A woman named Arnasugaussak

Arnasugaussak, after breaking her mother’s precious needle, fled inland with her daughter. They lived among groups of people who transformed into partridges and reindeer. Eventually, they returned to the coast, where they encountered men flensing a whale. As they called out to them, both were mysteriously turned into stones, leaving a lasting mark of their tale.

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

► Themes of the story

Transformation: The narrative features people transforming into partridges and reindeer, highlighting themes of physical change.

Supernatural Beings: The story includes elements of the supernatural, such as the mysterious transformation of individuals into animals and ultimately into stones.

Conflict with Authority: Arnasugaussak’s flight after breaking her mother’s needle suggests a challenge to familial authority, leading to her subsequent adventures.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

A woman named Arnasugaussak, on being scolded by her parents for having broken her mother’s precious needle, fled with her daughter to the inland, where they lived with people, who after a while were transformed into partridges, and afterwards with others who changed into reindeers.

Finally, they returned to the sea-coast, and saw some men flensing a whale. While standing calling out to them they were converted into stones.

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Isigarsigak and his sister

Isigarsigak and his sister fled south for three years due to their mother’s angakok (shamanic) tricks. Stricken by a swelling stomach, he encountered ravens that led him to a house where an old woman removed forgotten hunting bladders causing his condition. Escaping a killer, he returned to his sister and later kayaked to the sky’s edge, discovering holes revealing another sea before retreating.

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

► Themes of the story

Conflict with Authority: Isigarsigak and his sister flee their home due to their mother’s shamanic tricks, indicating a struggle against oppressive familial control.

Supernatural Beings: The story features elements like shamanic practices and mystical experiences, such as the old woman’s intervention to cure Isigarsigak’s ailment.

Forbidden Knowledge: Isigarsigak’s journey to the sky’s edge and his discovery of another sea through the holes in the sky suggest a pursuit of hidden or restricted truths beyond the known world.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

Isigarsigak and his sister were frightened from home by the angakok tricks of their mother, and fled to the south, travelling on for three years in order to reach the end (of the land?). Meanwhile, Isigarsigak perceived his stomach to swell up, so as to make him unfit for kayaking. In crossing a frozen firth, he once saw two ravens coming from the interior, which as they came nearer looked like women hurrying towards the sea; and having caught two seals, they took them on their shoulders and hastened back to the inland. Guided by them, Isigarsigak came to a house, where an old woman offered to cure his stomach. She then examined him by head-lifting, and found out that on leaving his mother he had forgotten some hunting-bladders.

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Cutting open his stomach she brought forth the bladders, which would otherwise have made him burst, she said, if they had been allowed to remain much longer. At that instant a woman appeared at the entrance, armed with a knife; and they warned him to make haste if he would escape her, because it was she who had killed the men of the house. Having returned safely to his sister, he took a fancy to trace the passage of the birds in autumn. He travelled in his kayak until the sky became so low that he could reach it with his paddle-oar. It had two large holes, beyond which he discovered a sea, and was obliged to turn back.

The bloody rock

At a wintering place, men vanished one by one when venturing out. Two boys explored and discovered a rotating, blood-stained mountain. One boy attempted the bloody path and perished, while the other waited for a safer moment to ascend. Reaching the summit, he found a hunter living by a lake. After aiding the hunter, he safely returned home.

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

► Themes of the story

Forbidden Knowledge: The young lads’ curiosity leads them to explore the mysterious, rotating, blood-stained mountain, uncovering hidden dangers.

Trials and Tribulations: The surviving boy faces the perilous challenge of ascending the treacherous mountain, demonstrating resilience and determination.

Supernatural Beings: Upon reaching the summit, the boy encounters a hunter living by a lake, suggesting an encounter with a mystical or otherworldly figure.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

At a certain wintering-place all the men successively disappeared on going out. Two young lads who were still left, while roaming about came to a mountain continually turning round, and on one side all bloody.

One youth tried the bloody path, but fell down and perished. The other waited till the bloody side turned away from him, and climbing gained the summit, when he found a house, and a man who lived by hunting eider-ducks in a lake.

After having stayed some time, and rendered assistance to this man, he returned home safely.

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Saugak

Saugak arrived at a house so vast it could wear out a man’s boots. The master, with many daughters and abundant provisions, served Saugak meat and forced him to eat beyond satiety, threatening him with a knife. When Saugak stopped twinkling his eyes, indicating he could no longer eat, they presented him with dried human flesh, revealing the sinister nature of his host.

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 host’s sinister behavior and the presentation of dried human flesh suggest an encounter with a being beyond the ordinary, possibly with malevolent supernatural traits.

Cunning and Deception: The host deceives Saugak by initially offering hospitality, only to reveal a more sinister intent, forcing him into a perilous situation.

Conflict with Authority: Saugak faces an oppressive figure who imposes his will through threats and coercion, highlighting a struggle against unjust authority.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

Saugak came to a house of such length that a man could wear out the soles of his boots wandering from one end to the other. The master of the house had a crowd of daughters, and an immense stock of provisions. He ordered meat to be served up for Saugak, and forced him to eat.

When Saugak declared that he was satiated, his host went on to point his knife at his eyes, saying that as long as he could twinkle them he could also eat.

When he finally left off twinkling they served up dried human flesh before him.

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The Arnarkuagsak

An angakok performed a conjuration to ensure successful seal-hunting. He journeyed to the sea’s depths to confront the enraged arnarkuagsak, an old hag. Inside her abode, she angrily retrieved bloody clothes and a crying baby from behind her ears, tossing them to the floor. Through his efforts, the angakok managed to appease her, securing her favor for the hunt.

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

► Themes of the story

Divine Intervention: The angakok (shaman) descends to the sea’s depths to confront the arnarkuagsak, an old hag, seeking her favor to ensure successful seal-hunting.

Supernatural Beings: The story features the arnarkuagsak, a supernatural entity residing beneath the sea, influencing the success of human endeavors like hunting.

Quest: The angakok undertakes a perilous journey to the underwater abode of the arnarkuagsak, aiming to secure her favor for the benefit of his community.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

An angakok performed a conjuration in order to procure good seal-hunting. He went down to the old hag, the arnarkuagsak, at the bottom of the sea, and found her in a great rage.

Having entered her abode, she seized hold of her hair behind one ear, grasping some bloody clothes, and afterwards from behind the other one she fetched down a crying baby, flinging both upon the floor.

The angakok then succeeded in propitiating her.

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The sunrise

A man from eastern Greenland, deeply attached to his homeland, loved watching the sunrise over the ocean and refused to leave, even in summer. Persuaded by his son, he reluctantly traveled west. However, after seeing the sun rise behind unfamiliar land, he demanded to return. Once home, overwhelmed by joy at seeing his beloved sunrise again, he died, his heart unable to bear the emotion.

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

► Themes of the story

Sacred Spaces: The man’s deep connection to his homeland and the significance of watching the sunrise over the ocean highlight the spiritual importance of this specific location to him.

Transformation through Love: The son’s love for his father motivates him to persuade his father to explore new places, leading to a transformative journey that ultimately brings the father back to his cherished homeland.

Loss and Renewal: The father’s departure from his homeland represents a loss, and his return signifies renewal. However, the overwhelming joy upon his return leads to his death, intertwining the themes of loss and renewal in a poignant manner.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

A man from the east coast of Greenland from love for his home never left it even during the summer-time; and among his principal enjoyments was that of gazing at the sun rising out of the ocean. But when his son grew up he became desirous of seeing other countries, and, above all, accompanying his countrymen to the west coast. At length he persuaded his father to go with him. No sooner, however, had he passed Cape Farewell, and saw the sun about to rise behind the land, than he insisted upon returning immediately. Having again reached their home island, he went out from his tent early next morning, and when his people had in vain waited for his return, they went out and found him dead. His delight at again seeing the sunrise had overpowered and killed him.

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A girl named Isserfik

Isserfik, a girl who favored animals over men, fell in love with an eagle, which carried her inland. A man pursued them, but Isserfik incited the eagle against him. Using an amulet, the man killed the eagle and brought Isserfik home. She bore a half-man, half-eagle child, but eventually lost her sanity and died.

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

► Themes of the story

Forbidden Love: Isserfik’s romantic involvement with an eagle signifies a union that defies societal norms, highlighting the complexities and consequences of such relationships.

Transformation: The birth of Isserfik’s child, who is half-human and half-eagle, embodies the theme of transformation, merging human and animal characteristics.

Supernatural Beings: The eagle in the story is not merely a bird but a supernatural entity capable of interacting intimately with humans, reflecting the theme of supernatural beings influencing mortal lives.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

A girl named Isserfik preferred animals to men. Lastly, she fell in love with an eagle, that carried her off further inland.

A man went after them to fetch her back; but she excited the eagle against him. The man sought refuge beneath a stone. The eagle began to peck at it with its beak to make a hole in it; but the man sent out his amulet, killed the eagle, and carried Isserfik back to her home, where she gave birth to a child, half man, half eagle.

Finally, she lost her mind and died.

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An old bachelor

An old bachelor, pressured to marry, sought a wife from a neighboring hamlet but was refused the only sister of a family there. Returning home, he abandoned the idea of marriage. Later, while quenching his thirst from a rock in his kayak, his mouth became stuck as the tide receded, leaving him trapped until the next tide released him.

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

► Themes of the story

Family Dynamics: The story explores societal pressures on the bachelor to marry and the familial bonds that lead the neighboring family to refuse his marriage proposal, highlighting the complexities of family relationships.

Cunning and Deception: The tale subtly critiques the bachelor’s selective approach to marriage and his eventual entrapment, suggesting a moral lesson about the consequences of one’s choices and actions.

Moral Lessons: The bachelor’s predicament serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing themes of humility and the potential pitfalls of pride or stubbornness.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

An old bachelor, being a very successful hunter, was always worried by his place-fellows about taking to himself a wife. At last he consented; but when about to make a choice, none of the women at the place appeared good enough for him. Starting in his boat for the neighbouring hamlet, he declared he was going to fetch the only sister of some men living there. On his way thither he met with another kayaker, and addressed him, “Art not thou one of the many brothers?” “Yes, I am the middle one of them.” “I come to demand thy only sister in marriage, and if I may have her I will give thee my boat and a new tent.” “We will allow no one to get her, because she is the only woman in our house.” Having got this information the old bachelor instantly made about, went home, and gave up all thoughts of marrying.

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Being once in his kayak, and suffering from thirst, he observed a small stream of water running down a rock. Remaining in his kayak, he merely turned his face upwards, so as to let the water run into his open mouth. When his thirst had been quenched, and he wanted to push off, his mouth clung to the rock, being at the same time gradually prolonged, because the tide was falling; and thus he had to remain hanging until the next tide should float him off again.

A number of stories are found ridiculing bachelors, and all more or less trifling, like this one. Generally their passions are represented as being excited at the sight of a fine woman; but on approaching her, and perhaps even getting hold of her, she proves to be a gull, or perhaps a stone. Others will marry none but a dwarf, or a woman without breasts. One of them out of a piece of ice makes a little island to live upon by himself.

The amarok

A mourner seeking excitement after a relative’s death encounters the legendary amarok. Accompanied by another relative, he kills the beast’s young but hides when the furious amarok returns. The creature, holding a reindeer, searches for its offspring and pulls a human-like form from the lake. The mourner collapses lifeless, his soul stolen by the supernatural amarok, which sees all.

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 amarok is a mythical creature from Inuit folklore, representing the mysterious and often dangerous forces beyond human understanding.

Divine Punishment: The mourner’s actions—killing the amarok’s offspring—lead to his demise, suggesting a moral lesson about the consequences of disturbing the natural or supernatural order.

Forbidden Knowledge: The mourner’s pursuit of the amarok, despite warnings, exposes him to hidden dangers, highlighting the peril of seeking out forbidden or unknown realms.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

A man who mourned the death of a relative went out in hopes of finding some means of excitement; and being told that an amarok had been heard roaring in the firth of Nook (Godthaab), he could not be kept from going off to encounter the beast. Accompanied by a relative, he went up the country, and finding the young ones of the amarok, the mourner instantly killed the whole. But his companion, getting terribly frightened, betook himself to a cave for refuge, accompanied by the mourner. From their retreat the relative soon saw how the old amarok came running, holding a whole reindeer between its jaws; and having looked in vain for its young ones, it rushed down to the lake, where it appeared to be hauling out something of a human shape.

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At the same moment, turning round to his companion, he saw him falling helpless to the ground. The amarok, from which nothing remains concealed, had discovered him and taken the soul out of his body.

The removal of Disco Island

A Greenlandic legend tells of two old men, Nevingasilernak and Nivfigfarsuk, who magically moved an island that blocked access to the sea. Opposed by Kiviaritajak, they used a child’s hair and chants to tow the island northward, despite his sealskin thong breaking. The island, now Disco Island, left an elevated seabed in its path as it was relocated near Ilulissat.

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 protagonists employ magical means to move the island, indicating interactions with supernatural forces.

Conflict with Nature: The narrative centers on altering the natural landscape to improve access to the sea, highlighting a struggle against natural obstacles.

Cunning and Deception: The use of a child’s hair and chants to secretly move the island demonstrates cleverness and strategic planning to achieve their goal.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

Off the southernmost part of Greenland an island was situated which some of the inhabitants of the mainland took a dislike to, because it cut them off from the open sea. Two old men got the idea of removing it by some magic lay. Their names were Nevingasilernak and Nivfigfarsuk; but another oldster, called Kiviaritajak, rather inclined to retain the island. The first two went in their kayaks to fasten a hair from the head of a little child to the outside, while the last from shore tried to keep it back by means of a thong of sealskin made fast to it. The two old kayakers then pushed off, chanting their spells and tugging the hair. At length the thong burst, and the island got afloat; and continually singing, they pulled away to the north, and placed it in front of Ilulissat. It is now Disco Island. The translation caused the bottom of the sea to rise all along where they travelled.

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