An angakok on Kekertarsuak encountered a terrifying scene when visiting his sister: lifeless villagers with staring eyes and his sister creeping toward him with a devouring expression. Fleeing, he escaped with his dogs and later performed a conjuration. His vision revealed the villagers had been scared to death by a kayak skin used in a funeral—a chilling tale blending supernatural and cultural beliefs.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Supernatural Beings: The angakok’s conjuration and the eerie, lifeless villagers suggest interactions with supernatural elements.
Forbidden Knowledge: The revelation that a funeral object caused the villagers’ deaths implies the existence of hidden or dangerous knowledge.
Transformation: The villagers’ sudden shift from life to death, possibly due to supernatural fear, indicates a profound change.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
An angakok on Kekertarsuak set off in his sledge to visit his married sister. On approaching the house his dogs suddenly stopped. After in vain trying to urge them on with his whip, he alighted and went up to the house on foot. But seeing no people about, he looked in at the window, and was horror-struck at seeing all the people lying or sitting about lifeless, their eyes open and staring. His sister alone showed signs of life, and seeing her brother, began to move her mouth as if chewing, and crept towards the entrance. At sight of this he was struck with terror, and fled to his dogs, but was again unable to make them stir. Not until the sister had come quite close, her mouth widely opened as if to devour him, did they suddenly start; and thus he escaped to his home.
► Continue reading…
Afterwards he performed a conjuration, and undertook an angakok flight to examine the place. On his return he reported that those people had been frightened to death by the sight of a skin-cover from a kayak (viz., which had been used at a funeral to carry the corpse upon).
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