fandomhigh | Chasing History's Monsters [Friday, Period 1]

Once all of the students had arrived, Annja smiled and began talking.

"The Yeti. The creature has many names, including the one that most are more familiar with, the Abominable Snowman. His main home is said to be in the mountains of the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet."

Arya shook her head as she continued with the narrative. "He has been said to look like some kind of giant ape-like creature with shaggy hair." She looked at Annja with a raised eyebrow and her co-teacher shook her head almost imperceptibly. "Apparently he has also been thought to leave footprints behind that could be mistaken for ... a wolf?"

Arya's face was full of disbelief as she looked at Annja for confirmation. "They actually have mistaken the tracks of an ape with those of a wolf?"

"Only in 1921 and not by anyone who was scientifically trustworthy," Annja explained. "There was an expedition to Mount Everest and many things that his sherpa guides said were mistranslated for the enjoyment of the press at the time." She shrugged at the class. "Keep in mind, that some tales of the creatures we discuss in this class have been around since the dawn of mankind and before recorded history. For instance, according to H. Siiger, the Yeti was a part of the pre-Buddhist beliefs of several Himalayan people. He was told that the Lepcha people worshipped a Glacier Being as a God of the Hunt. He also reported that followers of the Bön religion once believed the blood of the mi rgod or wild man had use in certain mystical ceremonies. The being was depicted as an apelike creature who carries a large stone as a weapon and makes a whistling sound."

"H. Siiger?" Arya questioned, her eyes sparkling with humor. It was obvious that she had asked this question before.

"A would be anthropologist prior to the 19th century," Annja reluctantly responded.

"Was he any good at his job?" Arya, don't poke the archaeologist. She's your friend and you know how she feels about these things.

"He was a legend in his own mind." The other teacher bit out.

Arya laughed as Annja began passing out packets of information.

"Not only have there been numerous sightings of the Yeti over the years, but there were times that evidence of his existence actually showed up."

"Evidence that was quickly refutted as being hoaxes -- even though the supposed scalp of a Yeti is often on display at the Khumjung monastery in northeastern Nepal," Annja said. "In terms of legends and evidence, it could be equated with the legend of Bigfoot that abounds in this country."

Arya looked horrified. "A scalp?"

"It's fake," Annja assured her. She would know.