Uvnek, one of the last angakut of Godthaab, narrowly escaped an amarsiniook during a spirit-flight. Later, he conjured the creature, summoning a voice from above that revealed Uvnek’s survival owed to his angakok status. The voice also admitted to killing another monster, the kuinasarinook, which had recently mutilated a man. Uvnek’s conjuration explained a previously unsolved death.
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 story features interactions with entities like the amarsiniook and kuinasarinook, highlighting the Inuit belief in spirits and monsters influencing the mortal realm.
Divine Intervention: The amarsiniook’s admission that Uvnek’s survival was due to his angakok status suggests a higher power’s influence in protecting him.
Forbidden Knowledge: Uvnek’s conjuration uncovers hidden truths about the mysterious death, shedding light on events beyond ordinary understanding.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
Uvnek, one of the last angakut at the firth of Godthaab, on one of his spirit-flights narrowly escaped being taken by an amarsiniook. After his return he once performed a conjuration and summoned the amarsiniook. A brightness was observed, and a voice was heard from above the house saying, “If thou hadst not happened to be an angakok thou wouldst never have escaped; it was I who killed the kuinasarinook (another monster, dwelling in certain mountains), because it had torn a man to pieces.” The auditors then remembered how some time ago a man had been found dead, and his body terribly mutilated; but nobody had been able to make out how the murder was committed, till it was thus explained by Uvnek.
► Continue reading…
Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page
Dreamtime Whispers 