|
Shaman Rock
[Back]
The only famous legend of Angara rapids, situated at the
place where the river flows out of Lake Baikal, is the Buryat
legend:
ABuryat
Mongol chief, shows the typical dress of a
Buryat
man in the 19th century.
In the times of old, mighty Baikal was jovial and kindly. All of his heart
was given to his only daughter Angara. There was nothing under the heavens
to supersede her beauty.
By day she was bright - brighter than the sky, by night she was dark -
darker than a storm-cloud. Whoever passed by her, everyone marveled at her,
and praised her. Even the itinerant birds: geese, swans, cranes - descended
nethermost, but seldom took to the water. They spoke: "Who dareth darken the
bright?" The Old Man Baikal cared less for his own soul than for his
daughter.
Once, while Baikal reposed himself, Angara betook to the flight to young
fellow Yenisei.
There arouse the Father, splashing the waves in rage. Fiery storm broke, the
mountains cried out, the forests collapsed, the heavens turned black with
grief, animals scattered about the face of the Earth in horror, fishes dove
to the very bottom, birds shot to the sun. Wind alone was wailing and the
mighty sea was a raging. Powerful Baikal struck a grey mountain, broke a
cliff away and hurled it after his fleeing daughter.
The cliff landed on the very throat of the beauty. Pleaded the blue-eyed
Angara, choking and weeping, and begged: "Father, forgive me and let me have
a single drop of water, for I am dying of thirst..." Cried out Baikal in
fury: "I hath naught to give thee but thy tears..." For millennia, there
flow the tears of Angara towards Yenisei, while the lonely and grey Baikal
turned gloomy and ominous. The cliff that Baikal cast after his daughter got
the name " Shaman Cliff" among the people. Rich sacrifices were offered to
Baikal there. People used to say: "Should Baikal get infuriated, he would
tear the Shaman Cliff away and the water will surge out and flood the
Earth".
But it all had happened long ago, now the people are brave and do not fear
Baikal any more...
|