The bringing of the light by Raven

In a time of darkness, an orphan boy mocked shamans who failed to restore light. Secretly a raven in disguise, he journeyed south, stealing a ball of light from a mysterious man. Fleeing as a raven, he broke the light into pieces, creating day and night. He later founded a family across the sea, and his descendants became ravens, preserving his legacy of alternating light and dark.

Source:
The Eskimo about Bering Strait
by Edward William Nelson
[Smithsonian Institution]
Bureau of American Ethnology
Eighteenth Annual Report
Washington, 1900

► Themes of the story

Creation: The tale describes the origin of light in the world, detailing how the raven’s actions led to the establishment of day and night.

Transformation: The protagonist’s ability to change into a raven highlights themes of physical transformation and the use of this ability to achieve a greater good.

Quest: The orphan boy’s journey to the south to retrieve the sun and moon represents a classic quest, undertaken to restore balance and light to his community.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

from Paimut, on the Lower Yukon

In the first days there was light from the sun and the moon as we now have it. Then the sun and the moon were taken away, and people were left on the earth for a long time with no light but the shining of the stars. The shamans made their strongest charms to no purpose, for the darkness of night continued.

In a village of the Lower Yukon there lived an orphan boy who always sat upon the bench with the humble people over the entrance way in the kashim. The other people thought he was foolish, and he was despised and ill-treated by everyone. After the shamans had tried very hard to bring back the sun and the moon but failed, the boy began to mock them, saying, “What fine shamans you must be, not to be able to bring back the light, when even I can do it.”

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At this the shamans became very angry and beat him and drove him out of the kashim. This poor orphan was like any other boy until he put on a black coat which he had, when he changed into a raven, pre serving this form until he took off the coat again.

When the shamans drove the boy out of the kashim, he went to the house of his aunt in the village and told her what he had said to them and how they had beaten him and driven him out of the kashim. Then he said he wished her to tell him where the sun and the moon had gone, for he wished to go after them.

She denied that she knew where they were hidden, but the boy said, “I am sure you know where they are, for look at what a finely sewed coat you wear, and you could not see to sew it in that way if you did not know where the light is.” After a long time he prevailed upon his aunt, and she said to him, “Well, if you wish to find the light you must take your snowshoes and go far to the south, to the place you will know when you get there.”

The Raven boy at once took his snowshoes and set off for the south. For many days he traveled, and the darkness was always the same. When he had gone a very long way he saw far in front of him a ray of light, and then he felt encouraged. As he hurried on the light showed again, plainer than before, and then vanished and appeared at intervals. At last he came to a large hill, one side of which was in a bright light while the other appeared in the blackness of night. In front of him and close to the hill the boy saw a hut with a man near by who was shoveling snow from the front of it.

The man was tossing the snow high in the air, and each time that he did this the light became obscured, thus causing the alternations of light and darkness which the boy had seen as he approached. Close beside the house he saw the light he had come in search of, looking like a large ball of fire. Then the boy stopped and began to plan how to secure the light and the shovel from the man.

After a time he walked up to the man and said, “Why are you throwing up the snow and hiding the light from our village?” The man stopped, looked up, and said, “I am only cleaning away the snow from my door; I am not hiding the light. But who are yon, and whence did you come?” “It is so dark at our village that I did not like to live there, so I came here to live with you,” said the boy. “What, all the time?” asked the man. “Yes,” replied the boy. The man then said, “It is well; come into the house with me,” and he dropped his shovel on the ground, and, stooping down, led the way through the underground passage into the house, letting the curtain fall in front of the door as he passed, thinking the boy was close behind him.

The moment the door flap fell behind the man as he entered, the boy caught up the ball of light and pat it in the turned up flap of his fur coat in front; then, catching up the shovel in one hand, he fled away to the north, running until his feet became tired; then by means of his magic coat he changed into a raven and flew as fast as his wings would carry him. Behind he heard the frightful shrieks and cries of the old man, following fast in pursuit. When the old man saw that he could not overtake the Raven he cried out, “Nevermind; you may keep the light, but give me my shovel.”

To this the boy answered, “No; you made our village dark and you can not have your shovel,” and Raven flew off, leaving him. As Raven traveled to his home he broke off a piece of the light and threw it away, thus making day. Then he went on for a long time in dark ness and then threw out another piece of light, making it day again. This he continued to do at intervals until he reached the outside of the kashim in his own village, when he threw away the last piece. Then he went into the kashim and said, “Now, you good-for-nothing shamans, you see I have brought back the light, and it will be light and then dark so as to make day and night,” and the shamans could not answer him.

After this the Raven boy went out upon the ice, for his home was on the seacoast, and a great wind arose, drifting him with the ice across the sea to the land on the other shore. There he found a village of people and took a wife from among them, living with her people until he had three daughters and four sons. In time he became very old and told his children how he had come to their country, and after telling them that they must go to the land whence he came, he died.

Raven’s children then went away as he had directed them, and finally they came to their father’s land. There they became ravens, and their descendants afterward forgot how to change themselves into people and so have continued to be ravens to this day.

At Raven’s village day and night follow each other as he told them it would, and the length of each was unequal, as sometimes Raven traveled a long time without throwing out any light and again he threw out the light at frequent intervals, so that the nights were very short, and thus they have continued.

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Raven Takes a Wife

Raven, tired of solitude, sought a wife among migrating birds. Disguising himself as a young man, he joined a family of geese, marrying the daughter. Though admired for his grace, Raven struggled to keep pace during their journey. Exhausted, he fell behind, losing the geese’s respect. Cast ashore by waves, he abandoned his disguise and dried himself by a fire, reflecting on his misfortune.

Source:
The Eskimo about Bering Strait
by Edward William Nelson
[Smithsonian Institution]
Bureau of American Ethnology
Eighteenth Annual Report
Washington, 1900

► Themes of the story

Transformation: Raven disguises himself as a young man to join the geese, highlighting themes of physical change and adaptation.

Quest: Raven’s journey to find a wife among the migrating birds represents a personal quest for companionship and belonging.

Trials and Tribulations: Raven encounters difficulties in keeping pace with the geese during their migration, leading to exhaustion and loss of respect, illustrating the challenges faced during his pursuit.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

Tale of the Raven
from the Unalit of Norton Sound

For a long time Raven lived alone, but finally became tired of this and decided to take a wife. For this purpose he looked about and noticed that it was late in the fall and that the birds were going southward in large nocks. Then Raven flew away and stopped directly in the path taken by the geese and other wild fowl on their way to the land of summer. As he sat by the way he saw a pretty young Hutchins goose coming near. Then he modestly hid his face by looking at his feet, and as the goose passed he called out, “Who wishes me for a husband? I am a very nice man.” Unheeding him, the goose flew on, and Raven looked after her and sighed. Soon after a black brant passed, and Raven cried out as before, with the same result. He looked after her and cried out, “Ah, what kind of people are these? They do not even wait to listen.” Again he waited, and a duck passed near, and when Raven cried out she turned a little toward him but passed on.

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For an instant his heart beat quickly with hope, and as the duck passed, he cried, “Ah, I came very near then; perhaps I shall succeed this time;” and he stood waiting with bowed head.

Very soon a family of white-front Geese came along, consisting of the parents with four brothers and a sister, and the Raven cried out, “Who wishes me for a husband? I am a fine hunter and am young and handsome.” As he finished they alighted just beyond him, and he thought, “Now I will get a wife.” Then he looked about and saw a pretty white stone with a hole in it lying near; he picked it up and, stringing it on a long grass stem, hung it about his neck. As soon as he had done this he pushed up his bill so that it slid to the top of his head like a mask, and he became a dark-colored young man, who walked up to the Geese. At the same time each of the Geese pushed up its bill in the same manner, and they became nice-looking people. Raven was much pleased with the looks of the girl and, going to her, gave her the stone, choosing her for his wife, and she hung it about her own neck. Then all pushed down their bills, becoming birds again, and flew away toward the south.

The Geese flapped their wings heavily and worked slowly along, but Raven with his outspread wings glided on faster than his party, while the geese looked after him, exclaiming, in admiration, “How light and graceful he is!” At length Raven grew weary, so he said, “We had better stop early and look for a place to sleep.” The others agreed to this, so they stopped and were soon asleep.

Early next morning the Geese were astir and wished to be off, but Raven still slept so heavily that they had to arouse him. The father Goose said, “We must make haste, for it will snow here soon; let us not linger.”

As soon as Raven was fully awake he pretended to be eager to get away, and, as on the day before, led the others with outspread wings and was greatly admired by his young companions. And so Raven kept on, above or in front of his companions, who made admiring remarks to one another, such as “Ah, see how light and graceful he is.” Thus the party traveled on until they stopped one evening upon the seashore, where they feasted upon the berries that were plentiful all about them, and then went to sleep.

Early the next morning the Geese made ready to go without stopping for breakfast. Raven’s stomach cried out for some of the fine berries that were so plentiful, but the Geese would not wait, so he dared not object to starting. As they left the seashore the father Goose told them that they would stop to rest once on the way, and the next stretch would bring them to the other shore. Raven began to feel very doubtful about being able to reach the other shore, but he was ashamed to say so and thought he would risk making the attempt; so off they all flew. The Geese flew steadily on and on. After a long time Raven began to fall behind. His wide-spread wings ached, yet the Geese kept on steadily and untiringly. Raven flapped heavily along, and then would glide on outspread pinions for a time, trying to ease his tired wings, but to no purpose, so he fell farther and farther behind. Finally the Geese looked back, and the father Goose exclaimed, “I thought he was light and active, but he must be getting tired; let us wait.” Then the Geese settled close together in the water, and Raven came laboring up and sunk upon their backs, gasping for breath. In a short time he partly recovered, and, putting one hand on his breast, said, “I have an arrowhead here from an old war I was iii and it pains me greatly; that is the reason I fell behind.”

After resting they went on, but the others had to wait for Raven again, and he repeated the story of the arrowhead, which he told them had pierced his heart. Then he had his wife put her hand on his breast to feel” it shaking about. She did so, but could feel only his heart beating like a hammerstone and no sign of an arrowpoint, yet she said nothing. Thus they went on, and again they waited for Raven, but now the brothers began to talk about him, saying among themselves, “I do not believe that story about the arrowhead. How could he live with an arrowhead in his heart?”

When they were rested they saw the far-away shore before them. The father Goose now told Raven that they “would wait for him no more until they reached the land. Then all arose and flew on, Raven slowly flapping his wings, which felt very heavy. The Geese kept steadily on toward the shore, while Raven sank lower and lower, getting nearer and nearer to the dreaded water. As he came close to the waves he cried and shrieked to his wife, “Leave me the white stone! Throw it back to me!” for it contained magical properties. Thus he kept crying until suddenly his wings lost their power and he floated helplessly in the water as the Geese gained the shore. He tried to rise from the water, but his wings seemed to be weighted down, and he drifted back and forth along the beach. The waves arose, and soon succeeding white caps buried him until he was soaked, and only with the greatest difficulty could he get his beak above the surface to breathe a little between the waves. After a long time a great wave cast him upon the land. Then, as it flowed back, he dug his claws into the pebbles and only by great effort did he save himself from being dragged back again into the sea. As soon as he was able he struggled up the beach, an unhappy-looking object. The water ran in streams from his soaked feathers and his wings dragged on the ground. He fell several times, and at last, with wide-gaping mouth, reached some bushes, where he pushed up his beak and became a small, dark-colored man. Then he took off his raven coat and mask, hanging them on a bush, while he made a firedrill out of some pieces of wood and soon had a fire burning, before which he dried himself.

Kiviung

An old woman, a powerful angakoq, transforms her tormented grandson into a seal to outwit abusive villagers, ultimately causing their demise in a storm. Kiviung, a kind man spared from the chaos, embarks on a perilous journey, encountering witches, betrayal, and supernatural events. After surviving many trials and strange encounters, he returns home to find his son grown into a skilled hunter and his wife seeking reconciliation.

Source:
The Central Eskimo
by Franz Boas
[Bureau of American Ethnology]
Sixth Annual Report
Washington, 1888

► Themes of the story

Transformation: Central to the narrative is the grandmother’s magical transformation of her grandson into a seal, showcasing themes of change and adaptation.

Revenge and Justice: The grandmother’s act of turning her grandson into a seal leads to the demise of the abusive villagers, highlighting the pursuit of justice against wrongdoing.

Quest: Kiviung’s journey, filled with perilous encounters and supernatural challenges, embodies the classic quest motif, emphasizing personal growth and resilience.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

An old woman lived with her grandson in a small hut. As she had no husband and no son to take care of her and the boy, they were very poor, the boy’s clothing being made of skins of birds which they caught in snares. When the boy would come out of the hut and join his playfellows, the men would laugh at him and tear his outer garment. Only one man, whose name was Kiviung, was kind to the young boy; but he could not protect him from the others. Often the lad came to his grandmother crying and weeping, and she always consoled him and each time made him a new garment. She entreated the men to stop teasing the boy and tearing his clothing, but they would not listen to her prayer.

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At last she got angry and swore she would take revenge upon his abusers, and she could easily do so, as she was a great angakoq. She commanded her grandson to step into a puddle which was on the floor of the hut, telling him what would happen and how he should behave. As soon as he stood in the water the earth opened and he sank out of sight, but the next moment he rose near the beach as a yearling seal with a beautiful skin and swam about lustily. The men had barely seen the seal when they took to their kayaks, eager to secure the pretty animal. But the transformed boy quickly swam away, as his grandmother had told him, and the men continued in pursuit. Whenever he rose to breathe he took care to come up behind the kayaks, where the men could not get at him with their harpoons; there, however, he splashed and dabbled in order to attract their attention and lure them on. But before any one could turn his kayak he had dived again and swam away. The men were so interested in the pursuit that they did not observe that they were being led far from the coast and that the land was now altogether invisible.

Suddenly a gale arose; the sea foamed and roared and the waves destroyed or upset their frail vessels. After all seemed to be drowned the seal was again transformed into the lad, who went home without wetting his feet. There was nobody now to tear his clothing, all his abusers being dead.

Only Kiviung, who was a great angakoq and had never abused the boy, had escaped the wind and waves. Bravely he strove against the wild sea, but the storm did not abate. After he had drifted for many days on the wide sea, a dark mass loomed up through the mist. His hope revived and he worked hard to reach the supposed land. The nearer he came, however, the more agitated did the sea become, and he saw that he had mistaken a wild, black sea, with raging whirlpools, for land. Barely escaping he drifted again for many days, but the storm did not abate and he did not see any land. Again he saw a dark mass looming up through the mist, but he was once more deceived, for it was another whirlpool which made the sea rise in gigantic waves.

At last the storm moderated, the sea subsided, and at a great distance he saw the land. Gradually he came nearer and following the coast he at length spied a stone house in which a light was burning. He landed and entered the house. Nobody was inside but an old woman whose name was Arnaitiang. She received him kindly and at his request pulled off his boots, slippers, and stockings and dried them on the frame hanging over the lamp. Then she went out to light a fire and cook a good meal.

When the stockings were dry, Kiviung tried to take them from the frame in order to put them on, but as soon as he extended his hand to touch them the frame rose out of his reach. Having tried several times in vain, he called Arnaitiang and asked her to give him back the stockings. She answered: “Take them yourself; there they are; there they are” and went out again. The fact is she was a very bad woman and wanted to eat Kiviung.

Then he tried once more to take hold of his stockings, but with no better result. He called again for Arnaitiang and asked her to give him the boots and stockings, whereupon she said: “Sit down where I sat when you entered my house; then you can get them.” After that she left him again. Kiviung tried it once more, but the frame rose as before and he could not reach it.

Now he understood that Arnaitiang meditated mischief; so he summoned his tornaq, a huge white bear, who arose roaring from under the floor of the house. At first Arnaitiang did not hear him, but as Kiviung kept on conjuring the spirit came nearer and nearer to the surface, and when she heard his loud roar she rushed in trembling with fear and gave Kiviung what he had asked for. “Here are your boots.” she cried; “here are your slippers; here are your stockings. I’ll help you put them on.” But Kiviung would not stay any longer with this horrid witch and did not even dare to put on his boots, but took them from Arnaitiang and rushed out of the door. He had barely escaped when it clapped violently together and just caught the tail of his jacket, which was torn off. He hastened to his kayak without once stopping to look behind and paddled away. He had only gone a short distance before Arnaitiang, who had recovered from her fear, came out swinging her glittering woman’s knife and threatening to kill him. He was nearly frightened to death and almost upset his kayak. However, he managed to balance it again and cried in answer, lifting up his spear: “I shall kill you with my spear.” When Arnaitiang heard these words she fell down terror stricken and broke her knife. Kiviung then observed that it was made of a thin slab of fresh water ice.

He traveled on for many days and nights, following the shore. At last he came to a hut, and again a lamp was burning inside. As his clothing was wet and he was hungry, he landed and entered the house. There he found a woman who lived all alone with her daughter. Her son-in-law was a log of driftwood which had four boughs. Every day about the time of low water they carried it to the beach and when the tide came in it swam away. When night came again it returned with eight large seals, two being fastened to every bough. Thus the timber provided its wife, her mother, and Kiviung with an abundance of food. One day, however, after they had launched it as they had always done, it left and never returned. After a short interval Kiviung married the young widow. Now he went sealing every day himself and was very successful. As he thought of leaving some day, he was anxious to get a good stock of mittens (that his hands might keep dry during the long journey?). Every night after returning from hunting he pretended to have lost his mittens. In reality he had concealed them in the hood of his jacket.

After a while the old woman became jealous of her daughter, for the new husband of the latter was a splendid hunter and she wished to marry him herself. One day when he was away hunting, she murdered her daughter, and in order to deceive him she removed her daughter’s skin and crept into it, thus changing her shape into that of the young woman.

When Kiviung returned, she went to meet him, as it had been her daughter’s custom, and without exciting any suspicion. But when he entered the hut and saw the bones of his wife he at once became aware of the cruel deed and of the deception that had been practiced and fled away.

He traveled on for many days and nights, always following the shore. At last he again came to a hut where a lamp was burning. As his clothing was wet and he was hungry, he landed and went up to the house. Before entering it occurred to him that it would be best to find out first who was inside. He therefore climbed up to the window and looked through the peep hole. On the bed sat an old woman, whose name was Aissivang (spider). When she saw the dark figure before the window she believed it was a cloud passing the sun, and as the light was insufficient to enable her to go on with her work she got angry. With her knife she cut away her eyebrows, ate them, and did not mind the dripping blood, but sewed on. When Kiviung saw this he thought that she must be a very bad woman and turned away.

Still he traveled on days and nights. At last he came to a land which seemed familiar to him and soon he recognized his own country. He was very glad when he saw some boats coming to meet him. They had been on a whaling excursion and were towing a great carcass to the village. In the bow of one of them stood a stout young man who had killed the whale. He was Kiviung’s son, whom he had left a small boy and who was now grown up and had become a great hunter. His wife had taken a new husband, but now she returned to Kiviung.

Kiviung

The Inuit myth of Uxssung and Kiviuk tells of a boy who transforms into a groundseal, evading hunters and causing their demise, sparing only the kind-hearted Kiviuk. Kiviuk travels to a distant land, encountering challenges, women, and a foe who fails to harm him. Later, as an angakoq (shaman), Kiviuk follows a woman across the ice, catching narwhals before reuniting with his wife.

Source:
Tales of the Smith Sound Eskimo
by Alfred L. Kroeber
[The American Folklore Society]
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.12, No.46, pp.166-182
July-September, 1899

► Themes of the story

Transformation: Uxssung’s metamorphosis into a ground seal illustrates physical change.

Divine Intervention: Uxssung’s actions, leading to the demise of hunters and sparing Kiviuk, suggest influence beyond mortal means.

Quest: Kiviuk’s journey to distant lands, facing challenges and encounters, embodies the pursuit of a significant goal.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

A complete tale about Kiviung is found in Greenland and in Baffin Land. The first portion also occurs in Labrador and Angmagsalik.

A woman put a boy on the water, and he floated away, sinking and rising. Each time that he came up he looked more like a groundseal, until the people who were looking for him could not distinguish him from one. His name was Uxssung (ground-seal). The men pursued him in their kayaks, but he caused them all to drown. He saved only one, who had been good to him, whose name was Kiviuk. Kiviuk came to a far distant land, where he met two women, with whom he stayed. A large man tried to shoot him with his bow, but was unable to.

* * *

Kiviung was going far away, paddling in his kayak. He was following a woman traveling on the ice. Far away Kiviung followed her, because he was an angakoq and knew everything.

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Finally, far away at Tinussaving, he caught and cut up many narwhals. Then Kiviung, still paddling after her, at last caught up with her. Then he cohabited with her. Then Kiviung went back to his wife, going in his kayak. When he reached her, Kiviung said: “There! Where is it? I see her in Tinussaving. There she lives and cuts up many narwhals, and lives on them.”

The black bear

Two brothers embarked on a journey across the sea, encountering a mythical black bear-like creature, the agli. After a tense battle in its lair, they killed the beast but fled from its fierce offspring. The brothers then parted ways, with one getting lost while hunting. The other returned home, astonishing his mother so greatly that she reacted with an involuntary outburst of disbelief.

Source:
Tales of the Smith Sound Eskimo
by Alfred L. Kroeber
[The American Folklore Society]
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.12, No.46, pp.166-182
July-September, 1899

► Themes of the story

Quest: The brothers embark on a journey across the sea, encountering challenges along the way.

Mythical Creatures: They confront the agli, a fabulous black bear-like creature from Inuit lore.

Family Dynamics: The tale concludes with the surviving brother’s return home, eliciting a profound reaction from his mother.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Two brothers left their home, going far away over the sea. Finally they reached land again. Here they saw an agli (black bear) [a fabulous animal also in Baffin Land, where it is called agdlaq], a large animal living in a hole in the ground, and having no claws from digging, but possessing large teeth. They threw stones at him but missed him, and he retreated into his cavern. The brothers entered the cavern, and one of them thrust his spear down the agli’s throat into his vitals. His young ones jumped at the men and bit at them like dogs, and they came out again, leaving the spear in the agli, from which wound he soon died. The two brothers now separated. One went ptarmigan-hunting, and was lost, but the other finally reached his home again. When his mother saw him return (whom she believed dead), she defecated from amazement and surprise.

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The eagle and the whale

In a remote village, two sisters are taken by magical creatures—a great eagle and a whale—who become their husbands. Longing to reunite, their brothers craft tools to rescue them. The eagle is slain by a boy’s arrow, while the whale is thwarted by the sisters’ clever distractions during a perilous sea chase. Ultimately, both sisters escape, leaving their fantastical captors behind.

Source:
Eskimo Folk-Tales
collected by Knud Rasmussen
[Copenhagen, Christiania], 1921

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: The sisters are taken by magical creatures—a great eagle and a whale—who become their husbands.

Quest: The brothers embark on a journey to rescue their sisters from these supernatural captors.

Cunning and Deception: The sisters use clever tactics to aid in their escape, such as plaiting sinew lines to lower themselves down and distracting the whale during the sea chase.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

In a certain village there lived many brothers. And they had two sisters, both of an age to marry, and often urged them to take husbands, but they would not.

At last one of the men said: “What sort of a husband do you want, then? An eagle, perhaps? Very well, an eagle you shall have.”

This he said to the one. And to the other he said: “And you perhaps would like a whale? Well, a whale you shall have.”

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And then suddenly a great eagle came in sight, and it swooped down on the young girl and flew off with her to a high ledge of rock. And a whale also came in sight, and carried off the other sister, carrying her likewise to a ledge of rock.

After that the eagle and the girl lived together on a ledge of rock far up a high steep cliff. The eagle flew out over the sea to hunt, and while he was away, his wife would busy herself plaiting sinews for a line wherewith to lower herself down the rock. And while she was busied with that work, the eagle would sometimes appear, with a walrus in one claw and a narwhal in the other.

One day she tried the line, with which she was to lower herself down; it was too short. And so she plaited more.

But as time went on, the brothers began to long for their sister. And they all set to work making crossbows.

And there was in that village a little homeless boy, who was so small that he had not strength to draw a bow, but must get one of the others to draw it for him every time he wanted to shoot. When they had made all things ready, they went out to the place where their sister was, and called to her from the foot of the cliff, telling her to lower herself down. And this she did. As soon as her husband had gone out hunting, she lowered herself down and reached her brothers.

Towards evening, the eagle appeared out at sea, with a walrus in each claw, and as he passed the house of his wife’s brothers, he dropped one down to them. But when he came home, his wife was gone. Then he simply threw his catch away, and flew, gliding on widespread wings, down to where those brothers were. But whenever the eagle tried to fly down to the house, they shot at it with their bows. And as none of them could hit, the little homeless boy cried: “Let me try too!”

And then one of the others had to bend his bow for him. But when he shot off his arrow, it struck. And when then the eagle came fluttering down to earth, the others shot so many arrows at it that it could not quite touch the ground.

Thus they killed their sister’s husband, who was a mighty hunter.

But the other sister and the whale lived together likewise. And the whale was very fond of her, and would hardly let her out of his sight for a moment.

But the girl here likewise began to feel homesick, and she also began plaiting a line of sinew threads, and her brothers, who were likewise beginning to long for their sister, set about making a swift-sailing umiak. And when they had finished it, and got it into the water, they said: “Now let us see how fast it can go.”

And then they got a guillemot which had its nest close by to fly beside them, while they tried to outdistance it by rowing. But when it flew past them, they cried: “This will not do; the whale would overtake us at once. We must take this boat to pieces and build a new one.” And so they took that boat to pieces and built a new one.

Then they put it in the water again and once more let the bird fly a race with them. And now the two kept side by side all the way, but when they neared the land, the bird was left behind.

One day the girl said as usual to the whale: “I must go outside a little.”

“Stay here,” said her husband, that great one.

“But I must go outside,” said the girl.

Now he had a string tied to her, and this he would pull when he wanted her to come in again. And hardly had she got outside when he began pulling at the string.

“I am only just outside the passage,” she cried. And then she tied the string by which she was held, to a stone, and ran away as fast as she could down hill, and the whale hauled at the stone, thinking it was his wife, and pulled it in. The brothers’ house was just below the hillside where she was, and as soon as she came home, they fled away with her. But at the same moment, the whale came out from the passage way of its house, and rolled down into the sea. The umiak dashed off, but it seemed as if it were standing still, so swiftly did the whale overhaul it. And when the whale had nearly reached them, the brothers said to their sister: “Throw out your hairband.”

And hardly had she thrown it out when the sea foamed up, and the whale stopped. Then it went on after them again, and when it came up just behind the boat, the brothers said: “Throw out one of your mittens.”

And she threw it out, and the sea foamed up, and the whale pounced down on it. And then she threw out the inner lining of one of her mittens, and then her outer frock and then her inner coat, and now they were close to land, but the whale was almost upon them. Then the brothers cried: “Throw out your breeches!”

And at the same moment the sea was lashed into foam, but the umiak had reached the land. And the whale tried to follow, but was cast up on the shore as a white and sun-bleached bone of a whale.

Atungait, who went a-wandering

Atungait, a powerful man, embarks on a journey with a strong woman he chooses after observing her skills. Together, they face unique tribes, man-eaters, and magical dangers while traveling. Returning home, Atungait discovers his wife’s infidelity, kills her for lying, but spares the truthful lover. He then marries the strong woman. This tale highlights Atungait’s strength, cunning, and uncompromising sense of justice.

Source:
Eskimo Folk-Tales
collected by Knud Rasmussen
[Copenhagen, Christiania], 1921

► Themes of the story

Quest: Atungait embarks on a journey with a strong woman, encountering various tribes and challenges, reflecting the classic quest motif.

Transformation: Through his travels and experiences, Atungait’s understanding of loyalty and justice evolves, leading to significant changes in his personal relationships.

Conflict with Authority: Atungait confronts societal norms and personal betrayal, challenging the actions of his unfaithful wife and asserting his own sense of justice.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

Atungait, that great man, had once, it is said, a fancy to go out on a sledge trip with a strong woman. He took a ribbon seal and had it flayed, and forbade his wife to scrape the meat side clean, so that the skin might be as thick as possible. And so he had it dried.

When the winter had come, he went out to visit a tribe well known for their eagerness in playing football. He stayed among them for some time, and watched the games, carefully marking who was strongest among the players.

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And he saw that there was one among them a woman small of stature, who yet always contrived to snatch the ball from the others. Therefore he gave her the great thick skin he had brought with him, and told her to knead it soft. And this she did, though no other woman could have done it. Then he took her on his sledge and drove off on a wandering through the lands around.

On their way they came to a high and steep rock, rising up from the open water. Atungait sprang up on to that rock, and began running up it. So strong was he that at every step he bored his feet far down into the rock.

When he reached the top, he called to his dogs, and one by one they followed by the way of his footsteps, and reached the top, all of them save one, and that one died. And after that he hoisted up his sledge first, and then his wife after, and so they drove on their way.

After they had driven for some time, they came to a place of people. And the strange thing about these people was that they were all left-handed. And then they drove on again and came to some man-eaters; these ate one another, having no other food. But they did not succeed in doing him any harm.

And they drove on again and came to other people; these had all one leg shorter than the other, and had been so from birth. They lay on the ground all day playing ajangat [a game played with rings and a stick; the “ring and pin game.”]. And they had a fine ajangat made of copper.

Atungait stayed there some time, and when the time came for him to set out once more, he stole their plaything and took it away with him, having first destroyed all their sledges.

But the lame ones, being unable to pursue, dealt magically with some rocky ridges, which then rushed over the ice towards the travellers.

Atungait heard something like the rushing of a river, and turning round, perceived those rocks rolling towards him.

“Have you a piece of sole-leather?” he asked his wife. And she had such a piece.

She tied it to a string and let it drag behind the sledge. When the stones reached it, they stopped suddenly, and sank down through the ice. And the two drove on, hearing the cries of the lame ones behind them: “Bring back our plaything, and give us our copper thing again.”

But now Atungait began to long for his home, and not knowing in what part of the land they were, he told the woman with him to wait, while he himself flew off through the air. For he was a great wizard.

He soon found his house, and looked in through the window. And there sat his wife, rubbing noses with a strange man.

“Huh! You are not afraid of wearing away your nose, it seems.” So he cried.

On hearing this, the wife rushed out of the house, and there she met her husband.

“You have grown clever at kissing,” he said.

“No, I have not kissed any one,” she cried.

Then Atungait grasped her roughly and killed her, because she had lied. The strange man also came out now, and Atungait went towards him at once.

“You were kissing inside there, I see,” he said.

“Yes,” said the stranger.

And Atungait let him live, because he spoke the truth. And after that he flew back to the strong woman and made her his wife.

The man who went out to search for his son

A father sets out to find his missing son, encountering dangerous giants, man-eaters, and deceptive creatures. Using his wizardry and calling on killer whale spirits, he overcomes each peril. He discovers his son was killed by a stranger, who had stretched out his son’s kayak skin. Enraged, the father crushes the man-eater to death and returns home, completing his grim quest.

Source:
Eskimo Folk-Tales
collected by Knud Rasmussen
[Copenhagen, Christiania], 1921

► Themes of the story

Quest: The father’s journey to find his missing son embodies a classic quest, filled with challenges and driven by a personal mission.

Supernatural Beings: Throughout his journey, the father encounters giants, man-eaters, and deceptive creatures, highlighting interactions with supernatural entities.

Revenge and Justice: Upon discovering his son’s fate, the father exacts justice by killing the man-eater responsible, underscoring themes of retribution and the restoration of order.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

Once in the days of our forefathers, a man went out along the coasts, making search for his son. For that son had gone out in his kayak and had not returned.

One day he saw a giant beside a great glacier, and rowed up to him then. When he had entered the house, the giant drew forth a drum, a beautiful drum with a skin that had been taken from the belly of a man. Now the giant was about to give him this drum, but at the same time he felt such a violent desire to eat him up, that he trembled all over.

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Just then some great salmon began dropping down through a hole in the roof, and the man was so frightened at this that he could scarcely eat. And he could not get out of the place.

But he was himself a great wizard, and now he began calling upon his helping spirits. And they were great.

“Killer whales, killer whales — come forth, my helping spirits and show yourselves, for here is one who desires to eat me up.”

And they came forth, and the house was crushed and the giant was killed, and the man set out again in search of his own.

Then he met another big man, and this man did nothing but eat men, and their kayaks he threw down into a great ravine. The man rowed up to this giant. And when he reached him, the man-eater said: “Come here and look,” and led him to the deep ravine. And when the man looked down, the giant tried to thrust him backwards down into the depth.

But the man caught hold of the giant’s legs and cast him down instead. And then he went on again.

And as he was rowing on, he heard the bone of a seal calling to him: “Take away the moss which has stopped up the hole that goes through me.” And he did so, and went on again.

Another time he heard a mussel at the bottom of the sea crying: “Here is a mussel that wishes to see you; come down to the bottom; row your kayak straight down through the water — this way!”

That mussel wanted to eat him. But he did not heed it.

Then at last one day he saw an old woman, and rowed towards her, and came up to her. And she said: “Let me dry your boots.” And she took them and hung them up so high that he could not reach them. The man would have slept, but he could not sleep for fear.

“Give me my boots,” he said. For it was now revealed that she was a man-eater. And so he got hold of his boots and fled down to his kayak, and the woman ran after him.

“If only I could catch him, and cut him up,” she said. And as she spoke, the kayak nearly upset.

“If only I could send a bird dart through her,” said the man. And as he spoke, the woman fell down on her back and broke her knife.

And then he rowed on his way. And on his way he met a man, and rowed up to him.

“See what a skin I have stretched out here,” said the stranger. And he knew at once it was his son’s kayak. The stranger had eaten his son, and there was his skin stretched out. The man therefore went up on land and trampled that man-eater to death, so that all his bones were crushed.

And then he went home again.

Asaloq

Asaloq, seeking his lost foster-brother, embarks southward with his wife in a skin-covered umiak. Facing perils like sea-lice and serpents, they arrive at a village of strongmen. Challenged to a wrestling match, Asaloq defeats all opponents, asserting dominance. Fleeing further south, he uses magic to evade pursuers. Ultimately, Asaloq and his wife reach Aluk, where their legacy endures.

Source:
Eskimo Folk-Tales
collected by Knud Rasmussen
[Copenhagen, Christiania], 1921

► Themes of the story

Quest: Asaloq embarks on a perilous journey southward in search of his lost foster-brother, facing numerous challenges along the way.

Supernatural Beings: Throughout his voyage, Asaloq encounters mystical creatures such as sea-lice and sea-serpents, highlighting interactions with the supernatural.

Cunning and Deception: Asaloq employs magic and clever tactics to evade his pursuers, demonstrating the use of wit to overcome obstacles.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

Asaloq, men say, had a foster-brother. Once when he had come home after having been out in his kayak, his foster-brother had disappeared. He sought for him everywhere, but being unable to find him, he built a big umiak, and when it was built, he covered it with three layers of skins. Then he rowed off southwards with his wife. And while they were rowing, they saw a black ripple on the sea ahead. When they came to the place, they saw that it was the sea-lice. And the outermost layer of skins on the boat was eaten away before they got through them.

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Now they rowed onwards again, and saw once more a black ripple ahead. When they came to the place, they saw that it was the sea-serpents. And once again they slipped through with the loss of one layer of skins.

Having now but one layer of skins left, they went in great fear of what they might chance to meet next. But without seeing anything strange, they rounded a point, and came in sight of a place with many houses. Hardly had they come into land when the strangers caught hold of their boat, and hauled it up, so that Asaloq had no need to help.

And now it was learned that these were folk who had a strong man in their midst. Asaloq had been but a short time in one of the houses, when they heard the sound of one coming from outside and in through the passage way; it was the strong man’s talebearer boy, and to make matters worse, a boy with a squint.

And now the people of the house said: “Now that wretched boy will most certainly tell him you are here.”

And indeed, the boy was just about to run out again, when they caught hold of him and set him up behind the lamp. But hardly had they turned their backs on him for a moment, when he slipped out before any could move, and they heard the sound of his running footsteps in the snow without.

And after a while, the window grew red with a constant filling of faces looking in to say: “We are sent to bid the stranger come.”

And since there was no help for it, Asaloq went up there with them. When he came into the house, it was full of people, and he looked round and saw the strong man far in on the big bench. And at the moment Asaloq caught sight of him, the strong man said in a deep voice: “Let us have a wrestling match.”

And as he spoke, the others drew out a skin from under the bench, and spread it on the floor. And after the skin had been spread out, food was brought in. And Asaloq ate till there was no more left. But as he rose, all that he had eaten fell out of his stomach. And then they began pulling arms. And now Asaloq began mightily pulling the arms of all the men there, until the skin was worn from his arm, leaving the flesh almost bare.

And when he had straightened out all their arms, he went out of that house the strongest of all, and went out to his umiak and rowed away southwards with his wife. And when they had rowed a little way, they came to a little island, and pitched their tent on the sunny side. And when Asaloq then went up on the hillside to look out, he saw many umiaks coming from the northward, and they camped on the shady side.

Then he heard them say: “Now search carefully about.” And others said: “He can hardly be on such a little island.”

And now Asaloq sang magic songs over them from the top of the hill, and at last he heard them say: “We may as well go home again.”

Now Asaloq stood and watched them row away, and not until they were out of sight did he set off again to the southward. At last they reached Aluk, and there their bones still rest.

Here ends this story.

The two friends who set off to travel round the world

Two men set out to travel the world, each taking a musk-ox horn cup carved from the same beast, journeying separately to meet again one day. As years passed, they aged, had children, and their children grew old. When they finally reunited, only the handles of their cups remained. Reflecting on their journey, they marveled at the vastness of the world and the passage of time.

Source:
Eskimo Folk-Tales
collected by Knud Rasmussen
[Copenhagen, Christiania], 1921

► Themes of the story

Quest: The protagonists embark on a journey to explore the world, aiming to share their experiences upon return.

Time and Timelessness: The narrative emphasizes the passage of time, highlighting how the friends age and generations pass during their travels.

Community and Isolation: The friends travel separately, experiencing isolation, yet their eventual reunion underscores the enduring bond of friendship and shared experiences.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

Once there were two men who desired to travel round the world, that they might tell others what was the manner of it.

This was in the days when men were still many on the earth, and there were people in all the lands. Now we grow fewer and fewer. Evil and sickness have come upon men. See how I, who tell this story, drag my life along, unable to stand upon my feet.

The two men who were setting out had each newly taken a wife, and had as yet no children.

► Continue reading…

They made themselves cups of musk-ox horn, each making a cup for himself from one side of the same beast’s head. And they set out, each going away from the other, that they might go by different ways and meet again some day. They travelled with sledges, and chose land to stay and live upon each summer.

It took them a long time to get round the world; they had children, and they grew old, and then their children also grew old, until at last the parents were so old that they could not walk, but the children led them.

And at last one day, they met — and of their drinking horns there was but the handle left, so many times had they drunk water by the way, scraping the horn against the ground as they filled them.

“The world is great indeed,” they said when they met.

They had been young at their starting, and now they were old men, led by their children.

Truly the world is great.