Two young men and an elder companion became lost while kayaking in fog. After drifting, they reached a steep promontory inhabited by isarukitsoks. Following the coast, they found a landing spot, rested, and replenished with birds. Continuing their journey, they narrowly avoided a monstrous gull that preys on kayakers. Safely home, they noted these creatures were once abundant near Nook (Godthaab) before the land sank.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Conflict with Nature: The protagonists face natural challenges, including foggy weather that leads them astray and encounters with formidable creatures like the isarukitsoks and a monstrous gull.
Trials and Tribulations: The journey presents a series of challenges, testing the endurance and resilience of the kayakers as they navigate through dangerous and unfamiliar territories.
Supernatural Beings: The isarukitsoks and the monstrous gull represent encounters with creatures beyond the ordinary, adding a supernatural element to their adventure.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
A story from South Greenland.
Two young men with one elder companion lost their way when kayaking in foggy weather, and having roamed about without being able to sight any land, they came to a high promontory, showing one continuous steep and inaccessible cliff, inhabited by crowds of isarukitsoks. By following the coast they at last came to a landing-place, and found a nice situation, where they rested themselves, and had their strength restored by eating birds. Having also filled their kayaks with them, they put off to sea again, and happened to pass by one of the monstrous gulls which are in the habit of picking up the kayakers and giving them as food to their young ones; but they reached their home in safety. It is told that before the land of the isarukitsok sank there were plenty of these birds about Nook (Godthaab).
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Dreamtime Whispers 