Kigdlinararsuk sought vengeance for his sister’s murder by acquiring an amulet to enhance his boat’s swiftness. Guided by advice, he visited two old women. The second provided him with a dried Merganser amulet, which he discreetly embedded in his boat’s prow. After refining its speed to surpass a flying Merganser, he finally set out to face his enemies, determined and prepared.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Revenge and Justice: Kigdlinararsuk’s primary motivation is to seek retribution for his sister’s death, embodying the pursuit of justice through personal vengeance.
Sacred Objects: The dried Merganser amulet, endowed with mystical properties to increase the boat’s swiftness, plays a crucial role in his journey, highlighting the significance of powerful artifacts in achieving his goal.
Quest: His journey to find the old woman and obtain the amulet represents a classic quest narrative, involving challenges and the pursuit of a specific objective.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
Kigdlinararsuk, in order to avenge the murder of his sister, went out in search of an old woman who could assist him in getting an amulet for giving swiftness to a boat. The first one he came to replied, “I have grown rather old to no purpose (viz., without having acquired wisdom), I am only clever in…, but farther north I have an elder sister more cunning than I; first try thy luck with her, and if thou dost not succeed I’ll see what can be done.” He then went farther, and came to another old hag, who gave him for an amulet a small bit of a dried Merganser (Mergus serrator). This he inserted in the prow of the boat with such care that no marks or joints were visible. Twice he tried it before the boat appeared swift enough to run down a flying Merganser, and not till then did he start to encounter his adversaries.
► Continue reading…
The original words I have not ventured to translate, sufficiently characteristic though they are of the modesty which it is considered necessary by the Eskimo to assume on such occasions as that described in the text. It would have been scarcely possible for the old woman to have claimed skill in a manufacture more lowly than that of which the words omitted would have been a translation.
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 