his canoe. At last they saw a jaw-bone house, which for a long time had remained uninhabited. He put them in there. He also stopped up the vent-hole, and so left them quite in the dark.

► Continue reading…

The young brother began to cry. The little sister was lulling him to sleep. They were thirsty. There was also no food. Then the little sister, groping around, found some old boot-soles. These she took, and put some of the stuff into the mouth of her young brother. Then the jaw-bone house became hoary with frost. It grew quite cold. She continued to rock her brother. At last he fell asleep.

The little sister was singing. And while she was singing, a small bright hole appeared on high. Then it approached. Then it grew larger. She wakened her young brother. Then she put him outside (of the house) first. After that both escaped. The exit suddenly vanished. They looked around. They were outside. Open land was all around them.

Then they saw some gull travellers. “Oh, do carry us away!” — “Let those who are behind carry you!” And really two gulls were moving in the rear. They called again, “Oh, do carry us away!” They carried them. They said, “We will take you away,” and they took them.

The father was all the time going around their former playground. So they took them to that playground.

The father came to the playground and saw the children “Oh, where have you appeared from? What became of you?” — “Oh, a canoe-paddler took us away. He said, ‘Your father bade you come.’” Oh, he is kissing them all the time! Then they said, “Gulls brought us.”

They went to the store-room and took out plenty of blubber, and with that they rewarded the gulls. The father simply ripped open a large blubber bag on the seashore. Then the gulls ate their fill of blubber. In the end they anointed both children, — one with ochre, the other with graphite. The one anointed with ochre lived. The one anointed with graphite died.

Oh, the end!

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The adventures of the brothers

A group of brothers embarks on a perilous sea journey, facing mysterious lands, talking gulls, magical creatures, and treacherous spirits. Guided by warnings and elder wisdom, they navigate dangers, often thwarted by the youngest brother’s foolishness. After countless trials—including encounters with a giant bird, a mouse-woman, and a witch — they return home transformed, only to turn to stone upon arrival, marking the end of their tale.

► Themes of the story

Trials and Tribulations: Throughout their journey, the brothers encounter various obstacles and tests, including interactions with talking gulls, magical creatures, and treacherous spirits.

Supernatural Beings: The narrative features encounters with entities such as talking gulls, a giant bird, a mouse-woman, and a witch, highlighting interactions with the supernatural.

Divine Punishment: The ultimate fate of the brothers—being turned into stone—can be interpreted as a form of retribution for their actions during the journey.

► From the same Region or People

North Asia
- Chukchee Lore

Learn more about the Chukchee people

This tale represents a clever intermixture of some elements of Russian or Turko-Mongol origin with others which are genuine Chukchee.

Told by Rike’wgi, a Maritime Chukchee man, at Mariinsky Post, October, 1900.

A company of brothers went to sea in a boat. They were caught by a foul wind and carried away to another land. They lost their way in a dense fog, but at last they sighted land. It was an extraordinary land, a quite dark one. They spoke thus: “Oh, my! we have come to a strange land.” They walked for a while, and saw people that were gulls. The gulls could also speak in the manner of men. “Oh, here are those people from the mainland!” — “Yes!” — “What is the matter with you?” — “We were badly treated by the wind.” — “Oh, how terrible!” — “But we are dying!” The Gull people said, “You shall not die. Go down slowly along that sea-beach yonder, then you will not die. Indeed, [on your way] there is a stranded carcass (lying on the beach). You must not eat of it. Otherwise you will die. When you shall have passed it by, then you will see the carcass of a hunch-backed whale stranded (on the beach). You may eat some of its liver.”

They were quite hungry when they found the carcass of the hunch-backed whale. They ate of its liver. One of the brothers was [a fool, even] quite foolish. (He said,) “I wish we could eat a little more!” The eldest brother said, “(What you have eaten) is enough. You would die.”

► Continue reading…

They departed again, and saw people that were gulls ( Larus glaucus). “Oh, where are you from?” — “We were badly treated by the sea. We have lost our country. And so we are dying.” — “Indeed, you shall not die. Go down again slowly along the seashore. There you will see the stranded carcass of a whale (Balaenoptera velifera). You must pass it by. Then you will see another carcass, that of a sea-lion (Eumetopias Stelleri). Of that you may eat your fill.”

They departed from there, and saw the stranded carcass of a whale. They passed by it; and the foolish brother said again, “Oh, let us eat of it!” The eldest brother said, “Such is he, the quite foolish one. — You (actually) want to die.” They left there again, and saw people that were gulls of a smaller size.

“Oh, here are those people from the mainland!” — “Yes!” — “What is the matter with you?” — “We were badly treated by the sea.” — “Oh, then move on slowly. You will see the stranded carcass of a white whale. Do not eat of it. After that you will find the stranded carcass of a walrus. You may eat your fill of that. That place is near to a settlement. A strong man lives in it.”

They departed, and saw the stranded carcass of a white whale. They passed it by. The foolish brother said again, “Let us eat!” The eldest brother again gave him a scolding, and said thus [spoke to him]: “What do you want, you greedy one?” They passed by it again. Then they found the stranded carcass of a walrus. They ate a full meal of it.

After that they travelled a little longer, and then landed. They brought their boat to the shore and buried it in the sand, so that it was not to be seen. Then they slept. They awoke (in the morning), and, lo! a man was walking along the shore. He was full of fear. Now he would come near, and again he would flee.

The foolish brother was quite eager. He said, “Let me catch him!” The eldest one said, “Wait, wait!” They were keeping him back like a dog. Then the other man approached again. The foolish one rushed at him. This foolish brother was also very strong. “Oh, let us kill him!” — “Wait a bit! We will question him first.” They kept him down on the ground. Then they asked him, “Are your people numerous?” — “Yes!” — “Have you strong men?” — “Yes, one strong man, and he does much violence. He takes away everybody’s provisions.” — “Oh, do not tell him about us! We will visit him.”

Evening came again. They sent the foolish one to get provisions. He went, and stole provisions from a cache. He came back and brought a load of whale-skin, ever so big. “Egegegei’, I was almost up to their houses!” — “What did you do that for? Do you want to die?” Thus spoke the eldest brother, as before.

Morning came. A man from that place paddled out in a canoe. The canoe was quite large. He caught many seals. They looked into his canoe, and the canoe was filled [separate boat] (with seals), among them thong-seals. “Halloo! haul me up on shore!” The people did not hear. So he landed. He was very angry. He carried a walrus-penis. With this he began to strike about among all the people there, the neighbors.

Then he went back to the canoe. “Haul me up on shore!” Of course the people knew better now. So the entire number went to the seashore. He was taking the thong-seals with one [single] hand, and, sitting in the canoe, was hurling them ashore. So strong was he.

The foolish one said, “Oh, indeed! I shall be able to manage him all right.” — “Now, there! be quiet, will you?” They came there in the evening. A big jaw-bone house was standing there. The house-master was squirming upon his back in the inner room. Then he saw them. “O guests!” — “Yes!” — “Tomorrow we will arrange a thanks-giving ceremonial.”

They passed a night there, and the people were arranging the ceremonial. The master brought in a big stone. They entered, and the entrance was closed. The foolish one spoke to the other brothers. “Oh, but they are going to kill us!” All these men had ermine-skins hanging down from their belts.

Meanwhile the lamps were put out. That stone was a very old one. It was covered all over with dried blood. They brought it in. The guests put on their ermine-skins (in the dark). After that they burrowed [themselves] in holes under the bases of the house-poles. Meanwhile the master was swaying in the dark in a ceremonial dance, and the stone was clattering all around in the house, “Piw, piw!”

He ceased swaying, and said, “Oh, where are the guests?” and in a moment they were in their former places upon the pillow. Light the lamp!” The foolish one said, “Oh, oh! but it is a good merry house for thanksgiving ceremonials.” — “Oh, oh, how wonderful! Oh, my! which way have they gone? Oh, there! let us try it again!”

They brought in some slabs of whalebone. They were covered with dried blood. They were really murderous. Then, again, “Oh, put out the lamp!” They put out the lamp. Those men again concealed themselves in the same place. The master swayed again in his dance; and those slabs of whalebone were doing thus: “Cig, Cig!” Thus they clicked. If these men had remained on the surface, they would have been cut down by the whalebone slabs.

Again he called, “Oh, egegegegei’!” They were sitting in their former places. “Oh, where are the guests?” — “Here we are!” — “Oh, oh, wonderful!” Again the foolish one said, “Oh, oh, my! but it is a good merry house for thanksgiving ceremonials!” — “Oh, again!” They put out the lamp again. This time they fled upwards, close to the vent-hole.

Then a sling began to hurl stones about in the sleeping-room, so that the jaw-bone house was shaking. Again the master ceased swaying. Oh, they were sitting in their former places. “Oh, where are the guests? Probably this time (they are killed).” — “Oh, indeed, here we are!” — “How wonderful! Light the lamps!” Again the foolish one said, while the lamps were being lighted, “Oh, my! what a good merry house for a thanksgiving ceremonial! We feel merry.”

“Oh, bring the Maritime woman for a dance!” They brought her. Again, “Oh, put out the lamp,” The old woman danced. They hid themselves under the stone. Oh, oh! the jawbone house swayed to one side, and even the ground bent to one side. This time the foolish one was hit upon the head.

Then again, “Enough! Light the lamp!” Oh, they appeared, and the head of that one was covered with blood. Then one of the guests, the eldest brother, said, “Oh, now it is our turn. Listen! And so also put out the lamp!” He began swaying in a ceremonial dance, and a big stone from a mountain rolled into the jawbone house. And it crushed even all the (stands made of) ribs of whale. There was a great clatter. The stone rolled about like thunder, and still more thunder approached.

“There, enough! You will hit the children upon the head!” Still it continued. And as to the strong man, the present performer of the ceremonial, the stones that were rolling around in his house also broke his bones and killed him.

Then a little old man, a neighbor of his, called out, “Ogogogoi’, now the people will have a rest from game-robbing in a quite different manner for this one was robbing from his neighbors all their provisions.

The people were very glad. The brothers ceased (killing). The old man said, “On the seashore (on your way) lies a big thong-seal: it lies on the shore with half of its body out of the water. Do not pass by it at a distance, but go quite close to it, just by the tip of its nose. If you pass at a distance, it will right away kill you. When you shall have passed it, farther on there is a young seal lying on the shore, out of the water up to the middle of its body. Do not attack it, only pass it by. When you have passed it, you will see there a young thong-seal. You may attack that.”

Oh, indeed, they departed. They passed the first one close to the tip of its nose, and saw the young seal. The foolish one spoke again: “Oh, we are too hungry! I wish we might kill this one!” The eldest brother said, “You are so greedy!” — “But it is because we are hungry.” — “Such a one are you, that you cannot keep your big greedy jaws quiet.”

They passed it, and saw the young thong-seal. They slew it and had a meal. Just then they saw that a man was coming down the river. This was the master of the first thong-seal (they had passed) on their road. He asked them, “Have you met nothing on the way?” — “Nothing.” — “Oh, there! he has not seen them!”

They departed again. This time they saw the Giant Bird. It sat crouching on the sea-beach. They passed it from the water-side. When they were moving at a great distance, (the bird stretched out its neck) and swallowed them, together with the boat. [They made promises,] they were so frightened. They promised (to the spirits) a white-haired dog in their house. Then they came out through the anus (quite safe), only their heads had become bald (and they had lost) their hair.

They departed again, and saw some people who were mice, who were digging earth. They dug out underground houses. They passed a night there. One old woman was still sleeping, — an old mouse-woman. The foolish one said, “Oh, we are suffering from thirst! I will go and have a drink in the house!” The eldest brother said, “(Go,) but do not play any foolish tricks!”

Oh, he came to that house, and saw the old woman. She had her eyes closed, and had not hailed him at all. Then that man, the foolish one, stood (there for a while). Then he came near the old woman. He took out his penis and directed it toward her nose. Then she stirred up and snuffed around. She spoke thus, quite alone: “Oh, indeed! where does this smell here of husbands come from?”

She moved on and snuffed around. Then the other one laughed. He laughed on the sly when going out of the house. “Oh, oh! Who has made me a laughing-stock (of the people)?” She, however, heard this low laugh of his. “Let his penis grow in length!” He went to the boat. His penis was growing very fast, his trousers were soon quite filled with it. He came to the boat, and his eldest brother scolded him. “I told you not to play silly tricks!” — “Indeed, I played no tricks! I only saw an old woman who had not hailed me at all. All at once I took out my penis and directed it toward her nose. She snuffed around, and then said, ‘Whence, again, comes this smell here of husbands?’ Then, on going out, I laughed a little. She said, ‘Who has made me a laughing-stock? Let his penis grow in length!’”

“Oh, sorrows! Quick! let us push off!” The boat was very soon filled with the penis. They tried to cut it off, but the remaining piece still continued to grow. At last they were coming home. The eldest brother was a shaman. So the eldest brother addressed that old woman, the mischievous one.

“Oh, you old woman! thrust something between your own legs!” Then the old woman (sat) down upon the ground undressed, and began to shove her posterior parts to and fro. She thrust into her vulva a splinter of wood, and so killed herself.

Those men came home. They brought out into the open a shaggy dog and slaughtered it. Their wives had become decrepit from age. The foolish one, on landing, was already quite bloodless, because they were cutting off his penis all the time.

As soon as they landed, they went to sleep. Then they turned to stone, and never again awoke.

Oh, the end! The wind has been killed.

The Boy Who Became a Mink

An old woman teaches her grandson survival skills, gifting him a magical mink skin and protective charms. Disobeying her warning, he explores a forbidden bay, facing supernatural trials, including a vengeful shaman, dangerous creatures, and a monstrous whale. Overcoming each with courage and wit, he ultimately chooses a life of freedom as a mink, blending into the wild yet retaining his unique identity.

Source
Tales from Kodiak Island
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore
Vol. 16, No. 61, Apr. – Jun., 1903

► Themes of the story

Forbidden Knowledge: Despite his grandmother’s warning, the boy’s curiosity leads him to explore the forbidden bay, uncovering hidden dangers and supernatural challenges.

Trials and Tribulations: Throughout his journey, he faces numerous challenges, including encounters with a vengeful shaman, dangerous creatures, and a monstrous whale, testing his courage and wit.

Magic and Enchantment: The story features magical elements, such as the enchanted mink skin and protective charms, which play crucial roles in the boy’s survival and transformation.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Aleutian Lore

Learn more about the Aleut people

These tales were obtained by the author at Unga Island, Alaska, during a three years’ residence. They were told in the Russian language by Mrs. Reed, Nicoli Medvednikoff, Corneil Panamaroff, all natives of the island of Kodiak where they had heard them, and translated some literally, others more freely. The natives of Kodiak speak Russian almost as freely as they do their mother tongue. They call themselves “Aleuts,” and wherever that word is used, it refers to them, and not to the real Aleuts to the west. The author has but lately returned from Alaska.

In a small barrabara, away from other barrabaras and other people, lived an old woman and her young grandson. While the boy was small, the grandmother supplied both with food and clothing by hunting and fishing. She also taught him how to hunt and fish; and when nearly full grown, she surprised him one morning by telling him that a one-hatch bidarka (which she had made unbeknown to him) was on the beach ready for him.

It was there, sure enough, equipped and ready for hunting. He was supremely happy; for he had obtained that which for years he had been looking forward to. Every morning he went out hunting and fishing, and in the evening returned loaded with fish and game. In a little while he became very skilful in the handling of the bidarka, and daily ventured farther and farther out to sea.

His grandmother called him one morning, and said to him: “Son, you may go anywhere, except into yonder bay, and you will be safe; if you ever go there, you will never return to me. Take this mink skin, put it into your bidarka; this bag containing four tiny bows and arrows keep about your person. Should you ever be in trouble, turn to them, and they will help you.” He promised never to venture inside the bay, accepted the gifts, and disposed of them as he was told.

► Continue reading…

In those days, when this boy lived, there were no winds at all; the waters were always smooth and calm. One could go long distances from shore, and not be in danger of the winds and the waves.

Not many days after the promise to his grandmother, the boy, while pursuing a seal, went much farther from shore than one would dare go now, and when he finally stopped paddling, after killing the seal, he found himself at the mouth of the bay.

The interior of the bay looked so inviting and alluring that he laughed at his grandmother’s fears, and steered for the beautiful island in the middle of the bay. He beached his bidarka, took the mink skin, and started for the summit of a hill where he noticed a barrabara. As he began to ascend, large rocks came rolling down, blocking his way and nearly crushing him. The farther up he went the more difficult and dangerous it became. In order to save himself he jumped into a hole. The rocks fell over the hole, covered and blocked it.

He tried vainly to get out; the rocks were too heavy to be pushed off, and the openings too small to crawl through. While thinking over the situation, the mink skin occurred to him. Seizing it, he commenced chewing and stretching it until he pulled it over his head. As he did that, he changed into a mink. By scratching and squeezing, leaping and dodging, he escaped from his prison, and reached the summit, where he was surprised to see that all the rocks came from the barrabara.

Taking off the mink skin and becoming a boy again, he went into the barrabara. On the floor sat a very large woman making mats. When she saw him, she screamed in a loud and angry voice :

“Who told you to come here !”

Reaching behind her, she pulled out a long, sharp spear and threw it at him. Before the spear reached him, he changed himself into a mink; the spear went over his head, sticking into the wall. Quickly assuming his boyish shape, he grabbed the spear, and called to her: “Change and save yourself if you can !” and hurled it at her, cutting her in two.

A loud report and earthquake followed his action. The barrabara trembled, tumbled in, and he was again a prisoner. His mink skin came into good use; by scratching and dodging he managed to crawl out and run down to the shore, and, after pulling off the skin, pushed the bidarka out and started homeward.

He had not gone very far when he heard some one calling, and on looking around saw people on the shore motioning to him. An old man greeted him as he landed, and taking him by the hand, led him into a barrabara where sat several girls. Pointing to one of them, he said : “You can have her for a wife.”

This made him very happy, and glad he did not obey his grandmother. A dish of seal meat was placed before him, and after eating, they all lay down to sleep. The following morning the old man asked him to go to the woods, and bring wood for sled runners. In his position of prospective son-in-law he could not refuse any request of his prospective father-in-law, so he went.

A gruesome sight met his gaze on entering the woods. Human bones and skeletons were scattered everywhere; and he began to fear lest another trap was laid for him. He went about his work, however, and the woods soon rang with the reports of his axe.

A very frightful and horrible noise coming from the interior of the woods made him stop. The nearer it came the more terrible it sounded. “It must be a wild beast coming to eat me up,” he thought.

Soon a very ferocious beast appeared and came running towards him. The boy looked for his mink skin; it was not about him, for he had left it in the bidarka; but still he had his bows and arrows. Quickly pulling them out of the bag, he sent one tiny arrow into the side of the monster, knocking him over; and when another arrow pierced the other side, he ceased kicking. Approaching him to withdraw the arrows, the boy found him dead.

On his return to the barrabara, after finishing his work, the old man looked surprised and uneasy — the old man was a shaman, and had been in the habit of sending strangers into the woods to be killed by the monster, and then eating them —and asked the boy :—

“Did you see or hear anything strange in the woods ?”

“No, I did not,” the boy replied.

The morning of the second day, while the boy was eating breakfast, the old shaman from outside called to him :

“The girls want you to come out and swim with them !”

To refuse would have been unmanly, so he went to the beach, undressed himself, taking, however, the mink skin; for he suspected trouble, and swam after the girls, who were some distance from him. As he advanced, they retreated; and when almost up to them, a big whale appeared between them, and before he knew what to do, he was in the whale’s mouth. In there, the boy put on the mink skin, and when the whale appeared on the surface, the boy escaped through the blow-hole, and swam for the shore.

When the shaman saw him, he was vexed and troubled, saying to himself : “He is the first one that I could not overcome, but I will.”

That evening he had again a supper of seal meat; his bride sat where he could see her, but he dared not talk to her.

Early next morning the old man called him to have another swim with the girls. On the beach was a large whale, and the girls were climbing on his tail. When they were all on, he switched his tail, sending them through the air some distance into the sea.

The girls dared the boy do likewise. Stripping himself, and unnoticed by them —they were quite a distance from him — he took a tiny arrow in each hand. Instead of at once climbing on the tail, he approached the head of the whale. Sticking the arrows into the head, he asked the girls : —

“Am I to get on here ?”

“No, further down,” they answered.

He stuck the arrows into the whale, as he moved down towards the tail, repeating the same question and receiving the same answer. When he finally stood on the tail, it did not move; for the whale was dead. The girls, after waiting some time, swam to the shore to report to the shaman, who returned with them only to find the whale lifeless. Furious was the shaman; and in his heart he swore he would yet eat the boy.

The following morning the old man asked the boy whether he had any relatives, mother or grandmother, whom he would like to go and see before he settled down with them.

“I have a grandmother,” said the boy, and went off that day.

Paddling first on one side of the bidarka, and then on the other, he was making good progress, when all of a sudden the mink skin startled him by calling to him : “Look out, you are in danger !” He looked ahead; there was nothing dangerous there, so he paddled on. Again the mink skin called to him : “Look out, you are in danger !” Ahead everything was safe; but as he looked behind, he was almost overcome with fear; for a huge wave, high as a mountain, was coming his way, and would soon overtake and overwhelm him. As quickly as he could, he shot one of his arrows into the wave, breaking it, and he was once more safe.

Towards evening he steered for the shore, in order to eat and rest there, and when near the shore, a large sea monster appeared and swallowed bim, bidarka and all. He pulled out and put on the mink skin, and when an opportunity offered itself, he escaped through the monster’s gills, and swam to the shore.

His grandmother, who was also a shaman, had been watching the grandson’s doings, though far away, punished the monster by sending two large ravens to peck his eyes out.

Being on shore, and without a bidarka, the boy started to walk home. He did not take off the mink skin, and so was still a mink. On the way he came to a large lake, abounding in fish; there he stopped, fed on the fish he caught, and in a short time became acquainted with the minks of the neighborhood. This easy life pleased him so well that he decided to remain there; and there (in the neighborhood of Kodiak) he is at present. The shamans, only, can tell him apart from the other minks.

The “Unnatural Uncle”

In a remote village, a cruel man repeatedly tried to kill his nephew, disguised as a girl to avoid suspicion. Despite several deadly traps involving a log, bluff, and clam, the resourceful boy survived each attempt. Ultimately, the boy exacted justice, rescuing his parents and banishing his uncle. The family found peace and safety in a distant land of eagle people.

Source
Tales from Kodiak Island
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore
Vol. 16, No. 61, Apr. – Jun., 1903

► Themes of the story

Good vs. Evil: The narrative highlights the struggle between the boy’s innocence and his uncle’s malevolence.

Trials and Tribulations: The boy faces and overcomes a series of life-threatening challenges set by his uncle.

Cunning and Deception: Both the boy and his uncle employ cunning and deceit—the uncle in his murderous plots and the boy in his survival strategies.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Aleutian Lore

Learn more about the Aleut people

In a village lived a man, known to his neighbors as “Unnatural Uncle.” When his nephews became a few years old, he would kill them. Two had already suffered death at his hands. After the second had disappeared, his wife went to the mother of the boys, and said: “Should another boy be born to you, let us conceal the fact from my husband, and make him believe the child a girl. In that case he will not harm him, and we may succeed in bringing him up.”

Not long after the above conversation another nephew was born. Unnatural Uncle, hearing that a child was born, sent his wife to ascertain the sex of the child. She, as had been agreed upon, reported the child a girl. “Let her live,” he said.

The two women tended and dressed the boy as if he were a girl. When he grew older, they told him to play with the girls, and impressed upon him that he should at all times imitate the ways, attitudes, and postures of the girls, especially when attending to the calls of nature. Unnatural Uncle watched the boy as he was growing up, and often wondered at his boyish looks. One day the boy, not knowing that his uncle was about and observing him, raised up his parka, and so exposed his body.

► Continue reading…

“Ah,” said Unnatural Uncle to his wife, on reaching home, “this is the way you have fooled me. But I know everything now. Go and tell my nephew I wish to see him.”

With tears in her eyes the poor woman delivered the message to the nephew, told him of the disappearance of his brothers, and of his probable fate. The father and mother of the boy wept bitterly, for they were certain he would never return. The boy himself, although frightened, assured his parents to the contrary, and begged them not to worry, for he would come back safe and sound.

“Did my brothers have any playthings?” he asked before going.

He was shown to a box where their things were kept. In it he found a piece of a knife, some eagle-down, and a sour cranberry. These he hid about his person, and went to meet his uncle. The latter greeted him, and said : “Nephew, let us go and fetch some wood.”

When they came to a large forest, the boy remarked: “Here is good wood; let us take some of it, and go back.”

“Oh, no! There is better wood farther on,” said the uncle.

From the forest they stepped into a bare plain, “Let us go back. There is no wood here,” called the boy. But the uncle motioned to him to come on, telling him that they would soon find better wood. A little later they came to a big log. “Here is what I want,” exclaimed the uncle, and began splitting it. “Here, nephew, jump in, and get that wedge out,” called the uncle to the boy, as one of the wedges fell in. When the boy did so, the man knocked out the other wedges; the log closed in on the boy, and held him fast. “Stay there!” said Unnatural Uncle, and walked off.

For some time the boy remained in this helpless condition, planning a means of escape. At last he thought of his sour cranberry, and, taking it in his hand, he rubbed with it the interior of the log from edge to edge. The sourness of the berry caused the log to open its mouth, thus freeing him.

On his way back to the village, he gathered a bundle of wood, which he left at his uncle’s door, announcing the fact to him : “Here, uncle, I have brought you the wood.” The latter was both surprised and vexed at his failure, and determined more than ever to kill the boy. His wife, however, warned him: “You had better not harm the boy; you have killed his brothers, and if you hurt him, you will come to grief.”

“I will kill him, too,” he savagely replied.

When the boy reached his father’s home, he found them weeping and mourning. “Don’t weep!” he pleaded. “He cannot hurt me; no matter where he takes me, I will always come back.” In the morning he was again summoned to appear at his uncle’s. Before going, he entreated his parents not to feel uneasy, assuring them that no harm would befall him, and that he would be back. The uncle called the boy to go with him after some ducks and eggs. They passed several places abounding in ducks and eggs, and each time that the boy suggested, “Let us take these and go back,” the uncle replied: “Oh, no! There are better ducks and eggs farther on.” At last they came to a steep bluff, and, looking down, saw a great many ducks and eggs. “Go down carefully, nephew, and gather those ducks and eggs. Be quick, and come back as soon as you can.”

The boy saw the trap at a glance, and prepared for it by taking the eagle-down in each hand, between thumb and finger. As the boy took a step or two downward, the uncle gave him a push, causing him to lose his footing. “He will never come back alive from here,” smiled the uncle to himself, as he walked back. If he had remained awhile longer and looked down before going, he would have seen the boy descending gently instead of falling. The eagle-down kept him up in the air, and he lighted at his own pleasure safe and sound. After gathering all the ducks and eggs he wanted, he ascended by holding up the down, as before, and blowing under it. Up, up he went, and in a short time stood on the summit. It was night before he sighted his uncle’s home. At the door he deposited the birds and eggs, and shouted: “Here, uncle, are the ducks and eggs.”

“What! back again!” exclaimed the man very much mortified. His wife again pleaded with him to leave the boy in peace. “You will come to grief, if you don’t,” she said. “No; he cannot hurt me,” he replied angrily, and spent the remainder of the night thinking and planning.

Although he assured them that he would return, the boy’s parents did not have much faith in it; for he found them on his return weeping for him. This grieved him. “Why do you weep?” he said. “Didn’t I say I would come back ? He can take me to no place from which I cannot come back.”

In the evening of the third day the aunt appeared and said that her husband wished the boy. He told his parents not to be disturbed, and promised to come back soon. This time the uncle invited him to go with him after clams. The clams were very large, large enough to inclose a man. It was ebb tide, and they found plenty of clams not far from the beach. The boy suggested that they take these and go back, but the uncle put him off with, “There are better clams farther out.” They waded into the water, and then the man noticed an extraordinarily large clam. “Take him,” he said, but when the boy bent over, the clam took him in. So confident was Unnatural Uncle of his success this time that he uttered not a word, but with a triumphant grin on his face and a wave of his hand he walked away. The boy tried to force the valves apart, but not succeeding, he cut the ligament with his piece of a knife, compelling the clam to open up little by little until he was able to hop out. He gathered some clams, and left them at his uncle’s door as if nothing had happened. The man, on hearing the boy’s voice outside, was almost beside himself with rage. His wife did not attempt to pacify him. “I will say nothing more,” she said. “I have warned you, and if you persist in your ways, you will suffer.”

The next day Unnatural Uncle was busy making a box.

“What is it for?” asked his wife.

“A plaything for our nephew,” he replied.

In the evening the boy was sent for. On leaving his parents, he said: “Do not feel uneasy about my absence. This time I may be away a long time, but I will come back nevertheless.”

“Nephew, here is something to amuse you,” said his uncle. “Get inside of it, so that I may see whether it fits you.” It fitted him, so did the lid the box, and the rope the lid. He felt himself borne along, and from the noise of the waves he knew it was to the sea. The box was lowered, and with a shove it was set adrift. It was stormy, the waves beat over the box, and several times he gave himself up as lost. How long he drifted he had no idea; but at last he heard the waves dashing against the beach, and his heart rejoiced. Louder, and louder did the joyful peal sound. He gathered himself together for the sudden stop which soon came, only to feel himself afloat again the next moment. This experience he went through several times, before the box finally stopped and he realized he was on land once more.

As he lay there, many thoughts passed through his mind: where was he? was any one living there? would he be saved? or would the flood-tide set him adrift again? what were his people at home doing? These, and many other thoughts passed through his brain, when he was startled by hearing voices, which he recognized, a little later, as women’s. This is what he heard:

“I saw the box first,” said one.

“No, I saw it first,” said the other.

“I am sure I saw it before you,” said the first speaker again, “and, therefore, it is mine.”

“Well, you may have the box, but its contents shall belong to me,” replied the other.

They picked up the box, and began to carry it, but finding it somewhat heavy and being anxious to know what it contained, they stopped to untie it.

“If there are many things in there, I shall have some of them,” said the first speaker, who rued her bargain. The other one said nothing. Great was their surprise on beholding him. He was in turn surprised to see two such beautiful girls, the large village, the numerous people, and their peculiar appearance, for he was among the Eagle people in Eagle land. The full grown people, like the full grown eagles, had white faces and heads, while those of the young people, like those of young eagles, were dark. Eagle skins were hanging about all over the village; and it amused him to watch some of the people put on their eagle skins and change to eagles, and after flying around, take them off and become human beings again.

The girls, being the daughters of the village chief, led the boy to their father, each claiming him. When he had heard them both, the chief gave the boy to the older girl (the second speaker). With her he lived happily, but his thoughts would very often wander back to his former home, the people there, his parents; and the thought of his uncle’s cruelty to them would make his heart ache. His wife noted these spells of depression, and questioned him about them until he told her of his parents and uncle. She, like a good wife, bade him cheer up, and then went to have a talk with her father. He sent for his son-in-law, and advised him to put on his (chief’s) eagle skin, soar up high until he could see his village, fly over there, visit his parents, and bring them back with him. He did as he was told, and in a short time found himself in the village. Although he could see all other people, his parents were not in sight.

This was in the evening. During the night he went out to sea, brought back a large whale, and placed it on the beach, knowing that all the villagers would come out for the meat. The first person to come to the village beach in the morning was Unnatural Uncle; and when he saw the whale, he aroused the village, and a little later all, except the boy’s father and mother, were there, cutting and storing up the whale. His parents were not permitted to come near the whale, and when some of the neighbors left some meat at their house. Unnatural Uncle scolded, and forbade it being done again. “I can forgive him the killing of my brothers, the attempts on my life, but I will revenge his treatment of my parents.” With these thoughts in his mind, the eagle left his perch, and flew over to the crowd. He circled over its head a little while, and then made a swoop at his uncle. “Ah, he knows that I am chief, and the whale is mine, and he asks me for a piece of meat.” Saying this, he threw a piece of meat at the eagle. The second time the eagle descended it was still nearer the man’s head, but he tried to laugh it off, and turn it to his glory. The people, however, did not see it that way, and warned him to keep out of the eagle’s clutches, for the eagle meant mischief. When the eagle dropped the third time, it was so near his head that he fell on his face. The fourth time the eagle swooped him, and flew off with him.

Not far from the shore was a high and steep rock, and on its summit the eagle put down the man, placing himself opposite. When he had taken off the skin, and disclosed himself, he said to his trembling uncle : “I could have forgiven you the death of my brothers, the four attempts on my life, but for the cruel treatment of my parents you shall pay. The whale I brought was for my parents and others, and not for you alone; but you took entire possession of it, and would not allow them even to approach it. I will not kill you without giving you a chance for your life. Swim back to the shore, and you shall be spared.” As he could not swim, Unnatural Uncle supplicated his nephew to take him back, but the latter, putting on the eagle skin, and hardening his eagle heart, clutched him, and from a dizzy height in the air dropped him into the sea.

From the beach the crowd watched the fatal act, understood and appreciated it, and, till it was dark, continued observing, from the distance, the eagle. When all had retired, he pulled off the skin, and set out for his father’s barrabara. He related to his parents his adventures, and invited them to accompany him to his adopted land, to which they gladly consented. Early in the morning he put on again his skin, and, taking a parent in each claw, flew with them to Eagle land, and there they are living now.

The Girl Who Married a Star

A chief’s sheltered daughter, confined to her barrabara, resists marriage despite suitors. Succumbing to a stranger’s plea, she escapes, only to endure cruelty from deceitful husbands. Rescued by a mystical old woman, she marries a celestial being, births a unique child, and bridges the earthly and cosmic realms. Her story reflects love, transformation, and finding belonging in an extraordinary union.

Source
Tales from Kodiak Island
collected by F.A. Golder
The Journal of American Folklore
Vol. 16, No. 60, Jan. – Mar., 1903

► Themes of the story

Journey to the Otherworld: Her marriage to a celestial being symbolizes a transition from the earthly realm to a cosmic or otherworldly existence.

Trials and Tribulations: The narrative details the various challenges and adversities she faces, highlighting her resilience and endurance.

Love and Betrayal: The story explores themes of romantic relationships, including the complexities of trust and deception.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Aleutian Lore

Learn more about the Aleut people

The chief of a very large village had an only daughter whom he never permitted to go outside of her barrabara Two servant girls were at her beck and call, and they attended to her wants.

One lovely summer day, the earth and sky being clear and blue, the air inspiriting, she felt herself irresistibly drawn to the window by the glad sunshine peeping through it, by the joyful shouts of those outside, and by the plaintive notes of the golden-crowned sparrow: and as she stood there, seeing and not seeing, she thought of her own sad life, and wondered why the pleasures of the other people were closed to her. She stood there a long time, and when she turned away, there were tears in her eyes. Her servants were watching her; on noticing it, she sent them away, one for fresh water, and the other after sweet roots. At their departure her imagination and feelings took again control of her. Her past life stood out before her very distinctly, and she groaned when she thought of the numerous proposals of marriage she had received during the last year; for nearly every day one or more men from the neighboring villages came to ask her in marriage from her father. He was unwilling to part with her, especially against her consent; and she, with her very limited knowledge of men and their ways, thought marriage strange and foolish, and rejected all offers.

► Continue reading…

With this subject in her mind, she was interrupted by her servants, who were sent by her father to announce to her that a bidarka with two young men had just arrived to seek her in marriage.

“Oh! why should I marry? Go, and say to them that I have no desire to marry. I am content to live as I am. Here it is warm. Why should I marry when I am not even allowed to go outside?”

One of the servants took the liberty of suggesting that, “One of the fellows is very young and handsome, the other not quite so. You had better marry now.”

“If he pleases you, marry him. I am satisfied and warm here; and why should I marry?” she curtly replied.

“They are waiting for you,” the other servant said, “and you may come outside if you like.”

“Go, bring me the water and roots, and tell them I will not marry.” Saying this, she pushed them outside, and, throwing herself on the bed, had a good cry. When the servants returned with roots and water, they found her in such a state that they feared she was ill. They questioned and tried to pacify her, but she paid no attention to them. “What have we done to you that you should be angry with us. It is not our fault that you please all men, and they desire to marry you. If your father finds out your present condition, he will punish us,” etc.

In the evening she said to the girls, “Go, sleep in the adjoining barrabara; if I need you, I will call you.” When they had filled the stone lamp, fixed her bed, and in other ways arranged for her comfort during the night, they went out.

Unable to sleep, the girl sat up, making sinew thread; and about midnight she heard some one cutting the intestine window, and a man’s voice calling softly, —

“Chit! chit! chit! chit! look this way.” She did not, and went on with her work.

“Chit! chit! chit! chit! just look at me once,” he pleadingly called. If she heard him, she took no notice of him.

“Chit! chit! chit! chit! look at me just once.” For the third time she heard the tempter’s call. This time she looked up, and beheld a very handsome young man, with a face as white as hers, and she asked him, “Why do you ask me to look at you?”

“Come here quick! I wish to marry you,” he whispered.

“What for?”

“Come quick! I am going to marry you. Why spend your days and nights in loneliness here. Come with me and see the world,” he coaxingly said.

Without more ado she obeyed, and with the aid of her lover escaped through the window, and hurried down to the beach. There a bidarka and her lover’s friend were awaiting them, and after stowing her away in the bidarka, they paddled off.

It was daylight when they landed, and she was taken to a nice clean barrabara. Here she lived three days, and during that time she was by turns the wife of both. On the morning of the fourth day she was led to a large, open, cold barrabara, and tied up there. It was in the fall of the year, and the cold wind blew through it, and made her shiver with cold. Her food consisted of bare bones. In this cruel and sure way the men hoped to be rid of her.

The second morning of her imprisonment, and while the men were away hunting, the girl, cold and hungry, heard some one approaching. “Tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck,” it sounded as it drew nearer and nearer until it ceased in the entrance. She raised up the leather door, and a very old, shrunken, shrivelled, and toothless woman, bearing a platter of hot meat, entered and said: “I have brought you some meat, for I know you are hungry. Eat fast.” The girl, being very hungry, ate as fast as she could, but still not fast enough to please the old woman, who continued hurrying her to eat still faster. “Eat faster — they will soon appear — why did you marry them — faster still — they are almost here,” she said almost in one breath. When the girl had done eating, the woman cleaned her teeth, so that no sign of food should be left on the premises, and hastily snatching up her platter, disappeared as mysteriously as she appeared.

“Tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck,” floated back faintly, and died out altogether.

The old woman did not go too quickly; for the men appeared very soon after. “Still she lives; she does not even change color. Somewhat tougher than her predecessors,” they laughingly remarked, and left her. A little later they brought her bones; and the girl went at them as if she were famishing. Noticing that the girl was not the worse from her treatment, and suspecting something was wrong, the men commenced to watch. They would go out a short distance from the shore, and then come right back, and conceal themselves. But during their brief absence the old woman appeared and fed the girl. For several days this spying continued.

Very early one morning, just after the men had gone out in their bidarka, the old woman came, with meat, and speaking rapidly, said, “Eat fast — why did you come here — they have starved many girls before you. If you do not wish to die, come with me. I have a son who desires to marry, but cannot get a wife. This is the last time I come to you — the men have discovered, are aware of my visits. If you come with me, the men shall never find you” —

“I will go with you,” interrupted the girl.

In a twinkle the old woman unbound her, and set her in a large basket, which she put on her back. “Now close your eyes tight, and don’t open them till I tell you,” cautioned the old woman. As they began to move, the girl felt the cold air while they buzzed and whizzed through it. Tiring of keeping her eyes closed, she opened them just a little. “Ai, Ai, Y-a-h,” screamed the old woman, “close them, or we will fall in the water.” The noise and whir of the air. as they rushed through it, was so annoying that she began to unclose her eyes for the second time. “Don’t open them now; we will soon arrive, and then you may look,” pleaded the woman.

When they came to a standstill, the girl found herself in front of a large barrabara. The interior was cozy and clean. A cheerful fire was burning, over which were several pots with seal and duck meat. Spreading out a mat in the front part of the room, the old woman begged the girl to be seated; then she brought her a new pair of torbarsars and a sea-otter parka. While the girl was dressing, the old woman ran outside for a moment, and on her return said to the girl: “Don’t be scared when you see my son; although his appearance is terrifying, yet he is very harmless.” This news had a pensive effect on the girl, for she wondered what she had got into. To distract her from her gloomy thoughts, the old woman placed food, and talked to the girl. Pretty soon she went out again, and hurried back, announcing, “Here comes my son.” The girl, already half-frightened, kept her eyes on the doorway, and when, of a sudden, a lot of willow twigs darkened it, she fell back, screaming, “Ai, Ai, Y-a-h! Ai, Ai, Y-a-h!” The old woman hastened to her, trying to calm her. “Don’t be alarmed,” she said; “this is my son; these are some of his hair.” She stared at him, doubting her own eyes; for he was one-sided. That side, however, was complete, and had all its members in the usual place, except the eye, which was in the forehead, and shone very brilliantly.

“Look at the wife I brought you,” the mother called the son’s attention to the girl. He turned his one eye on her, and, from the way it winked and sparkled, he was well pleased. Probably because he was embarrassed, or perhaps he thought it wise to leave the two women to themselves for a time, he left the room. When he returned, a little later, with seals and several kinds of ducks, he found the bride looking more cheerful. The marriage was not delayed at all. In the course of a very short time a child was born, a boy, who was the perfect image of his father, and “just as pretty,” as the grandmother said. There was happiness and no lack of cheering light in the family, especially when pretty, one-sided baby awoke and opened his little wee sparkling eye. Mamma, as was natural, vowed it was the brightest baby she had ever seen, and it had more expression in its one eye than other babies had in their two eyes and face together, to which statement grandmother readily agreed.

Although a bride of several months, the girl had not yet become well acquainted with her husband and his strange body, as is shown from the following incident: One night being stormy, the husband did not go out as usual, and during the night he asked his wife to scratch his moss-covered head, in which his hair, the twigs, were rooted. Telling him to keep his eye open, so she could see, she commenced the operation with the twigs first. In doing so, she disturbed a mouse, which ran and hid in its hole in the moss. “Ai, Ai, Y-a-h!” she shrieked, and dropped his head; “there are mice in your head.”

“Oh, no !” he declared, “they are mere fleas.”

A year had passed since the happy marriage between the son of the sky and the daughter of the earth took place. The one-sided result of this marriage began to grow and become strong. Motherhood brought with it the desire to see her own parents once more. Permission to do this was granted, and the mother-in-law set about making a basket in which to send her down. When it was done, she called the young mother to the fireplace, around which were four flat rocks, and said: “Raise these rocks, and try and find your father’s village.” Darkness of night was in the first one; the rosy tints of dawn were visible in the second; a grand sunset filled the third; and in the fourth she recognized the village of her father, wrapped in midday splendor. Then she seated herself in the basket, to which a rope was tied; but, before lowering her, the mother-in-law gave her some advice: “Close your eyes tight, and don’t open them, for if you do you will fall. Should you meet with an obstacle on the way, stamp your foot, and it will disappear. A second obstacle may impede your progress; do likewise, and it too will vanish. When for the third time the basket stops, unclose your eyes, and you will find yourself in the home of your childhood. If it does not please you down there, seat yourself in the basket again, pull on the rope, and I will draw you up.”

Placing the child in her arms, the old woman lowered away, and after encountering the enumerated obstacles, the young woman saw in front her native village. To the barrabara of her father she directed her footsteps, and, as she drew near, she noticed a grave close by. For when she disappeared so suddenly, her parents, thinking her dead, made a grave for her, probably to take her place (?). She went in, and when the people there saw her with the queer-looking child in her arms, they ran pell-mell out of there, thinking she returned from the land of the dead.

This reception brought tears to her eyes, and, realizing for the first time the great gulf that separated her from her earthly relatives, and that her real home now was with the father of her child, she walked back to the basket, gave the signal, and a little later was welcomed by her mother-in-law and husband, from whom she parted no more, and with whom she is living to this day.

Her husband is a star. At sunrise each morning he goes to sleep for a few hours; after that he hunts ducks, seals, and other sea animals. If, on his return in the evening, it is cloudy and stormy, he spends the night at home with his family; but if it is clear, he stretches himself out on the sky, and observes the doings of the world below, as any one who takes the trouble to look up can see.