Amam

by Daniel A. Kelin, II

 
A big snake living in the waters between Mili atoll in the Marshall Islands and Kiribati. The snake is as big as an island house, long and black. The end of the snake faces Mili and the tail faces Kiribati. It is said if you get lost when sailing, you enter the snake. You get confused, without being able to see stars or feel the waves. Spending one or two days inside, you get scared, try to run away and turn yourself around from south to north. Then you will spend another day or two inside. Finally you die from hunger and thirst. It is said that if you do end up inside, look for the Kaböj bird named Lokto. When the bird sees your canoe, it will fly away. Follow it because it will show you where you entered the snake. If an experienced island navigator enters it, they chant:

Alatyr

by Cyril Korolev

 
In Russian folklore Alatyr is a magic stone, “father of all stones”, a holy omphalos possessing healing properties.
This stone is placed in the center of the Booyan Island. As a legend says, healing rivers flow from beneath Alatyr and on it stands the World Tree (it could be oak, apple tree or cypress). This stone is guarded by mythical monsters – Gagana-bird and Garafena the snake.