Photograph: Children.

Evenki: Evenks

East Siberia, Yenisei province

1907-1908

17,4 x 11,3

РЭМ 5659-78

The photo shows two children near a chum tent; one is seated in the cradle, the other, on older one, is standing close by. It was believed that various evil spirits pose a threat to little kids, therefore for protection against them, a sheathed knife was put under the pillow or mattress in the cradle; little metal chains and bells were hanged to the cradle, which were expected to repel the evil spirits by their glitter and ringing. Children were kept in a cradle until the age of 2 or 3, since it was thought bad luck if a child started to walk early. Abstract by M.V. Fedorova