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| Image Courtesy: Frontiers of Anthropology |
Really. Humour me and read on...
Hailing from Chinook and Bella Coola Native American Mythology (Oregon / Washington / British Columbia regions) - the Boqs at first glance appears like any other Sasquatch / Big Foot mythology.
In form, it is hominid; with a face showing front facing eyes, nose and mouth. It is bipedal (walks on two legs) but with a distinct stooping posture, making it slightly shorter than the average man. The creature's hands in particular are similar to a human, with opposable thumbs. Its arms are exceedingly long and swing below the knees, and, like most Big Foot mythologies - it is very hairy, the hair being more prevalent on its large barrel like chest, though its face is relatively hair free.
It appears also to communicate by bellowing and whistling, and lives in groups.
And here's where it gets a little strange, and if you're easily offended, stop reading here...
The main difference between the Boqs and other Sasquatch myths is found below the belt (so to speak). This creature's most bizarre feature is its... penis, which is so long that it must be rolled up and carried in the arms when the creature is walking.
Yep.
It uses its outrageously long member to threaten its enemies but uncoiling it and using it to strike tree-trunks and break branches.
There are several stories about these mythological monsters, the most recent of which was a report in 1924, of a young Bella Coola man hearing bellows, whistles and smashing of branches whilst camping at Burke Channel, in British Columbia.
Hehe.
There are really many Big Foot style mythologies found all over the globe, here is a non-comprehensive list;
Sasquatch (North America)
Yeti (Tibet)
Yowie (Australia)
Mapinguary (Brazil)
Maricoxi (South America -various countries)
Yeren (South China)
Almas (Mongolia / Central Asia)
Nguoi Rung (Vietnam)
Orang Pendek (Indonesia / Sumatra)
If you're interested in reading more about the Boqs interesting myths here are some links, you might like;
http://www.ufobc.ca/Supernatural/NativeLegends/index.htm
http://www.native-languages.org/morelegends/boqs.htm
http://www.crystalinks.com/bigfoot.html
Matthews, J&C., 2013, The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, Harper Element.
Have a super week!
