An envious old bachelor sought his mother’s advice to improve his luck in hunting and love. She guided him to a stone concealing a path to the underworld, where he obtained a magical piece of whale-skin that boosted his fortune. Sharing misleading instructions with a rival, the rival’s luck soured instead. When the old man returned for more, he was unable to move the stone again.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Underworld Journey: The protagonist descends into the underworld, seeking supernatural aid to improve his fortunes.
Cunning and Deception: He deceives a rival by providing false information, leading to the rival’s misfortune.
Divine Punishment: Upon attempting to revisit the underworld for additional benefits, he finds himself unable to move the stone, suggesting a supernatural force preventing his greed, thereby serving as a form of punishment for his deceit.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
An old bachelor, feeling envious of a younger one because of his better luck in hunting and his finding more favour with women, applied to his mother for counsel and aid.
She pointed out to him a certain spot where he would find a large stone, and moving it aside, an opening would appear leading straight to the under-world, where he would come to a lake; and on seeing two boats, he was to let the first one pass, but was to apply to the second.
Acting upon her advice, he received a piece of matak (whale-skin) from the second boat, by eating which he acquired astonishing good-luck in hunting.
► Continue reading…
The young man, noticing this change of fortune, questioned him as to the cause of his recent success, when he imparted to him the information he had gained from his mother, only substituting the first boat for the second. The young man in this way also got a piece of matak, by eating which he only secured the worst luck in his hunting. Meanwhile the old man had consumed his piece, and went to fetch more; but when he came to the spot the second time, he found himself quite unable to move the stone.
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Dreamtime Whispers 