Drinking the Sea dry

There was the Chief of the Mouth of the River and the Chief of the Upper Current of the River. The former was very vainglorious, and therefore wished to put the latter to shame, or to kill him by engaging him in the attempt to perform something impossible. So he sent for him, and said: "The sea may be a useful thing, in so far as it is the original home of the fish which come up the river. But it is very destructive in stormy weather, when it beats wildly upon the beach. Do you now drink it dry, so that there may be rivers and dry land only. If you cannot do so, then forfeit all your possessions." The other (greatly to the vainglorious man's surprise) said: "I accept the challenge."

川口の首長と川上の首長がいた。前者はたいそう見栄っぱりで、そのため後者に恥をかかせるか、できないことをやらせようとして殺してしまおうと思った。そこで彼を呼び寄せて言った。「海は、川を上ってくる魚のもともとの住みかであるかぎりでは役に立つものかもしれない。けれども嵐のときには浜に荒々しく打ち寄せて、たいそう害をなす。さあ、お前がそれを飲み干して、川と乾いた陸だけにしてみよ。できなければ、お前の持ち物をすべて差し出せ」相手は(見栄っぱりな男がたいそう驚いたことに)言った。「その挑戦を受けよう」

So, on their going down together to the beach, the Chief of the Upper Current of the River took a cup, and scooped up a little of the sea-water with it, drank a few drops, and said: "In the sea-water itself there is no harm. It is some of the rivers flowing into it that are poisonous. Do you therefore first close the mouths of all the rivers both in Aino-land and in Japan, and prevent them from flowing into the sea, and then I will undertake to drink the sea dry." Hereupon the Chief of the Mouth of the River felt ashamed, acknowledged his error, and gave all his treasures to his rival.--(Written down from memory. Told by Ishanashte, 18th November, 1886.)

そこで二人が一緒に浜へ下りていくと、川上の首長は杯を取って海の水を少し汲み、数滴飲んで言った。「海の水そのものには害はない。毒なのは、そこへ流れ込む川のいくつかだ。だからまずお前が、アイヌの国と日本のすべての川の口をふさいで、海へ流れ込まないようにせよ。そうすれば、わたしが海を飲み干してみせよう」これを聞いて川口の首長は恥じ入り、自分の誤りを認めて、宝をすべて相手に与えた。——(記憶から書き留めた。語り手イシャナシテ、1886年11月18日)