Chapter 11
"Once in the spring, when I could not make my tow-line fast to a seal, you helped me, and made it fast. Here is that which shall thank you for that service."
And then he rowed away.
Note.--The particular sources of the various legends are as follows:
Polar Eskimo, Smith Sound-- Page
The two Friends who set off to travel round the world 15 The coming of Men, a long, long while ago 16 The woman who had a bear as a foster-son 40 The great bear 81 The man who became a star 82 The woman with the iron tail 83 How the fog came 84 The man who avenged the widows 86 The man who went out to search for his son 88 Atungait, who went a-wandering 90 Kumagdlak and the living arrows 93 The giant dog 95 The Inland-dwellers of Etah 97 The man who stabbed his wife in the leg 98 The soul that lived in the bodies of all beasts 100 Papik, who killed his wife's brother 104 Pâtussorssuaq, who killed his uncle 107 The men who changed wives 109 Artuk, who did all things forbidden 110 The thunder spirits 111 Nerrivik 113 The wife who lied 115 Kâgssagssuk, the homeless boy who became a strong man 117
South-East Greenland--
Nukúnguasik, who escaped from the Tupilak 18 Ímarasugssuaq, who ate his wives 44 Qalagánguasê, who passed to the land of Ghosts 46 Isigâligârssik 49 The Insects that wooed a wifeless man 52 The very obstinate man 56 The Dwarfs 60 The Boy from the Bottom of the Sea, who frightened the people of the house to death 64 The Raven and the Goose 66 When the Ravens could speak 67
West Greenland--
Makíte 68 Asalôq 71 Ukaleq 73 The man who took a Vixen to wife 79 Qasiagssaq, the great liar 123 The Eagle and the Whale 130 The two little Outcasts 133 Atdlarneq, the great glutton 136
Godthaab, West Greenland--
Qujâvârssuk 20 Kúnigseq 38 Ángángujuk 139 Âtârssuaq 142 Puagssuaq 146 Tungujuluk and Saunikoq 148 Anarteq 150 The Guillemot that could talk 152 Kánagssuaq 154
South Greenland--
Íkardlítuarssuk 75
Upernivik, North Greenland--
The Raven who wanted a wife 77
NOTES
[1] Tupilak: a monster created by one having magic powers, who uses it to wreak vengeance on an enemy.
[2] According to custom. It is believed that the qualities of the dead are thus transferred to the living namesake.
[3] Umiak: a large boat, as distinct from the small kayak.
[4] The first dress worn by a child is supposed to act as a charm against wounds if the former wearer can put it on when a grown man.
[5] The story-teller speaks the dwarf's part throughout in a hurried and jerky manner, to illustrate the little man's shyness.
[6] A heavy burden carried on the back is supported by a strap or thong passing over the forehead.
[7] I.e. a creature fashioned by an enemy, after the same manner as a Tupilak.
[8] A small black mollusc.
[9] The star is that which we know as Venus. "Listening": perhaps as the old man had stood listening for the breathing of the seal.
[10] A game played with rings and a stick; the "ring and pin game."
[11] Lit., "Meat Dish."
[12] Speckled seal may often be caught in this fashion.
[13] The souls of the dead are supposed to be born again in the body of one named after them.
[14] There is a fabulous being in Eskimo folklore supposed to have cheeks of copper, with which he can deliver terrible blows by a side movement of the head. Naughty children are frequently threatened with "Copper-cheeks" as a kind of bogey.