Population and legends

The population spreads unevenly on the Krai territory. The majority of the population lives in the southern and central regions. Overall, about 1.3 mln. people live here, or about 0.9% of the total Russian population. Amongst them, an estimated 20,000 are native minorities – Nanais, Evenkis, Ulchis, Udegeis, Nivkhis, Orochis, Negidals, and Evens.

Indigenous peoples of the Khabarovsk Krai have remarkable examples of oral traditions, passed down from generation to generation. In numerous legends and traditions the tiger - the master of the taiga – is a special character.

According to an Udege legend, two hunters went into the forest to get young eagles. In their quest, they climbed so high up the cliff that they could not get back down by themselves. In desperation, they began to ask God for help, and suddenly in response to their plea, a tiger appeared from nowhere and gently lifted the hunters from the cliff.

Since unknown times the indigenous people made their living by fishing in the river and hunting in the woods. Archeologists all over the world know a small village not far from Khabarovsk called Sicachi-Alayan. Various pictures are carved on the rocks of Sicachi-Alayan – which are images of the ancient cultural heritage of the local ethnic groups.

According to the legend some long time ago in the location of the present-day Sicachi-Alayan a small nomadic camp existed. Its inhabitants led a quiet life but once misfortune came. The volcano awoke and burst out the fiery lava that in an instant destroyed the small camp and everything alive around it. Only two persons got saved, a husband and wife who had gone hunting across the mountains. Upon coming back home they saw a terrible picture. The land was covered with ashes and there was nobody alive around. For several days they shouted and cried in distress until losing voice. In the meantime the earth got cool but the stones of the Amur river bank were still soft. The husband and wife strolled along the river drawing on the stones by finger. They wanted to leave memory of the perished and the native camp. The local inhabitants believe that these people who avoided death were the predecessors of the Nanai nationality.

According to another Nanai legend, the origin of Sikhachy-Alyan petroglyphs is explained otherwise. In the past, the Earth was so hot that rocks melted with the heat. But the gods were amused, and drew by fingers on the rocks. The Great Hunter saved the Earth from the heat, and petroglyphs, pictures made by gods remained to remind people of that time.

Here is another legend which is popular in Sicachi-Alayan area. It tells us that many years ago things were different. There were many animals in the taiga, much fish in the rivers, and forests were rich in berries, nuts and medicinal herbs. But once three suns were seen in the sky and they burnt the earth so it grew black, the trees and herbs got extinguished. The people trying to find refuge from the three suns excavated deep dugouts where they stayed till late at night daring to come out only in the evening. The people began praying to the God of the earth – Dragon Kailasu asking him for protection. Kailasu sent his twin sons Ado to help people. They took sharp arrows and shot two of the suns and the order reigned on earth again.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-28