In Tofalaria, not far from Alygdzher, we have Tebzsoy (Camel Mountain). And people tell such a tale about her.
The camel came from the steppe expanses to the Sayan Mountains: it is hardy, active, and loves to travel.
The camel walked and walked and stopped. It quickly gets dark in the taiga and night falls. But he doesn’t go to bed, but still waits and watches for something. A mountain pika comes out to feed - a small animal, no larger than a chipmunk. He sees a huge animal standing, similar to the neighboring mountain. Asks:
-What are you guarding?
“I’ll watch the sun when it rises,” the camel answers, “So you won’t see.” I'll see the sun ahead.
“Look, she’s so smart...” the camel raised his head. “You’re small, you’re sitting in the grass and you can’t be seen.” And I’m tall, big, I’ll see the sun ahead.
Having argued, the camel and the pika wait for the sun to see who will see it first. The camel looks to the east, and the pika looks to the west, to the top of Kok-Teger (Grass Ridge). So it sparkled, began to play, and was illuminated by the radiance of the rising sun. The pika shouts with joy:
– I saw the sun ahead!
The camel slowly, reluctantly turned his head and saw the reflection of the sun's rays on the top of Kok-Teger.
Out of anger and resentment, he kicked the pika, but missed, only hitting its neck.
Since then, the pika's head has been turned upward, with its eyes looking at the sky.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru