My great grandfather

Comment

Recorded from Vasilij Shalugin in 1990.

Translation

(36-1) In the time of ancient people lived my great grandfather's younger brothers. (36-2) He had a lot of children then. (36-3) All these children lived together with the family of my mother. (36-4) They travelled to see each other through the forests like ancient people. In summer they always traveled from one river to another on a Russian boat to set up seign nets. They travelled on the Korkodon, Nelucho, Shamanixa, Popovka, and Jasachnaja. (36-5) He was a very strong man. (36-6) The old man was a relative of all our people in Nelemnoe, of the Solncevs and Shalugins. (36-7) Although he became a grown up fellow, he almost died at a young age. He used to tell about it. (36-8) "We came to the place where there was a bear hole." (36-9) He thought: "Is there a bear here?" (36-10) His coat was made of two-finger thick elk skin. This was a coat that one puts on from the back. (36-11) He put it on and sat down by the entrance holding his spear under his arm on his back. (36-12) He took his spear. (36-13) When a bear came he did not move his spear. He didn't approach the bear, but threw the spear back, and so killed it. (36-14) He also killed a bear that was crossing the river. They said there were no cartridges on the small river. (36-15) He took some cartridges and shot with them before the bear approached closer. (36-16) He took it by its back and brought here. (36-17) He carried it back. (36-18) He used to cut an elk male in half, load it on a Russian boat and carry it to the forest. (36-19) Once when the old man was still young, they started building a church. (36-20) They hung the biggest church bell. They needed a thirty eight meter long tree to erect a cross. (36-21) Six people hung this bell. (36-22) There were three Yakuts and three Yukaghirs on a boat. (36-23) When they went along our river Jasachnaja, they knew a shallow place with channels called Jevrazhka. (36-24) They had seen a tree lying there. (36-25) They thought how many yards it was and decided that it would do. (36-26) "If we cut it and float it down, it will do." (36-27) While the people who found the tree for building a church were absent, the others put it by the church and gave money to those who would guard it. (36-28) Let it be so. (36-29) But the first people found it there. (26-30) The Yukaghirs came first to the river and sat down to drink tea. When the Yakuts came they were sitting on that tree. (36-31) Apparently the Yakuts said: "Here it is, look! We will take it from the Yukaghirs and carry it away." (36-32) Then my great-grandfather took the end of the tree, lifted it and dragged it with his strength to the river along the river bank. (36-33) Then he went to his channel. (36-34) He said to his companions: "Guys, don't be in a hurry drinking tea. We will cut it into logs and roll it towards the water." (36-35) He said: "We will arrive there and cut that tree, because this is our tree." (36-36) They measured it. (36-37) After that the Yakuts hurried to that tree. (36-38) They didn't get to it. (36-39) The Yukaghirs carried their tree away. (36-40) They brought it and apparently were given money by the church, a few pounds. So they say. (36-41) When they brought the tree and put it by the church, they were given reindeer for their work, (36-42) And he himself went quietly on Popovka to cut poplar trees and there he died. (36-43) That's the end.