The master of the earth

Comment

Recorded from Nikolaj Lixachev in 1986. The master of the earth is a mythological figure who is considered a protector of animals and hunting grounds. He rules over the masters of individual animals. The male spirit-protectors pugil' literally 'master, son-in-law' are probably a relatively recent replacement of more ancient female spirits called 'mothers', such as the mother of fire or the mother of water. The main functions of the master of the earth are looking after the well-being and the population of wild animals, distributing the animals between the hunting grounds, punishing hunters for violating hunting rules, or rewarding them. The master of the earth is thought of as a very tall, dark-bearded man who lives in the forest. He can come to a good hunter in a dream to provide him with information about hunting grounds or to give him a few hairs from the neck of an elk. This is a talisman that symbolizes the transmission of the catch to the hunter.

Translation

(25-1) The master of earth lives on the earth. (25-2) If a man asks something from the master of earth, he will give him everything. (25-3) He will give everything: the elk, the bear, the fox, the squirrel, the hermine, and all sorts of things. (25-4) If you through some food in the fire, he will give you everything. (25-5) Then you will see the master of earth in your dreams. We can see the master of earth. (25-6) Sometimes he appears to good hunters. (25-7) Once he appeared to a man. (25-8) He appeared to him and said: "Bring me some spirit. (25-9) Bring me a barrell of spirit, a churn. (25-10) If you bring it to me, I will give you furs. (25-11) As much as three barns. (25-12) Three barns full of furs: all sorts of things, fox, hermine. (25-13) There is everything: bears skins and wolf skins. (25-14) That man went to a merchant and took one barrell. (25-15) He took it, brought it to the master of the earth and gave it to him. (25-16) The latter filled his mug three time, drank it, and the barrell was already finished. He drank it all. (25-17) That's what happened. (25-18) He said: "Well, take everything you like from that barn. (25-19) If you need some kind of fox, black fox or red fox, or if you need quirrel, take everything. (25-20) As much as you want." (25-21) So that man leaded the whole sledge. (25-22) He loaded it and went home. (25-23) When he was leaving, the other one said: "Come and bring wine again." (25-24) "Ok, I will." (25-25) He left. (25-26) After he left, a snowstorm started when he was approaching home. (25-27) A snowstorm started when he was walking. (25-28) It started being windy and the snow fell. (25-29) He brought his barrell again. (25-30) He gave it to him. (25-31) When he gave it, the other said: "Take furs from the barn for the second time. (25-32) Open the back barn, it is full there. Take it and take it home. (25-33) But don't tell anybody. (25-34) That's what happened. (25-35) Don't tell people about it and come for the third time." (25-36) He said: "Yes, I will come." (25-37) That man who had taken these furs became rich, he became the biggest merchant. (25-38) People from the whole village would come to him. They kept coming to him because he had become rich. (25-39) So that man thought. (25-40) "I will go now and give him a barrell. He will get drunk and I will kill him." (25-41) He said: "I will kill him and take all these furs." (25-42) So he thought. (25-43) He went and gave him the whole barrell to drink. (25-44) He didn't drink himself and was sitting. (25-45) When the other one was sitting by the fire, he hit him on the back with an axe. (25-46) As soon as he hit him, he lost conciousness. (25-47) When he came to himself, he was lying on the floor face down. (25-48) The master of the earth said: "It turns out that you are a bad person. (25-49) Now I understand you. (25-50) You did it to kill me and take my things, my furs, my squirrels. So you thought. (25-51) You seem to be a fool. (25-52) How can you kill me, the master of the earth? You wanted to kill me." (25-53) He said: "I was afraid of you, so I ate you." (25-54) That's all.