YASHPEH
International Folktales Collection
Pintail-Duck Incantation (Valo´k-ê´wġan, Yelke´kin ê´wġan (A Middle-Anadyr Incantation) |
Chukchee Mythology |
Tradition: Chukchee |
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[1] This is to call game. I call every game, every living thing, from the very first limit of creation. A young pintail-duck I use for my leader, it is (so clever) [in hiding] in hiding from everybody, not to be seen. I call an old pintail-duck to be my leader. The lone reindeer-buck I make to wade into the water. Oh, let us try to adopt it (for the leader)! Let the leader give his call (before the reindeer)![2] This is finished. Now, again I sing, "Just so, just so, oh, who are you?" I use the distance (of game) of yesterday, (I use) the distance of to-day. I make them appear before me. I cover my face with soot. To every species, to every kind of game, I become unknown; to every species (of animal) I become unrecognizable. Only the soot on my face, appears (to their eyes). Taking off my breeches, I stand on the ground without any precautions. My buttocks have three eyes, and they keep watch for me. They see every hidden ke´lẹ, and they make the ke´lẹ close his eyes. The foremost reindeer I make very slow, using the two legs of the small pintail-duck, forked in two (from its buttocks). Everything difficult to scent (I am using) all the time. Without any precaution I enter (the confines of) every place, I may sleep without care. All kinds of game have a liking for me, every kind of game has a great love for me. Thus I have almost acquired a good careless sleep, The thing lying under my pillow I have for my leader. Blowing over it, I make it rebound (backwards), I make it scatter (backwards). That is all. |
Told by Nikon Taġra´tịrġịn, a Middle Anadyr Chukchee man, in the village of Chikayeva, November, 1900. [1] Compare Vol. VII of this series, p. 497, No. 2. [2] The Chukchee of the Middle Anadyr live chiefly by hunting wild reindeer on the river. So this incantation refers to the hnnting of wild reindeer. |
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