Part 1 of Spirits of the Hunt
“This is the perfect shot.” Chinhok readied his bow and took aim at the deer. He knew that if he wounded one of its legs he would be able to get another shot. His heart was racing, this was his first hunt, if he brought back the deer to the village, everyone would be so impressed and he would finally be invited to join the hunting parties. This was his chance.
Just before he could let the arrow fly he heard a loud shout and to his misfortune, so did the deer. It ran away into the forest, without so much as a scratch. “Chinhok!” whoever ruined his chance was shouting his name and Chinhok was furious, who would do this to him?
Bitil, the greatest hunter in the mountains, and also Chinhok’s uncle stood behind him and shouted out his name again “Chinhok!”
“Uncle, why did you do that? I was about to get my first deer!” Chinhok looked exasperated and pleading for an explanation.
“Did you give the offerings at the Banayakaw tree?” Bitil asked, apparently ignoring the boy’s protest.
“Uncle, I had no time! I was about to and I saw the deer and I was going to miss my chance!” Chinhok tried to make his uncle understand him, surely as a hunter he would know that one shouldn’t waste time.
“Chinhok, do you know that it is almost impossible to kill a deer with one arrow?” Bitil again replied with a question.
“Yes uncle I know, that is why we need to wound it first so that it cannot escape and we can land the final blow.” Chinhok, did not understand where this conversation was headed.
“A deer, like all of us is a part of the land, but this mountain has its own guardians. We give the offerings in front of the Banayakaw tree to make sure that those spirits are appeased.” Bitil said, looking directly into the eyes of his nephew.
“But uncle, surely the spirits will understand if we give the offerings after.” Chinhok was stubborn and he never liked losing an argument, especially to his family.
“When a deer is hit with an arrow, it needs to be shot many more times before it can die. For every deer we manage to kill there are many more that die in the forests with an arrow in their bodies. They die days or even weeks later, all the while under constant pain, defenseless against their natural predators.” Bitil started a lecture.
“Uncle I know but what—-“ Chinhok tried to interrupt but his uncle continued.
“Now imagine what the spirits would feel if there was no compensation for all that suffering. That the creatures they protect would just die in the forest without the rituals of appeasement. How do you think they would feel?” Bitil was looking right at Chinhok now, his gaze steady.
“But uncle—-“ Chinhok was nothing if not persistent.
“Enough! Be careful nephew, the deer aren’t the only prey in these mountains.” Bitil ended with a heavy tone, one that Chinhok knew he could not say anything to.
“Yes, uncle.” Chinhok took his bow and headed back towards his home. One day he would make them understand that he was a great hunter. One day.
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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Story inspired by Tahamaling description in The Maiden of the Buhog Sky. Manuel (1958) in Philippine Folk Literature:The Epics. Eugenio. 2001.
Tahamaling Illustration by Laura Katigbak
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