1 The River Elder.
2 Which synjan resident doesn't know about the Holy Cape and the wošluχ (the town's cove)?
3 Above the mašow village, there, where the river branches into three, lie two large wooded headlands which jut into the Elk-lake.
4 In spring this lake is usually so large that the willows on the other side are barely visible to the naked eye.
5 The synjan residents come to the Holy Cape and to wošluχ every spring to offer food and blood sacrifices.
6 Wealthy people offer blood sacrifices, poor people offer food sacrifices.
7 Bypassing men offer a small bowl, men who don't even offer a bowl at least throw money into the water.
8 One spring the [soviet villary party] secretary and I were travelling due to fish related business through the villages.
9 Unexpectedly we arrived at wošluχ, the people's sacrificial ground.
10 We travelled from Birch-cape to the Elk-lake.
11 [There was] wind, rain, snow, mist, nothing could be seen!
12 In the wind we somehow crawled to wošluχ.
13 The rain and the snow stopped.
14 The wind became so intense, that the Elk-lake [due to wave foam] was taken over by the seagulls; the waves were so high that they could reach rooftops.
15 We arrived to wošluχ village, not a man was at home.
16 Whichever woman we asked, where the men went - not a woman breathed a breath (ie, none of the women said anything)!
17 While we were walking [searching] around there, from the direction of the river source a woman, though reluctantly, started talking to us: "Our men went to the [holy place] wošluχ to offer sacrifices."
18 She tells us: "If [you] need the men, then a child can show you the way there."
19 At this we answer: "We know where each tree stands in wošluχ! There is no need for a child, we will go there [ourselves]."
20 We reached to the men's sacrificial ground, docked, pulled the boat in, left the rudders and everything else ordinary.
21 When we arrived, the men we were searching for have already arrived, a few of them immediately started to approach us alone or in pairs.
22 We went to the men, we greeted them.
23 The sacrifice offering people started a large fire [and] gathered by lying down around the fire.
24 Every man does his job.
25 One of the men makes root strings, another man cuts ropes [for the net], [yet] another man sleeps; the singing man sings, the storytelling man tells stories.
26 Three large cauldrons hang above the fire.
27 Three reindeer oxen as large as horses were tied to a birch tree with cow leather straps.
28 In a new red-painted, four-person boat sits the River Elder: fat, like a man, clothed in silk shawls gathered by generations [and] in guś-fur.
29 The things, which [the River Elder] no longer wore, lie freely [on the ground].
30 He was guarded on both sides by two men.
31 It was forbidden to approach the men at his side.
32 A stupid little child sat onto the bow of the Spirit Elder's boat, he was thrown off by the two men [and] he continued rolling away.
33 When we arrived, the people have for a long time or for a short time hung [sacrificial] money [onto the trees]. 
34 On one of the smaller pine trees so much money was hung on [that] it's branches were all bent.
35 After they hung the money, the [food] bowls were laid out.
36 While we look around like that, the tʼotʼi Elder said: "So, people, we have to shaman [?], one of you has to shaman!"
37 The men said in chorus: "The small river-source-Filipp's son and tʼotʼi's son should sit down to shaman!"
38 Although tʼotʼi's son was reluctant, he still sat down, forced by the crowd, to shaman.
39 Someone from the crowd let himself be heard: "How, what is it with you today? Any other day - with and without being asked - you instantly sit there!"
40 tʼotʼi's son says at that: "The two Russians are standing there! It wouldn't be bad to send them away."
41 The people say: "Are the Russians touching you? They are standing calmly in their place."
42 tʼotʼi's son just shamaned and shamaned, he turned to the people [and] said: "People! I have offered the reindeer oxen to three places: I offered the spotted oxen to the Holy Cape's Elder; I offered the white oxen to the River Elder; I offered the black oxen to the 'Underfoot Elder'. I am done!", said tʼotʼi's son.
43 The small river-source-Filipp's son sat down to shaman as well, he shamaned as long as it takes a cauldron to boil.
44 He said the same words as tʼotʼi's son said.
45 After small river-source-Filipp's son was done, the people picked up the bowls; after they picked up the bowls they took the dried fish.
46 They were getting ready to [cut down and] skin the reindeer, tʼotʼi's son threads his way through the crowd near the reindeer with a bunch of the spirit's (River Elder's) fox furs.
47 He raised the bunch of fox furs above the reindeer's throat.
48 Whenever he raises it up, he shouts praying to the celestial god.
49 As he shouts, so do the others shout.
50 The reindeer are now ready for slaughter.
51 Before the slaughter [the people] shouted seven times to the celestial god.
52 After the reindeer were skinned, the trees were sprinkled with blood; the River Elder's face was smeared with blood as well.
53 The three large cauldrons were now hung above the fire.
54 Raw meat was handed out; [as soon as] the cauldrons boiled, boiled (cauldron)meat was handed out.
55 Each man receives three pieces from the raw meat, receives four pieces from the boiled meat.
56 Those who were used to eating little receive enough; those who were used to eating a lot stand up just as hungry as they were before.
57 The sun stood very low.
58 The skinned hides were all laid down near the River Elder, the heads were laid to one side.
59 After they gathered the remaining bowls, the magic drum was warmed up, śańka says: "So, people, the magic drum stands ready; who will beat it?"
60 The people said in chorus: "The old Filipp from owoləŋ will beat it!"
61 The old Filipp sat down to beat the drum, [when] kima says: "Pray to the spirits! Let them be kind enough to let us leave this place! When will the winds cease? When will the fish migrate, sooner or later (slowly)? Will we catch fish in summer or not? Did the River Elder accept the reindeer we brought or not? Till we return again, let us live in health!"
62 The old Fillipp from owoləŋ began shamaning.
63 He started singing a shaman song, stopped, started singing a shaman song again, stopped again.
64 Finally he began the shaman song.
65 The old Filipp shamaned, shamaned, he turned to the people.
66 The people say: "So, what are the spirits (people) saying?"
67 The old Filipp said: "Will the winds cease the day after tomorrow, that is unclear. The migrating fish have reached near Ob-dorsk."
68 The man who cuts rope stopped with his rope cutting, the man who makes rootstrings stopped making rootstrings; everyone was silent, not the smallest sound could be heard!
69 From among the people a man let himself be heard: " Why is it bad to say when the wind will cease?"
70 At these words the old Filipp from owoləŋ stood up like an ignorant man [and he left].
71 Six or seven men sat down [this time] to shaman.
72 They all speak uncertainly: "Will the wind cease the day after tomorrow, it is unclear!"
73 After they were finished shamaning, the River Elder was somehow pulled ashore by ten men.
74 The [well-laden] four-person boat was still floating on the water surface.
75 The next day dawned.
76 When we got up in the morning, only the red of the sunrise had risen.
77 This time the women ran to and fro like little fleas, preparing food.
78 The men gather together again somewhere.
79 The bottom of their money pouches was worn from [all] the searching for silver coins!
80 Here and there men were shouting, searching for silver coins.
81 Now the women, who were forced into a corner because of the silver coins, again run to and fro like little birds.
82 All the men dressed up as his circumstances would allow it; the penniless men [borrowed clothes] from elsewhere [and] wore those for the time.
83 The sun has barely risen or almost not at all, the men stood up [, and] all started off together.
84 Here and there men throb on the boats.
85 It was not long before they gathered.
86 Around an hour later all the men were in their place.
87 A man sitting in a large boat sat into a large boat, a man sitting in a five-person boat sat into a five-person boat.
88 Everyone sat where they wanted to.
89 The fact, where all the men gathered was as [dark] for both of us as a gloomy autumn night.
90 The secretary shouted: "Jegor, come here, there is something here!"
91 The secretary asked Jegor: "Where are all you men gathering?"
92 At that Jegor said laughing: "You surely know where all the synjan people gather in these days as soon as the red of dawn rises."
93 The secretary continues being bored like an ignorant person.
94 Finally, he found out what he wanted to know.
95 The men sat [into the boat, and] started to paddle [because of] a bet; they paddled around the lake only five times.
96 When they left, I went in search of fun along the river[bank]'s sand with a friend to the arrow-shooting larch.
97 When we were nearing the arrow-shooting larch, we could hear someone shouting from the water to us: "You bloody hearts who won't be destroyed by Satan, why did you come to the holy ground, who told you to come to the holy ground?"
98 We continued on, like ignorant people.
99 He shouted, shouted till he ran out of strength.
100 Then we heard someone else speak: "If you return home today - may your heads be torn apart by dogs!"
101 The boat's bow didn't touch the river[bank] yet or just barely, [when] the old Filipp from owoləŋ jumped onto the [river]bank.
102 Six or seven times he ran to and fro.
103 He went a lasso's length, he stopped.
104 The people of the river's side-branch, follow me to the [river]bank, stand in a line, one man after the other!
105 The people were instantly ready, as if they were waiting for this.
106 The old Filipp from owoləŋ shouts to the people of the river's side-branch: "Does every one of you have money or not? If someone has nothing, get some from somewhere else!"
107 The man who had money didn't say a single word, he threw three five kopek; the one who didn't have money borrowed from someone else and threw it.
108 The old Filipp said: "Follow me in a line! Where I set foot, there you set your foot as well! Those who don't listen to my words, I will send [them] home immediately."
109 The old Filipp warned the people: "Don't think [that] this is like it was in wošluχ! Neither a single grass root nor a shrub branch is allowed to be broken."
110 The people of the river's side-branch lined up behind the old Filipp, like a rope, that is how they went up on the shore.
111 That is how things were.
112 With that the two of us returned.
113 When it was getting dark, [we saw:] five large boats were drifting up and down in the lake's waves.
114 They came closer: [there were] the people who made the bet.
115 The synjan people and the people of the river's side-branch rowed together for a bet.
116 The people of the river's side-branch, ten men, thirty men sat in a boat.
117 Rib-high water [that splashed onto the deck] filled the boat.
118 - Slowly the evening's red [light] faded again.
119 Every man started to carry out his job.
120 Those who needed roots went to the forest to bring roots; those who needed larch rods for drum fish traps, went to cut larch rods for drum fish traps.
121 The man that went to play cards went to play cards, the man that went to throw rings went to throw rings, the man that was sleepy lied down.
122 While we were sitting by our food, nemli ('Nameless') hurried through the door.
123 I shouted after him: "Greetings, nemli, come here, I have a word [with you]!"
124 He turned around immediately, [wondering whether] he was called or not, "nemli, sit down, sit down to eat!"
125 He gets ready for it, like a hungry man during spring.
126 Mate, don't you have a short story? Tell us something to pass the night with entertainment.
127 It was his turn to tell a story.
128 I said: "I don't feel like listening to a story. How about you tell us about your trip to Holy Cape?"
129 I started asking him questions.
130 I asked about everything that I needed.
131 I asked him once - and he immediately started reading aloud a book for me.
132 He told me every secret thing.
133 19 nemli started to tell his story.
134 "This was the first time I travelled to the Holy Cape. How do people travel to the Holy Cape, till this day that would be [dark] for me, like a gloomy autumn night, if I didn't travel at all today.
135 We arrived, we, the people of the river's side-branch, were seated to the side.
136 First we sat down, then every man threw half a rubel there [as a sacrifice].
137 At Holy Cape we, the people of the river's side-branch didn't do anything, our job was to sit there.
138 The synjan people made fire, cut trees, brought water, made food, handed out meat, hung pieces of cloth [onto trees for us].
139 They didn't allow us to move a single grass root or treebranch.
140 Our job was only to sit all day and do nothing with our hands clasped.
141 If someone moves to the side just a bit from his place - you are immediately noticed and returned to your sitting place.
142 If you drink water then you have to throw two-three five kopeks into the ladle.
143 If you burn arrows in the fire, you have to throw four-five five kopeks into the fire.
144 Whatever you touch, you need money for everything!
145 You can't travel to the Holy Cape with an empty wallet. When I (first) travelled there, my wallet hung aside due to all the silver coins, like a basket, by now I only have two five kopeks left. At Jamkurt's shop my father exchanged thirty rubels [worth of] silver coins, we, three men, threw all the money in various places. Now we don't have a morsel of bread at home, on which we can chew with our teeth; what are we supposed to buy bread with, it is unclear!
146 "In the [early] morning whether the sun is rising or not - the men who brought sacrificial reindeer with them, quickly demand money. Each man owed forty rubels; what are they supposed to pay with, it is unclear! What kind [of people] are the old Filipp from owoləŋ like elders? They would even tear out another man's still warm tongue! If you don't give any money, that is horrible too, he might curse you with illness. If you disagree just a little, they curse you with illness right away, like a cursing seagull. If you absolutely have nothing, take your pants off for him, he won't be merciful!"
147 I asked: "How many reindeer did you take to Holy Cape?"
148 - "Five white oxen, seven ordinary reindeer.
149 I asked further: "Where did you take the skinned leather?"
150 - "Two coalblack skin we buried into the ground for the 'Underfoot Elder', one skin we sunk, three skins were hung. The rest of the skin were brought by the people."
152 I asked: "Who shamaned and how many men shamaned?"
152 - "Every kind of people shamanned, it could have been twenty men."
153 - "What did the men who shamaned say?", I asked; "will the wind cease sooner or later?"
154 - "They don't have a rational opinion, they prattle all sorts of things. Some say that tomorrow the wind will cease, others say that the day after tomorrow will it cease. They prattle different things like that, a man can't tell whom to believe in. Though I wanted to go cut some larch rods for drum fish trap at night - [but] maybe tomorrow the wind will cease [and] we'd have to leave. Yesterday at wošluχ everyone did their job, whatever that job might have been at the time. At the Holy Cape it is just sitting there all day, with your ear leaning against your hand!"
155 As we chatted like that, the [short] early summer fishing night dawned.
156 The sun rose to the tip of the trees.
157 We stood up, both going in two different directions.
158 While the sun heated up, the people slowly started to rise.
159 The men who brought the reindeer with them, whether they opened their eyes (tore their eyes open) or not - whomever they met on the road, they forced them to pay money.
160 Here and there men shout, looking for money.
161 A (cauldron)hour passed or not, we heard loud noise on the other side of the river [as well], the whole ground just rumbled.
162 The poor men, who barely ate, were gathered to stand.
163 The begging men here and there reached out with their hands, demanding money.
164 They gathered the money.
165 Those who had money didn't say a word, they handed over [the money].
166 Those who had birch bark handed over their birch bark, those who had squirrel fur handed over their squirrel fur.
167 Those who had cattle (that is reindeer) left behind in the forest, thought about their cattle left in the forest.
168 Everyone handed over what they had.
169 Those who don't have cattle left behind in the forest - what were they supposed to think?
170 One man could only unhook his [own] two hands - what could he give?
171 Another man doesn't even have a piece of bread, which he could chew with his teeth, what must he pay the reindeer sacrifices with?
172 kima shouts: "Greetings, nemli, come here, pay money!"
173 nemli wasn't done with the cauldron of fish leftover parts soup, what could he pay with!
174 Like an ignorant person, he continued scooping his soup [and] said this to himself: "Continue gabble somewhere else!"
175 He said [so loud], that it could even be heard here: "I won't go, until I get to the depth of my soup bowl! If I sink into my soup bowl [all the way] to the ground (stomach), it would be unknown when this [long] early summer day would end."
176 In the end they got tired from waiting.
177 A second man was sent to call nemli.
178 The man who was sent returned [and] says: "nemli laid into his fish leftover parts soup cauldron, I could only pull him out with great effort."
179 nemli came here, completely covered in soup, only his eyes were visible.
180 While nemli was coming, the old Filipp from owoləŋ said haughtily to the people: "Whether he comes or not - what kind of fleas could he [even] give!"
181 nemli said: "Yes, what is it? Why did you call me like this, what needs to be lifted up? If something needs lifting then you'd be able to lift it yourself, people, being as many as an army!"
182 The old Filip shouts at this while chewing his gum: "Don't talk (breathe) here, what a rich lord! One has to go ten times for you!"
183 nemli says: "Why are you angering [me] so! Rich - yes, rich [you are], who doesn't know you! You think me rich - do rich people eat fish leftover parts soup at this time? While you chew [good] frozen fat [and] back fat, maybe the rest of the people chew frozen fat and back fat as well?"
184 The old Filipp shouts: "Now give, give [me] money! Don't bark like a dog! We're tired from waiting for you."
185 - "You can see it, I have nothing that I can give! If you don't believe me, look at my clothes!", whispered nemli slightly worried.
186 The old Filipp said: "Who dragged you out this naked? Why don't you dress up?"
187 nemli said: "Maybe rich people like you wear [beautiful] clothes like this whatever day it is. What could be needed for you? Yesterday at the Holy Cape you handed out two-three pieces of meat to some men, [and] now you are driving us into despair due to the money. Are the fish migrating or not - if the fish would be migrating then you'd row into the lake and throw four-five nets into the water - maybe even catching a small boatload of fish!"
188 Though poor nemli asked for them to wait till winter - but how could the old Filipp listen to that! [He says]: "He is asking for an even longer deadline! You won't get any, donate!"
189 In the end nemli got angry, nemli pulled down his pants and threw it to the old Filipp.
190 Here, catch, if you need my dirty pants. I have nothing else than my dirty pants. If I had, would it be worth standing here all day?
191 To those words said the old Filipp: "If you'll ever come for me to shaman, I'll have a word to you!"
192 To this nemli stepped closer: "What good did you do to me? I truly can't see where your accomplished good deeds are waiting. There lies the dead who is now stiff and frozen because of you. If you want, dig her up! Because of you I cut down the only reindeer ox that I had [as a sacrifice]. Even though day and night you have been curing my wife all spring, [but] as soon as your back was gone behind the door, she dropped dead."
193 The old Filipp, [stubborn] like an Ob-rock, didn't retreat.
194 In the end nemli threw him the only old axe that he had.
195 Here, catch, if your greedy heart yearns (burns) [for it] so!
196 The old Filipp from owoləŋ said at this: "Is this axe of yours worth thirty rubels?"
197 nemli said: "Your heart doesn't show mercy! If I get something in the future, I'll give it to you."
198 The old Filipp stood there for a while, he talked as he patted one of nemli's shoulders: "Mate, if the fish migrate, will you come to catch me ten or six (?) nets of fish?"
199 nemli stood there a while, he said: "Come - how could I come! Should I raise my grandfather [back from the grave] to catch fish? Aside from the standard delivery quota [for the union] there is need for fish to have something to eat during winter! What would be needed for you if you don't catch any fish? In the Urals your reindeer herd is rumbling like the thundering wind, at the Ob your horse herd and cow herd are rumbling like the thundering wind! Even if I don't offer you anything from the water (into your hand) in the winter I'll starve to death anyway."
200 While nemli threw him his old axe, he said: "Here, catch other people's trash. One day [these things] will return to me. Whether you'll live for a long time or a short time - one day when your eyes take a glance out from the home with iron bars, you will come to your senses!"
201 nemli said, while he turned [his back]: "You - just live, I - I'll live as well. [One] can see you in close places, one can't see you in faraway places. Your words said here will stay here!" said nemli with a sigh.
202 While they were quarreling like that the sun was starting to set.
203 While they lived like this the second day passed, the fourth day passed.
204 We waited for the calm (wind), waited - we got tired from [all] the waiting.
205 Peter laughs: "When the calm comes, the adopting people have probably adopted, those who foster children have probably fostered a child already!"
206 While they waited for the calm, the breadless people have no bread left, the meatless people have no meat left.
207 The man among the sailors of the boats who had fish leftover parts soup, that man was well off [with it]!
208 In the end, even the fish leftover parts soup ran out.
209 On the tenth day towards evening the wind was calmed.
210 You grab the oar - the oar was broken; you grab the boat - the boat was broken; you grab the tent's birch bark carpet - those are just pieces of birch; you grab the tent's pole - the pole was broken!
211 The boats (that had sailors) didn't have any intact items.
212 Only on the fourteenth day did the wind cease.
213 Even yesterday's [stormy] Elk-lake is being poured with rich fat.
214 The Elk-lake is completely smooth, like a sleeping rug, nowhere could [anyone] see a wave.
215 The poor people, who had been tortured by hunger for ten days, now ran here and there breathing joyfully.
216 When the sun set, the boats swam into the lake, like ducks with their ducklings.
217 If you look at the Elk-lake - you could see sailboat masts all around you as if the lake was pegged with stakes.
218 Everyone goes on their way.
219 Some went to catch migrating fish, others went to laŋkiwoš (Squirreltown) because of the migrating fish, [yet] some went to askurt(Ob-village) because of the fish, others stayed to catch fish with their summer-weir.
220 The first to travel boats disappear behind the Holy Cape.
221 The weaker boats are still strugling in the water close to the shore, overgrown with plants.
222 The two of us sat into a boat last and started on [our way].
223 I dipped my two oars into the water and started oaring.
224 My eyes looked towards the end of the river: a five man boat with four men was swimming downwards slowly among the willows.
225 Although we waited [for it] to come closer - but the five man boat just hovered in one place on the water.
226 In the end we got tired of waiting and shouted [towards them]: "Really, who has heard about [anything] like this, the boat is still just standing there! We have to check what could have happened to this peculiar boat."
227 We started oaring towards it.
228 The closer we got, it moves further away.
229 As we go on like that, we got out into the lake.
230 Everywhere on the lake are white pieces of cloth!
231 Some threw wires [into the water], others threw arrows with money; money and rings were tied to the arrows' notches, wires were tied to the bowstrings.
232 "What kind of demon are you escaping from?", I asked them.
233 The five man boat with the River Elder's weight was almost on the same level as the water surface.
234 The River Elder was covered from head to toe in [white] birch bark.
235 We talked a bit, [then] we went two seperate ways with the two boats.
236 For the summer the River Elder was taken to luχ-jor-kurt (Spirit Master's village), we headed (oared) to mašow village.