An Inquisitive Man's Experience of Hades

Three generations before my time there lived an Aino who wished to find out whether the stories told about the existence of an under-world were true. So one day he penetrated into an immense cavern (since washed away by the waves) at the river-mouth of Sarubutsu. All was dark in front, all was dark behind. But at last there was a glimmer of light a-head. The man went on, and soon emerged into Hades. There were trees, and villages, and rivers, and the sea, and large junks loading fish and seaweed. Some of the people were Ainos, some were Japanese, just as in the every-day world. Among the number were some whom he had known when they were alive. But, though he saw them, they,--strange to say,--did not seem to see him. Indeed he was invisible to all, excepting to the dogs; for dogs see everything, even spirits, and the dogs of Hades barked at him fiercely. Hereupon the people of the place, judging that some evil spirit had come among them, threw him dirty food, such as evil spirits eat, in order, as they thought, to appease him. Of course he was disgusted, and flung the filthy fish-bones and soiled rice away But every time that he did so the stuff immediately returned to the pocket in his bosom, so that he was greatly distressed.

わたしより三代前に、地下の世界があるという話が本当かどうか確かめたいと思ったアイヌがいた。そこである日、男はサルブツの川口にある巨大な洞穴(その後波に削られてなくなった)に入り込んだ。前も真っ暗、後ろも真っ暗だった。けれどもとうとう前方にかすかな光が見えた。男は進んでいき、まもなく冥府に出た。木々があり、村があり、川があり、海があり、魚や海藻を積み込んでいる大きな和船があった。人々のなかにはアイヌもいれば和人もいて、ふだんの世界とまったく同じだった。そのなかには、生きていたころに知っていた者も何人かいた。けれども、男には 彼らが見えたのに、彼らには——不思議なことに——男が見えないようだった。実際、男は犬のほかにはだれにも見えなかった。犬はあらゆるものを、霊さえも見るので、冥府の犬たちは男に激しく吠えかかった。そこでその土地の人々は、何か悪い霊が紛れ込んできたのだと判断して、それをなだめるつもりで、悪い霊の食べるような汚い食べ物を男に投げつけた。もちろん男は胸が悪くなり、汚らしい魚の骨や汚れた米を投げ捨てた。けれども投げ捨てるたびに、それはたちまち男の懐の袋に戻ってきたので、男はひどく困った。

At last, entering a fine-looking house near the beach, he found his father and mother,--not old, as they were when they died, but in the heyday of youth and strength. He called to his mother, but she ran away trembling. He clasped his father by the hand, and said: "Father! don't you know me? can't you see me? I am your son." But his father fell yelling to the ground. So he stood aloof again, and watched how his parents and the other people in the house set up the divine symbols, and prayed in order to make the evil spirit depart.

とうとう浜の近くの立派な家に入ると、男は父と母を見つけた——死んだときのように年老いてはおらず、若さと力の盛りにあった。男が母を呼ぶと、母は震えながら逃げていった。父の手を握って言った。「父さん、わからないのですか。見えないのですか。あなたの息子ですよ」けれども父はわめきながら地面に倒れた。そこで男はまた離れて立ち、両親や家のほかの人々が、悪い霊を去らせるためにイナウを立てて祈るのを眺めていた。

In his despair at being unrecognized he did depart, with the unclean offerings that had been made to him still sticking to his person, notwithstanding his endeavours to get rid of them. It was only when, after passing back through the cavern, he had emerged once more into the world of men, that they left him free from their pollution. He returned home, and never wished to visit Hades again. It is a foul place.--(Written down from memory. Told by Ishanashte, 22nd July, 1886.)

わかってもらえない絶望のあまり、男は本当に去っていった。自分に捧げられた不浄な供え物は、振り払おうと努めても体にくっついたままだった。洞穴を通り抜けて、ふたたび人間の世界に出てはじめて、供え物は男を離れ、その穢れから解き放ってくれた。男は家に帰り、二度と冥府を訪ねたいとは思わなかった。あそこは汚らわしい場所なのである。——(記憶から書き留めた。語り手イシャナシテ、1886年7月22日)