The Yukaghir hunter

Comment

Recorded from Ivan Dolganov in 1986. This text is a variant of the popular story about Xalantin/Alandin/Xaladjil, apparently a real person who lived in the second half of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century. The Koriaks were the main rivals of the Kolyma Yukaghirs at that time. It is believed that the Koriaks killed all Xalantin's relatives, after which he started taking his revenge. He died as an old man on the river Omulevka, a tributary on the left bank of the Jasachnaja. Xalantin is thought of as the ancestor of the Xorxodon Yukaghirs, i.e. the families of the D'jachkovs and Tajshins. See also Text 32.

Translation

(21-1) There was a Yukaghir hunter who live with his wife and his daughter. (21-2) When they lived, news came. They heard the news that a Koriak hunter would come. (21-3) When they heard that they made him a yurt before his arrival. (21-4) A Koriak hunter came and asked: "Where is the Yukaghir hunter?" (21-5) When he said that the former answered him: "Stay in a yurt next to me. I will take you to him tomorrow." (21-6) Having said that, in the evening the Yukaghir hunter took his pipe and blocked the hole in it. Next day he left together with the Koriak hunter. (21-7) When they left he forgot his knife. He left it behind. (21-8) On the way the Yukaghir hunter said: "Brother, let's have a rest." (21-9) He found a place. He seated the Koriak hunter in a place with willow bushes and he himself sat next to him in a place where there were no trees. (21-10) He sat down, took out his pipe, and drew on it. (21-11) But it was blocked. (21-12) Then he said: "Oh." (21-13) He took his sheath and said: "I seem to have forgotten my knife. (21-14) He said: "Oh, brother, I seem to have forgotten my knife, do you have one?" The Koriak hunter took out his knife and said: "When we reach our destination, give it back to me." (21-15) When he gave the knife to him, that one looked around and said: "Brother, break the willow behind you and give it to me." (21-16) When the Koriak hunter turned and broke the willow with his hands, the Yukaghir pricked him with the knife and threw the knife far away. (21-17) Then the Koriak hunter jumped up, took the Yukaghir hunter under his arm, and ran. He died when he reached his knife. (21-18) The Yukaghir hunter came home and said to his daughter: "Go and say to them: don't call your father, your father won't come." (21-19) The next day the Yukaghir hunter got up, harnessed his reindeer, loaded the food, and said to them: "Go on the road, go to your people. (21-20) Now your father has died, he has gone to pieces. Now tell those people, the Koriaks, that they shouldn't come here any more." (21-21) After that the Koriaks didn't come here any more.