A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Brett’s Legend of Oroan places the figure in an imagined evening conversation beside a campfire. Asked about the enemy of humanity and ally of darkness, an elder recounts two attacks. Oroan seizes the sun and tries to extinguish it, but its heat scorches and blackens him until he retreats, intending to try again.
Against the moon he attempts to tear or devour her. Blood covers her face and darkens the sky. People’s cries and appeals stir the spirits of the air, who intervene, drive the attacker away and clear the moon’s face. Brett’s footnote explicitly connects Oroan with eclipses. The short account provides these actions but no stable anatomical description or named local witness, so the profile does not invent a serpent, jaguar or other bodily identity.
Origins & earliest records
Brett’s Legends and Myths of the Aboriginal Indians of British Guiana (catalogued 1880) presents collected material through English verse and missionary commentary. Publication and narrator framing do not establish a date of origin for the oral tradition.
Records & interpretation
Legend of Oroan, pp.189–190, including complete sun and moon episodes and eclipse footnote.
In the literature
“Till, scorched and blackened, he retires,”
Legend of Oroan, printed p.190 · William Henry Brett (English literary adaptation; source-language transcript not retained here)
In the campfire frame an elder is asked about Oroan, a darkness-associated enemy of humanity. Brett’s short legend describes him seizing the sun and trying to extinguish it; its heat scorches him and forces retreat until another attempt. Against the moon he tries to tear or consume it, and blood obscures its bright features. Human cries summon spirits of the air, who drive him away and cleanse the moon’s face, restoring its light. The accompanying eclipse gloss explicitly identifies his role; the text then turns to a separate Serikoai star legend.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Legends and Myths of the Aboriginal Indians of British Guiana
Legend of Oroan, pp.189–190, including complete sun and moon episodes and eclipse footnote.
- 02
Legends and Myths of the Aboriginal Indians of British Guiana — Legend of Oroan
London: William Wells Gardner, catalogue1880. Actual original title image read: year is a bracketed handwritten1880, not a printed imprint date. Preface explicitly describes Brett’s metrical adaptation. Cornell scan text with selected complete episode and notes read; no whole-book claim. Printed excerpt folio visually checked. Selected complete printed Legend of Oroan, pp.189–190.
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.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Legends and Myths of the Aboriginal Indians of British Guiana
London: William Wells Gardner, catalogue1880. Actual original title image read: year is a bracketed handwritten1880, not a printed imprint date. Preface explicitly describes Brett’s metrical adaptation. Cornell scan text with selected complete episode and notes read; no whole-book claim. Printed excerpt folio visually checked. Selected complete printed Legend of Oroan, pp.189–190.
- In the campfire frame an elder is asked about Oroan, a darkness-associated enemy of humanity. Brett’s short legend describes him seizing the sun and trying to extinguish it; its heat scorches him and forces retreat until another attempt. Against the moon he tries to tear or consume it, and blood obscures its bright features. Human cries summon spirits of the air, who drive him away and cleanse the moon’s face, restoring its light. The accompanying eclipse gloss explicitly identifies his role; the text then turns to a separate Serikoai star legend.
Complete printed sun/moon episode and footnotes read. No general black-hole or astronomical causal claim: eclipses are the narrated explanation. No copied prayer or invocation. Campfire speaker is an unnamed literary elder; no fabricated individual informant or kinship.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary textBrett1880: Legend of Oroan, pp.189–190, including complete sun and moon episodes and eclipse footnote.Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.