|
|
|
|
Otter
|
Ainu Legends
Otter
Why it is responsible for man's imperfect nature, and why you should be careful about eating its head
"When God was in the act of making the first man and had nearly finished His
task, it happened to be necessary for Him to unexpectedly return to heaven on
important business. Before setting out for the return journey, He called an
otter, which happened to be near at the time, and told him that He was going
away, but would quickly send another deity to finish the work He Himself had
already begun, and he (the otter) was to deliver a message to him, explaining
what to do.
"Now, although this animal said he would deliver the message without fail, he
grew careless and did nothing but amuse himself by swimming up and down the
rivers, catching and eating fish; he fixed his whole attention on this, and
thought of nothing else. So intent was he on his fishing that he entirely
forgot the message God gave him to deliver; yea, the otter forgot all about it.
This is the reason why the first man was made so imperfect, and why all human
beings are not quite in the fashion God originally intended. As a punishment
for this deliquency and astonishing forgetfulness, God punished the otter with
a bad memory; yea, he took his memory completely away. This is why no otter can
now remember anything"....
"The otter's head must not lightly be used as an article of food, for unless
people are very careful they will, if they eat it, become as forgetful as that
creature. And hence it happens that when an otter has been killed the people do
not usually eat the head.
"But if they are seized with a very strong desire for a feast of otter's head,
they may partake thereof, providing proper precautions are taken. When eating
it the people must take their swords, knives, axes, bows and arrows, tobacco
boxes and pipes, trays, cups, garden tools, and everything they possess, tie
them up in bundles with carrying slings, and sit with them attached to their
heads while in the act of eating ... If this method be carefully adhered to,
there will be no danger of forgetting where a thing has been placed, otherwise
loss of memory will be the result."
Next: Bear
Back to Ainu Legends
Origins of the Ainu |
Ainu Legends |
Find Your Way
Resources |
Transcript |
Site Map
Editor's Picks |
Previous Sites |
Join Us/E-mail |
TV/Web Schedule
About NOVA |
Teachers |
Site Map |
Shop |
Jobs |
Search |
To print
PBS Online |
NOVA Online |
WGBH
© | Updated November 2000
|
|
|