Page 111 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends

It was a long time ago. One day the spirit of Heveki gathered all
the fishes on a big suglan to find out how they live and what they
need.
Heveki appointed Taimen to be the senior over all fish. Together
they began to ask how the fish behave. Heveki asked for forces:
— Tell me, fish, who behaves unworthily in your kingdom of water
and dishonors your family?
Fish unanimously named Burbot.

— Burbot! Burbot! He alone behaves badly. He is very lazy. All
the time he lies in one place and eats anything. Where will he get
the fat from? He has no fat. Why would a Man get Burbot? He
dishonors us. What will a person think of us?
— Speak right! Man will not get it. I have sowed Burbot in the
genus of frogs and snakes. Here he is superfluous.

Suddenly Taimen says:
— We very much offended Burbot. Why am I so honored? My
whole body and my insides are fat. Good spirit Heveki, by your
permission, I will give my fat liver to Burbot, and I will take Burbot’s
liver for myself. Then Man will get him for food too.
— Let it be so, — Heveki said. — I authorize Timenu to take
Burbot’s liver, and Burbot to give his liver. I wanted to evict Burbot

into the genus of frogs and snakes. Now I leave him with you. Take
Burbot into your family forever.
So they decided on suglan — so they did. Now Burbot has the
fattest liver and people willingly get it for food. The Evenks do not
eat Taimen liver now.

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