Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
fisherman's clothing - holding a rattle in his right hand and an eagle's tail in the left. At
the house, in the presence of senior members of the community, the shamans would march
around the salmon four times before the man wearing the fisherman's clothes called for
the fish's head to be severed, followed by its tail, and the removal of its stomach. The ce-
remony, marked by the chanting of honorary names, was conducted with a mussel-shell
knife. It was thought that using a stone or metal knife would cause a thunderstorm.
Similar first salmon ceremonies were conducted up and down the Pacific seaboard with
only minor differences. Some involved speeches and feasting, others ceremonial dances.
All stressed respect for the salmon in the hope that it would come in great numbers. Salmon
was eaten fresh during the fishing season and dried or smoked for the winter food supply.
Many groups in North America, Siberia, and northeastern China also used salmon skin to
make their clothing.
River spirits
The association between rivers and various mythical creatures is common to numerous cul-
tures all over the world. In Germanic and Nordic folklore, such water sprites are known as
'nixie' (singular nix) and usually have evil intentions. They frequently entice their human
victims to join them, luring them into the water, from which there is no escape. The nix
may take different forms, either male or female. One of the best known from Germany was
Lorelei, a beautiful nymph who sat on a rock in the Rhine which now bears her name, and
lured fishermen into danger with the sound of her voice or by combing her hair. Scand-
inavian nixie were more likely to be male, drawing their female victims into a river or lake
with enchanting songs played on the violin. Pregnant women and unbaptized children were
especially vulnerable.
Another form of river spirit in Scandinavian folklore is the bäckahästen, or 'brook horse', a
majestic white beast that would commonly appear on river banks, especially during foggy
weather, presenting a tempting ride for a weary traveller. Anyone who climbed onto its
back would be unable to dismount, enabling the horse to jump into the river and drown its
rider. The kelpie of Scottish folklore is a direct parallel of the bäckahästen. Its most com-
mon guise was that of a fine-looking tame horse, but the kelpie could also appear as a hairy
man with a terrible vice-like grip. He would hide on the river bank until an unfortunate
traveller was passing and then leap out to crush the life from him.
