A kayaker in Godthaab’s fjord encountered a mysterious, perilous phenomenon. Paddling over unexpectedly shallow waters, he recalled legends of the dangerous ocean-spider. Spotting two enormous eyes and a menacing gap below, he realized the creature’s presence. Escaping required exceptional skill, as lesser kayakers might not have survived this harrowing experience. This tale underscores the enduring power of sea myths and the perils of the deep.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Mythical Creatures: The ocean-spider represents a formidable and legendary sea creature within Inuit mythology.
Conflict with Nature: The kayaker’s perilous encounter highlights the challenges humans face when confronting the unpredictable and dangerous forces of the natural world.
Moral Lessons: The tale serves as a cautionary narrative, emphasizing the importance of respecting nature and heeding traditional wisdom to avoid peril.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
A kayaker in the firth of Godthaab once, at a place where no shoal was known to exist, saw the bottom quite close to him.
He then suddenly recollected to have heard old people talking of the ocean-spider, a most dangerous animal to the kayakers.
Presently he discovered a monstrous eye, and at the distance of about a kayak-paddle’s length from it a similar one, and on tearing away from the spot a terrible gap made its appearance.
Indeed, if he had been a less skilled kayaker, he would never have got off alive.
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Dreamtime Whispers 