An old man lost his only son

Source: 
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo 
by Henry Rink 
[William Blackwood and Sons] 
Edinburgh and London, 1875

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► Themes of the story

Loss and Renewal: The narrative centers on the old man’s profound grief following his son’s death, highlighting the universal experience of loss and the subsequent journey toward emotional renewal.

Revenge and Justice: In his sorrow, the old man mistakenly kills an innocent inlander, believing him to be a threat. This act underscores the complexities of seeking justice and the potential for misguided vengeance born from pain.

Ancestral Spirits: The old man’s repeated visits to his son’s grave reflect a deep connection to his lineage, emphasizing the influence of ancestral bonds and the ways in which the departed continue to impact the living.

► From the same Region or People

• North America
  • Arctic Region
    • Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

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Abridged version of the story.

An old man lost his only son when they were both reindeer-hunting up the country. After returning home he often used to visit his son’s grave. Kayaking up the firth with this view, he once right before him saw an inlander pulling himself through the water without any kayak (“using the fog as kayak”), and after some angry words, he killed the inlander. Another time, when he was again visiting the grave, he was surprised at the sight of an inlander, who questioned him as to the cause of his grief. “Yonder wretched heap of stones is the only object of my distress,” he answered. The inlander then told him how he also had, some time ago, lost a son who had been seal-hunting. The old man made out that it must have been the one he had killed; on which he pretended to be expected home, pushed off in his skiff, and never more visited the grave of his son.