A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Iu´metun is the spirit found in crevices of the ground after a shaman’s father demands to see the cause of sudden death. In Rịke´wġi’s October 1900 narrative he is black like coal and has three fingers on each hand. When shown to the family, he is no larger than a reindeer-fly. He denies being the accused being, but contact with a man’s skin makes the touched area redden and then blacken. Bogoras’s footnote identifies him as a nightmare spirit associated with the open country and ground fissures; that editorial identification accompanies rather than replaces the episode’s death accusation.

Threatened with binding, Iu´metun blames Ground-Beings for his actions and promises to become merciful, protect wandering orphans and permit relief through shamans, offerings and incantations. The narrative gives extensive ritual terms for his proposed release, but its final sentence declares that he proved a liar. His promises therefore cannot be treated as a successful reform or as demonstrated remedies. He is a separate figure from Children’s-Death, encountered earlier in the same account; their different responses after release are preserved.

Coal-black bodyThree fingers on each handHides in ground crevicesTouch reddens then blackens skinPromises reform but proves false
01

Origins & earliest records

Chukchi; Rịke´wġi, Mariinsky Post, October 1900

02

Records & interpretation

Complete English narrative, ending and attached notes read; title page, introduction and HTML transcription limitations inspected.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Chukchee Mythology

    Waldemar Bogoras, recorder and translator; narrated by Rịke´wġi · 1910

    Jesup North Pacific Expedition, Volume VIII, Part I; Chukchee Texts II.1, (The Ai´wan Shamans.), complete pp. 7–25; Iu´metun pp. 22–25 and p. 22 footnote

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Complete long narrative and every attached footnote read, with overlapping pp18–25 continuation

Waldemar Bogoras, Chukchee Mythology (1910)

Chukchee Texts, II. Myths and Tales. Chukchee Texts II.1, (The Ai´wan Shamans.), complete pp. 7–25; Iu´metun pp. 22–25 and p. 22 footnote

Cache bogoras1910-cm03.html/.txt. Children’s-Death gender shift flagged by collector; Iumetun final promise explicitly false. Native/interlinear witness not independently collated; ritual promises not medical facts.

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References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical recorded narrative and English translationBogoras, II.1, The Ai´wan ShamansResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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