Tag: 15. Supernatural Beings

Interactions with spirits, gods, or monsters

The girl who fled to the inlanders

The details of this legend are somewhat defective, owing to the imperfect state of the manuscripts from which it was compiled. The tradition itself is widely spread over Greenland, but does not appear to be known any more perfectly by the relators themselves, and is perhaps gradually passing into oblivion. It is probably one of the oldest, and certainly one of the most remarkable, as pointing out the relations between the Eskimo and the Indians, and gives us several hints with regard to the customs of the latter, such as their dancing and their modes of disguising themselves.

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: The young maiden faces harsh punishment from her elder sister for breaking a precious needle, leading to her exile.

Supernatural Beings: The maiden encounters and marries an “inlander,” a term referring to a mythical or supernatural being in the context of the tale.

Cultural Heroes: The story provides insights into the customs and interactions between the Eskimo and the inlanders, highlighting foundational figures and societal norms.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

There was once a young maiden who happened to break her elder sister’s needle, which was made of reindeer-horn and was very precious. The sister got dreadfully angry with her, although she lived in great prosperity, being well married. So angry was she, that she told her sister she might as well take herself off, and henceforth keep away from the coast-people. The girl at once obeyed, and wandered about the country for many a day. One night when she was sitting down on a stone crying, she heard a voice beside her saying, “Why dost thou cry thus?” and turning round, she saw a very tall man, whom she recognised to be an inlander (viz., fabulous people), standing beside her.

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Again he repeated, “For what art thou crying?” “Because I broke my sister’s needle, and she sent me away.” “And I was sent away in the same manner because I spoiled my brother’s precious snare.” Then he asked her to follow him, and they went away together to his house, where he made her a present of deer-skins, some for outer garments and some for inner clothes, and he took her for his wife. This inlander used to go and catch eider-ducks in a certain lake, by wading out in the water and taking the birds by stealth. One day he proposed that she should accompany him on a visit to his relatives, and told her that when they came in sight of the house he would call out, “Kung, kung-kuyo! and they will know me at once,” he said. They went; and as soon as from one of the hill-tops they could make out the house of his relatives in the valley, he made the sign, and they heard the children of the place calling out, “Somebody is saying, ‘Kung, kung;’” and they saw his mother appearing in the doorway repeating the same words. They now descended, and entered the house. He had a sister who was an idiot (considered as a clairvoyant), and very talkative. He told her not to mention that a coast-woman had come among them, and he went to hide his wife in some remote corner of the broad ledge; but when his brothers came in they at once remarked, “There is a smell of coast-people about the place!” and when the fool went outside, she could not forbear saying to his neighbours, “Ye haven’t got a sister-in-law like mine, with beads and necklace — a real nice one — one of the coast-women!” After this the inquisitive people thronged about the window to get a peep at the stranger. Some crept up on the roof and made themselves a peep-hole there, and in no time the house was quite full. Subsequently there was some talk of a boat that was shortly expected, and one morning it was announced to be coming. She knew them to be inuarutligaks [fabulous dwarf inlanders or mountain-elves]. On coming up from the beach, they stopped outside the house and commenced singing to one another, and then brought forth gifts of skins, and stayed with them a whole month, enjoying each other’s company very much, feasting a great deal, and singing songs continually. At one of their banquets an inlander stood forth, and, by way of entertaining the assembly, he sang and danced. During the dance he transformed himself into a reindeer; but at this trick the children of the inuarutligaks got dreadfully frightened, so that he again quickly changed himself into a man. Another, in his turn to divert the company, took upon himself the shape of a hare; but the inlanders’ children cried out aloud, and he hastened to re-change himself as fast as possible. One inlander, when he danced, pulled the skin from off his whole body till it only adhered to a small portion between his eyes; but when the urchins cried, he soon put it all right again. At last one of the inuarutligaks came forth to dance, and he danced in such a way that the whole house soon leaned over, and all the inmates rolled down to one side with such force that one woman and a child were crushed to death. The entertainment now ended, and the next day the inuarutligaks departed, after having first invited their late hosts to visit them. In a month’s time they made preparations to start, and they had a boat made of stone for the purpose. They agreed that the coast-woman might as well be of the party, but told her not to open her eyes during the voyage, saying that the boat would not move on if she did so. She complied; but as soon as the crew could make out the sound of children’s voices, they permitted her to open them again, and she perceived a very little house, and wondered how they should all get room in it. While, however, she was looking at it, it seemed to grow bigger — the inuarutligaks knew how to enlarge their houses by means of rubbing them. They now went inside, bringing their bundles of skin, one for each person, with them, and then commenced their feasting and merry-making. One of the inuarutligaks stepped forward, and after having performed a dance, flung himself down on the ground transformed into an orsughiak-stone (viz., a sort of white, glistering felspar). The inlanders tried to lift it, but being quite unable, he soon rose up in his proper shape. One of the inlanders now advanced, fell to the ground, and was transformed into a common stone; but the inuarutligaks managed to lift it, and flung it against the door, where it flew to pieces. In this manner the inlanders lost one of their people, and they left on the following day. In the summer-time preparations were made for reindeer-hunting, and the coast-woman was to accompany them. She had two girls for her enemies because she married so early, and they were always molesting her, and trying to make her ridiculous. They said that she was not so smart and lightfooted on the march as the inlanders; and one of them added, “Today I even pursued and overtook a young deer!” On hearing this, the old woman of the house produced a pair of boots, which she filled with all kinds of vermin, and ordering her to put them on, she tightened them round her legs, the husband encouraging her, saying, “She must needs bear it in order to get agile and smart.” But presently she fell into a swoon, and the skin dropped off her feet and legs. When she was restored to her senses, she perceived new flesh and new skin to be growing on them, and she had now become swift and nimble as the inlanders themselves. On their return from the reindeer-hunt she said she longed for her relatives, and was desirous to go and see them; and the next summer her husband accompanied her thither. Approaching the coast-side, they saw a kayaker, whom they hailed, and asked to bring a boat to take them the remainder of the way. On getting into it the inlander was dreadfully afraid, and fell down flat on his face at the bottom of the boat, where he remained till he landed close to their home. They stayed that winter at her parents, and once her father said, “I wish I could have got another son-in-law instead of this one — one who knew how to trap eider-ducks.” The inlander had a habit of stopping in the house all day, but at these words he only asked a trap of him; and one day he returned all covered with ducks. The other men of the place in the winter-time often used to ridicule him, and always wanted to persuade him to accompany them out on the ice for the mowpok-hunt (correct spelling maupok, seal-hunt, by watching the breathing-holes). In the summer he resolved to visit his countrymen, and on parting said to his wife, “If I find our son in health, I will return with more companions.” He now set off, and did not return till next spring, and then reported that their son had died. He told his wife that it was now his intention to return to his own people; and when he left they never saw any more of him.

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Sikutluk

Sikutluk and his cousin, once close, faced tragedy after the cousin goaded Sikutluk into killing his dog, then took offense, prompting Sikutluk to fatally shoot him. Consumed by bloodlust, Sikutluk and his wife roamed, killing animals, including mythical creatures like amaroks and a kilivfak. His dangerous path led to his demise, devoured by a kilivfak. His wife lived on among foreigners until her death.

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

► Themes of the story

Transformation: Sikutluk’s descent from a loving cousin to a bloodthirsty wanderer represents a profound change in his character.

Tragic Flaw: His susceptibility to his cousin’s provocation and subsequent actions highlight a fatal weakness leading to his downfall.

Supernatural Beings: Encounters with mythical creatures like the amarok and kilivfak are central to the narrative.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Sikutluk and his cousin were living together, and loved each other dearly. At that settlement the cousin was the only one who possessed a dog. One day Sikutluk observed his cousin sitting before his tent doing some work, the dog beside him. When he came close up to him the cousin suddenly said, “Pray, shoot my dog.” “No, I won’t, because we are friends.” But the cousin still persuaded him, saying, “Pray do it, nevertheless.” He brought his bow accordingly; but not yet satisfied, he again inquired, “But wilt thou not really get vexed when it is too late?” “No, indeed, I shall not;” and the other killed the dog.

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The cousin, however, took offence for all that, and challenged his friend, saying, “He had a mind to kill him at once.” But Sikutluk shot him right through the breast, and he fell down dead. Immediately after this, Sikutluk went and covered his cousin’s boat and tent all over with heavy stones, and left the place along with his wife; but the murder he had committed had made him thirst for blood, and he went on intending to kill whatever he met with. At first he was content with killing ptarmigan and reindeer. They both brought with them as many arrows as they were able to carry. After a while they fell in with an amarok [fabulous animal originating in traditions of the wolf]. They first discovered the young ones, but towards evening the mother arrived with a young buck in her mouth. From their retreat they noticed her dropping the burden on finding that her young ones were killed; and then sniffing the air, she followed the scent of human beings, and with a fearful howl came running on towards them at full speed. The woman screamed, “I fear she will devour us!” but he made no other reply than, “Ah, my cousin, my beloved cousin, I murdered thee!” and he crept forth from his ambush, aimed at the beast, and killed it on the spot. They hid themselves again, and soon afterwards saw the male return, also carrying a buck between his teeth. After the same words, “Alas, my cousin, my beloved cousin!” he shot this one also. They still wandered on and on, and killed everything living they met with on their way. One day the woman caught sight of a kilivfak [a fabulous animal], which stood scratching the earth with its feet. When the husband had also seen it, he first went to look out for a hole in the earth close by, where he ordered his wife to go and hide, and remain quiet till he should let himself down to her. He now stole down to encounter the animal. Whenever it turned to look round he bent down to the ground; but when it stood scratching the earth, he crept on towards it. At last he had got quite close, and ventured a shot at it, and then hurried back and let himself fall down to his wife. After him came the wild beast tumbling down into the cave, where it entirely filled up the opening; but after much toil they got out again. They continued roaming further away; and in crossing the glaciers he carried his wife across the crevasses. At length he again reached the sea, and at the same time observed a kayaker close by. This man said he would take them to his own place if he would wait a little while he brought a boat for them; but the crew of the boat were all men. They took up with these people; but soon found out that they had come among erkileks [fabulous inlanders]. One day Sikutluk told his wife that he would return and look for some of their kinsmen, and named a certain time by which they expected to be back; but in vain they waited for him. When the appointed time had elapsed, they promised an angakok a great reward if he could tell what had befallen the traveller. After some meditation he replied, “I observed he killed a pair of amaroks with their brood.” The wife acknowledged it. “And a female kilivfak besides?” “Indeed he did so.” “Then be assured the male beast devoured him.” But the wife of Sikutluk lived on with the foreigners until the time of her death.

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The lonely brothers

Two brothers living alone encountered a mysterious woman while kayaking. Initially elusive, she chose to stay with the younger brother, helping them prosper. She bore a child but later grew silent, longing to visit her family. Journeying to her homeland, she reunited with her kin amidst joy and challenges. After showcasing their strength and learning new hunting methods, the brothers returned home with her, vanishing from her family’s lives.

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 mysterious woman who appears and disappears exhibits supernatural qualities, suggesting she may not be entirely human.

Transformation: The brothers’ lives transform from solitude to prosperity after the woman’s arrival, indicating a significant change in their circumstances.

Quest: The journey to the woman’s homeland represents a quest, involving travel, challenges, and the goal of reuniting her with her family.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

This tale is here somewhat abridged, and derived only from one manuscript, in which the journey is represented as having been achieved from the west to the east coast of Greenland, an idea which can only have originated by bringing the same story from another country, where such a journey might be more practicable than across the frozen, impassable interior of Greenland.

Two brothers had taken up their abode at a fiord; there they lived alone, and having no female assistance, they were obliged to cook and make their garments themselves. One day when they were out kayaking, they passed a little rocky point, and turning their eyes landwards, they observed a woman standing on the beach. The eldest brother now said he would go and fetch her, and with this view he went ashore; but when he approached her she fled, at first slowly, till, when he commenced to run, she hurried on so that he gave her up and returned to his kayak. The younger brother now ascended the beach, and as he approached she stood quiet, making no resistance, but let him take her down.

They fastened the kayaks together with strings, and when she was seated behind the men, she said to the eldest brother, “I observed thy intention to be bad, so I fled; but thy brother there has a better disposition.” They now paddled homewards, all the time keeping a sharp look-out upon her. But it happened that they left off watching her for a moment; and instantly they heard a clattering noise, and there she was gone.

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They searched all around, thinking she might have fallen into the water, but there were no traces of her to be seen anywhere, and after a while they gave her up, saying, “No matter, perhaps she was not a real woman” (i.e., she had fled from mankind, and was a kivigtok, endowed with supernatural swiftness). They again untied their kayaks and made for home; but lo! there she was, standing outside the tent mending their boots. They ran up to her in case she wanted to run away; but she said to them, “Pray let go your hold of me, I don’t want to leave you.” For the first few days they were quite unwilling to leave her alone, lest she should take flight in their absence. Afterwards they started, but did not leave her neighbourhood; and they did not venture to go away from her for any length of time, until she had said, “I like to stop with you, and ye may go as far as ye like.” As they could now employ all their time in hunting, having a woman at home to cook and sew for them, they got more prosperous than before. She bore a male child in due time; but from that period her manners were altered, and she grew restrained and silent. The eldest brother proposed to the younger one that he should question her as to the cause. At night when they lay down to rest he did so, and she answered him, “It is because of our baby boy; I would like him so much to go and see his mother’s brothers. I cannot forget those dear ones, and that is the reason why I have grown so silent.” The brothers agreed that they could not deny her the pleasure of paying a visit to her parents, and said that they would themselves accompany her. Delighted at the prospect of going, she prepared for the journey, and packed up a bundle of boots, as well as several new pairs of soles and other necessaries; and being ready for their departure, they started to cross the country. The wife with the child in the amowt (hood) constantly went ahead of them, and the others could scarcely keep up with her. For several days they wandered on in the same manner, but at last the woman exclaimed, “If my brothers be still alive, and are to be found in the old place, we shall certainly come in sight of their sea tomorrow; I recognise all the mountain-hills of my old home.” They still wandered on the whole of the next day, and towards evening they sighted an open water. At this, they all began crying for joy, and were obliged to stop a little. The wife now said, “If we descend at once we shall not find my brothers; at this time of the day they always used to be out kayaking. Let us therefore stay here till tomorrow, and be down with them before they start.” Accordingly they lay down to sleep for the night, and in the morning they descended the hillside together. A great many tents soon appeared in the valley below, and pointing to one among them remarkable for its greater size, she cried, “That is the tent belonging to my relatives, but I would fain go down by myself; meanwhile you must keep behind,” — and so she went. The sun rose bright and warm, and a moment after, an old woman came forth from a tent holding a child by her one arm and in her other carrying a large seal-skin for sole-leather, which she was going to stretch on the ground to dry. All of a sudden the little one turned round, exclaiming, “Why, is not that my aunt coming there?” “No, don’t speak such foolish things. Thou knowest very well thy aunt fled away never to return any more, because of these quarrels and fights for her sake.” At this rebuke the boy was silenced, but in a little while again went on, “Indeed, indeed, it is my aunt, and there she is coming!” The old woman, however, was still bending over the piece of skin, and busy in fastening it down. She only rejoined, “What stupid nonsense! thy aunt has gone away from us for ever. I only wish I could manage those pegs” (viz., for fastening the skins); but as the boy would not give over chattering about his aunt she got into a passion with him, and tore out the holes made in the skin for the pegs. Then for the first time she looked up and cried out, “That is she, sure enough. Why did not I believe the little one?” she continued, and went on caressing the boy. In the meantime the brothers had also in some way or other been informed of what had happened, and each of them cried out, “Oh, my dear sister! ye have not cared so much for her as I have; ye have not missed her so much neither; ye have not longed so much for her as I have done.” And each of them wanted to be the first to greet her, and to take hold of her. They all ran towards her, but out of reverence for the eldest they allowed him to be the first to give her welcome. They now began questioning her about her fellow-travellers; and she told them that the men were waiting on the mountainside above, and they ran to bring them down, and the entrance to the tent was soon blocked up with inquisitive neighbours, all eager to see the travellers who had crossed the whole breadth of the country. The brothers stayed at home all day, and for joy at the meeting could do nought but sit down together and regard each other lovingly. In the evening the eldest proposed that some kind of amusements should be got up, and they agreed to try strength with one another at “hook and crook;” upon which one of them drew forth a skin for the purpose, saying, “When strangers meet, one always likes to see which is the better man;” and acting upon his word, he at once undressed and seated himself on the skin. Seeing that none of the visitors moved, one of his own brothers sat down opposite to him, and they hooked each other’s arms, and the eldest of the two beat his brother’s back vigorously in order to encourage him to pull hard. However, neither he nor any of all the brothers were able to stretch out his arm; but when they had all done, he still retained his place sitting down on the skin. The eldest of the visitors now whispered to his brother, “I shall first take my chance, then thou take thine;” and he likewise undressed and sat down, stretching out his right arm and hooking it inside his adversary’s. The visitor, perceiving his strength, thought, “I will try to conquer him before he is tired out, so that it may not seem to be too easy a job for me;” and he gathered all his strength, and slowly pulled on the arm of his adversary till it touched his own breast, and the other now tried to draw him back, but his features grew quite convulsed, and the skin came off his arms in the attempt. They changed places and tried the game over with their left arms, but with the same result; and at last the host rose, with these words, “I now see that we have acquired some very strong friends;” and taking his seat on the main ledge, as the principal person of the house, he continued, saying, “We, too, have got a man of great strength among us, and ye will scarcely escape him; I almost fear you won’t come off alive.” The next morning a call was heard outside the tent, “The visitors are requested to come and fight!” At this summons they quickly dressed and went outside. There they saw a number of people ascending the heights; and following in their wake, they reached a plain, where a still greater crowd formed a circle about a fellow with a frame like a giant: and the elder brother whispered to the younger one, “It won’t do for thee to go first — thou dost look so very dejected; I had better go myself.” So saying, he suddenly rushed at the champion, and thus took the huge man by surprise. This was at sunrise, and at sunset they were still fighting; and the visitor thought, “I must try to throw him over before I get too tired.” Taking hold of him, he slowly lifted him off his feet, and held him swinging in the air. He had noticed a pole stuck up among some rocks. However, he did not choose to knock him down against that, but hurled him right out among the spectators, where he fell down, the blood gushing forth from his mouth. A loud roar was now heard among the people — some rejoiced, others wept; and in descending to the valley below, they all gathered around the eldest visitor, merely to have the satisfaction of having touched him, and some addressed him, saying, “Thou shalt have my windlass in reward for that job.” This, however, he did not understand at the time. The whole crowd now vanished with one cry, “Ye shall be our masters henceforth;” and for a while they remained at their new station, kayaked, and were always together. When the frost set in, and the sea began to be covered with ice, the men chose a day for putting their hunting and fishing implements to rights; but the brothers did not join their work, because their manner of hunting was quite new to them. The next day they all started, and towards evening the eldest of the men came dragging along two large saddleback seals, others blueside ones [the Phoca Greenlandica in a full-grown and in a half-grown state], while others had caught thong-seals. On the following day the visitors accompanied them to see their ways of hunting. They had left the shore far behind them before they fell in with the frost-smoke and reached the first apertures in the ice, at the edge of which walrus-teeth had been stuck down. These were what they had been calling their windlasses. [This manner of catching seals, noticed by travellers among the nations of Smith Sound, seems to have been known to the narrator of this story only as a very remarkable tradition.] The eldest of the men now said, “Do not try to harpoon the big ones, but aim at the little firth-seals, and leave the others to me.” They both obeyed his orders, and as soon as they had each harpooned a small seal, they wound up their harpoon-strings round one of the large walrus-teeth, and made it fast there. When all the seals had been slaughtered they prepared to return, letting the elder take the lead. But he had not gone far when, turning round, he remarked, “Now ye may go on just as ye like;” and so saying, he went off as if carried by the wind. The others followed in due order, but came home late. When they had all entered, the eldest of the men took out the dish with the boiled meat from beneath the ledge, and said, “I am afraid it is not particularly good; it will have lost its flavour, having been ready this long time.” They went out the same way next morning. That day the visitors each caught a large seal, and the chief of the men said, “They will not get home with these by tomorrow morning.” But on their way home the elder brother said, “This won’t do; we won’t get any credit unless we try to be the first,” — and off they went, in order to forestall the others. The master of the house came in later, and was greatly astonished on seeing their outer clothes hanging outside the hut, but supposed that some other visitors might have arrived. On entering the house, however, the brothers put the supper before him at once, saying, “We fear the meat has got tough, and has lost its flavour; it is ever so long since we boiled it.” At first he remained silent, but soon became more talkative, and said he was glad that he had got such able and clever helpmates. When spring came on, the brothers began to long for their own home, and they asked their former companion whether she preferred to stay or go with them. She answered, “I will rather return with you.” Her parents making no objections, they went away together, and were never more seen or heard of by any of their kinsmen after the day of their departure.

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

The reindeer-hunt of Merkisalik

Merkisalik, an aging hunter, relied on his son to provide for their family. Visitors arrived, disrupting their peaceful life and mocking his son’s hunting abilities. Despite his patience, the son retaliated by outsmarting them during a hunt. Later, his death, caused by the visitors’ malice, left Merkisalik and his wife devastated. Seeking revenge, Merkisalik created a tupilak, a magical creature, which methodically avenged his son by destroying their enemies.

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: After the tragic death of his son due to the visitors’ malice, Merkisalik seeks retribution by creating a tupilak, a magical creature, to avenge his son’s death.

Cunning and Deception: Merkisalik’s son, initially marginalized by the visitors during the hunts, cleverly outsmarts them, showcasing his wit and resourcefulness.

Supernatural Beings: The creation of the tupilak—a mystical entity—highlights the involvement of supernatural elements in the narrative, reflecting the spiritual beliefs of the Inuit culture.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

This story is compiled from two copies, one of which had been noted down in North Greenland before 1828.

Merkisalik had only one son to assist him in providing for his family. In the summer-time they always used to hunt along the shores of the same fiord without any other company. Growing old and infirm, Merkisalik at length had to give up hunting and leave the providing to his son. Once when they had again taken up their abode at the fiord, and the son, as was his wont, had gone out hunting, the old people were left by themselves, expecting no visitors. Taking a turn outside the tent, they suddenly observed a boat sailing up the inlet right before the wind, accompanied by several kayakers. Merkisalik was much pleased at this sight, and ordered his wife to put out some dry meat, to let them have a bite on landing. He rejoiced to think that his son should henceforth have companions on his hunting excursions.

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There were a great number of men among the visitors, some of whom were old and rather talkative and entertaining. When the son returned from the mountains, he was likewise very glad of the company they had got. He treated them with the utmost hospitality, and invited them to partake of the meal as soon as it was boiled and ready. Meanwhile they all conversed very politely, and soon agreed in going out together the next day. They did so, and before long came in sight of a number of animals feeding on the grass down in the valleys. When the drivers were all sent out, the hunters proceeded to make walls of earth, furnished with loopholes. The visitors now proposed that Merkisalik’s son should be the last to shoot, and he agreed; but when the drivers had surrounded the animals, and began to drive them on towards the loopholed walls, the thought struck him, “What if they are too greedy to leave me any chance at all?” Meanwhile the others took aim, and shot all that were to be got. He afterwards assisted them in stripping off the skins; but on their descending the hills towards the tents, he remained a little behind. When the strangers returned they at once set their women to cook and prepare a meal, to which Merkisalik and his people were invited. During supper one of the men remarked, “There must be any amount of animals in this place, since even Merkisalik’s son is capable of getting at them.” The Merkisaliks heard this slight in silence; but afterwards, when they got into their own tent and sat down together, the father said, “It can’t be otherwise; we must just let them have their way, seeing that they are so many.” The following day was spent in the same manner; they treated Merkisalik’s son as they had done the day before, only allowing him to take up his position as far away as possible from the drivers: but on their way home he again kept back a little. Before long, however, he rejoined them, and on their return home the Merkisaliks were again invited to eat of the day’s hunt. The man who the day before had scorned Merkisalik’s son, now spoke to him in a similar fashion, at which he got into a great passion. However, they set out together the next day, and got to the entrance of a great valley, which appeared to be almost overcrowded with reindeer. As before, they ordered him to choose his hiding-place, and make his loophole behind them all, at which he murmured to himself, “If this is to go on, I shall never be able to get anything. I think I will give the beasts the alarm, that they may all run away.” When the flock approached, driven by the drivers, he feigned to be busy about something or other. At last he was warned to be quiet, that the animals might not see him; but he only stopped a moment, and then began to move about again. In the mean time the flock was close by, when, all of a sudden, the leader stopped short, turned round, and bounded off as fast as possible. On perceiving this, the others began to follow him, but dropped short one after another, so that at the other end of the valley but one of them had kept up with him, and this one soon tired out; and when he was about to mount the slope he was left quite alone. Merkisalik’s son shortly disappeared on the other side of the hills, pursuing the fast-running animals. Slowly the men followed in his traces: but when they got to the top of the hill, they beheld numbers of deer with white bellies ready killed in the valley on the other side; and on a stone close by, the huntsman was seated, already quite cool and refreshed. The others now arrived, their faces all red with heat and wrath, and nobody spoke. They at once set to work, stripping the deer; but while the others finished one, he stripped and cut up two, and packing his bundle, he said, “Ye may all of you take as much as ye like.” The man who had formerly ridiculed and mocked him did not altogether like this speech, but became quite mute, and would not join the rest. On the way home they separated. Merkisalik’s son had now got into his old ways, and was in front of the rest. Carrying his burden on his back, and now and then resting himself a little, he got home first of all. When the others came without anything, the Merkisaliks had already all their pots and pans on the fire, and, after their wont, invited the foreigners to join them. During the meal the host tried to begin a conversation, but without success; they all remained mute, and even their old father kept silent. Having done eating, they retired, excepting the father, who now began to be a little talkative, and, as if by chance, remarked, “We want something that would do for a gimlet; would ye mind letting me have that knuckle?” Merkisalik gave it to him willingly, saying, “We have got lots of them.” On the following morning the Merkisaliks were aroused by a clattering noise, as of poles, and peeping out, they saw the visitors pulling down their tent and preparing to depart. Thus they were once more alone; and their son again went out hunting all by himself. One day, when he was still busy bringing down the deer he had stalked to their station, he told them that he had got a swelling at his knee. It grew in size, and was getting worse and worse. The parents were much distressed, and at length he died, but not till he had made known to them that his disease was solely caused by the father of their former visitors, who, in order to hurt him, had bewitched the knee-joint he had asked of them, which had worked back upon him and killed him. The poor old people were inconsolable. It was now autumn; the little lakes began to be covered with ice, and it was time to leave the inland country for the sea-coast: so one fine morning they made preparations to go. They first wept at the tomb of their son, and, still wailing and complaining, they went down the firth with a light easterly breeze. Having arrived at their winter-quarters, Merkisalik’s mind was filled with hatred, and he was always contemplating revenge. In order to carry it out, he resolved to make a tupilak to destroy his enemies. To this end he every day collected bones of all sorts of animals, and put them into the brook close by to whiten, and then mixed them up with hairs taken from boat-skins; and when he had got as many as he required, he made them alive, and put them into the brook which flowed on to the sea. While he was watching the tupilak, he saw it was taking the shape of an agpaliarsuk [the smallest auk, Mergulus alle], that dived down and turned round to its owner; but he said, “Thou art not the thing I want thee to be yet.” Instantly it dived down and reappeared in the shape of a dovekie [Uria grylle]. Again he said, “That won’t do neither.” It underwent many changes and took the shape of all sorts of birds; but he rejected them all. Then it was transformed into all manner of seals and dolphins; but they did not suit him either. At last, after another dive beneath the surface of the water, its breath was heard like a mighty roar, and he beheld a small whale, and then he said, “This will do; thou shalt avenge us.” The animal now seemed to inquire, “Where am I to go?” and he replied, “To the hunting place of the many brothers.” At these words it took one long breath, then dived down into the sea; and the man returned home and bided his time, waiting to hear how the family would fare who lived a little to the north of them. One evening a kayaker appeared rounding the northern point, and in him he soon recognised a poor relative and very old man, who for some time had had his quarters at the same place as their former visitors. On their way from the beach up to the house, he related what follows: “Some days ago an accident occurred up at our place; one of the many brothers has not returned home. The day before his departure he told us that he had harpooned a little whale, adding that he would now go out in search of it; but he has never yet returned.” The maker of the tupilak feigned compassion, saying, “He must, of course, have managed awkwardly somehow;” but inwardly he rejoiced at this intelligence. When the visitor departed, he asked him soon to return, but he did not do so for a good long while. When at length he did come, he again reported: “Yesterday the same accident happened to another of the brothers.” When the visitor was about to depart, Merkisalik encouraged him soon to return, saying, “We are always glad to see thee; now come back as soon as thou canst.” After another long interval he once came back, and told them that the last of the brothers had now disappeared, adding that the poor parents were very much grieved because of their bereavement. On hearing this, Merkisalik’s wrath was somewhat appeased.

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Sitliarnat

Three brothers, led by Sitliarnat, became stranded on an iceberg during a storm and drifted to a mysterious land. They encountered an old couple and stayed for years, aided by the old man and his son. Guided by their animal amulets, the brothers returned home with the old man transforming into a bear to assist them. Gratitude ensured their prosperity, with descendants honoring the bear’s memory.

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

► Themes of the story

Quest: The brothers embark on an unintended journey after being stranded on an iceberg, leading them to a mysterious land where they seek sustenance and a way back home.

Supernatural Beings: The old man who transforms into a bear to assist the brothers represents an interaction with a supernatural entity, guiding them safely back to their homeland.

Transformation: The old man’s metamorphosis into a bear signifies a physical transformation, highlighting themes of change and adaptation within the narrative.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

This tale having much resemblance to Nos. 16 and 19, the text is here somewhat abridged.

There were three brothers, the eldest of whom was named Sitliarnat. One day they all went out hunting on the frozen sea, accompanied by a person who was in no way related to them. All of a sudden a south-east storm arose, the ice creaked and gave way beneath their feet, and nothing remained to them but to mount an iceberg. Having got there, they drifted far away out on the great ocean. They were nearly starving with hunger when they at length touched upon an unknown shore and landed there. They now went roaming about the country in search of people, and passed an isthmus on which they observed a little hut with only one window. Sitliarnat then spoke, “Let them make me their first prize;” and he went on and crossed the threshold in front of his companions.

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Inside the house they only found an old couple, who seemed to be its sole inhabitants. The four strangers seated themselves on the ledge; but finding that nobody spoke, the old man began to eye them more closely, and having breathed upon them, asked them, “Whence do you come?” Sitliarnat answered him, “Some time ago we set off from the land on the other side of the ocean, and went out on the ice to catch seals; but a gale from the south-east came on, breaking up the ice and drifting us across to your country. So here we are; three of us are brothers, and the fourth is a companion of ours.” Turning to his wife the old man observed, “After travelling so far people are apt to get hungry,” upon which they added some words which the people did not understand. The wife fetched some blubber in a pan, put it on to boil, and gave it them served up in a wooden dish; but though they were almost fainting with hunger, they only tasted a very little of it. Soon after, however, a proper meal was set before them, and then the old man said to them, “Our only provider is staying away a long time; we have been expecting him back this last month. He left us to go out hunting, and has not yet returned; we are much afraid he may have encountered some wicked people and have come to grief.” While he was thus speaking, the guests began to think, “What sort of people may these be?” Meanwhile the visitors stayed on, and for some time the old man provided food for them. One morning, when they were all sitting together, they heard a voice calling from without, “I want to get in; do let me get in!” whereat the old man rose from his seat and went outside, but soon returned holding his son by the hand, who was looking very pale and haggard. After supper he lay down on the side ledge, and remained thus for several days, until one morning when he rose up very early. He had now recovered his health and strength as well as his appetite, and had regained his former aspect also, and again took up his task as provider of the household; but strange to say, he was never seen to carry any weapons. The visitors meanwhile prolonged their stay for several years; and one evening the old man, addressing the eldest brother, questioned him, “What did they give thee for thy amulet when thou wert born?” Sitliarnat replied, “In my infancy I got a carrion-gull, one of those that always seek the carrion farthest out to sea.” On hearing this, the old man responded, “So thou mayst be sure of returning to thy own country at some time or other.” One of the brothers now put in, “All of us have got the same bird for our amulets;” but when the stranger was asked, he told them that his was a raven, a bird that always seeks his prey landward; on which the old man replied, “I doubt if thou wilt ever see thy country again, if it is so.” The old man used to rise the earliest of them all, and when the others at length came out, he was always seen to be on some mountain-top, marking the state of the air and the weather. He one day entered with this remark, “When the wind goes down and the weather gets settled, I shall take you across.” But they wondered, and said, “How will he manage to carry us yonder, as there is no ice at present, and neither boats nor kayaks are to be seen hereabouts, and we don’t even know in what direction our country is situated?” One morning when they were still fast asleep, he cried, “It is no time for sleeping now. Make haste and get up, if ye really long for your homes; I shall see you along myself:” and they now rose as quickly as possible, and followed him down to the steep shore, where they had landed years ago. Here the old man said, “Now watch me!” Then taking a run, he leapt into the sea, dived down, and reappeared in the shape of a bear, saying, “If Sitliarnat really has a gull for his amulet, it will soon appear to him. Do as I have done, and throw thyself into the water.” Sitliarnat, however, still lingered a little; but the bear went on, “If thou dost not follow me into the ocean, thou wilt never get home.” Sitliarnat now ran on and took the leap; and as soon as he had plunged down, he again rose and merely touched the surface with his feet, gliding along as if he were on solid ice, instead of being on the waves of the sea. At the same time the gull also made its appearance, and a large iceberg was seen which he climbed, both his brothers following him. The old man now turned to the fourth, saying, “Thou, too, wouldst like to return, I know; now try thy wings!” He, too, plunged into the sea, trying to fly, but went right down instead, and would have lost breath but for the bear, who put him on shore, saying, “No, thou wilt never get home, because thou hast got a raven for thy amulet; thou canst return to my house as before.” The bear now spoke to the three, “Shut your eyes and sit close together. If ye open your eyes, ye will never get home. I shall now put my shoulder to the iceberg, and push you away.” Presently their place of refuge began to shake beneath them, and they had started on their journey. Thus they moved onwards until they at last felt a quake as if they were touching something hard. Here the bear ordered them to open their eyes, and they beheld a country spreading before them, and recognised it as their own. They had landed just a little south of what had been their former habitation. They asked the bear to enter, that they might recompense him in some way or other; but he said, “No, I don’t care for being paid — I merely intended to do you a good turn; but when in winter-time ye should happen to see a bear with a bald head, and your companions prepare to hunt him down, then try to make them desist, and put some food before him.” After these words he plunged into the sea, and instantly disappeared. The brothers now went up to their former house, and knew it to be inhabited because of some little boys who were seen at play outside. These children had been named after them by their parents, in remembrance of their lost friends. Their wives had all married again; but their other relatives rejoiced greatly at receiving those whom they had given up for lost a long time ago. Inquiries were also made about their companion, but they answered that they had left him “on the opposite shore.” Perceiving that the husbands of their own former wives feared them, they reassured them, saying, “We don’t intend any harm towards you. Many thanks to you that ye have provided so well for our relatives.” But the wives, nevertheless, were given back to them. During the winter the bear was almost forgotten, till one evening, when they were all at home, some of the men exclaimed, “A bear is making for the shore!” When they were collecting their arms, the brothers interfered, crying, “Just wait a little; we must first have a look at him.” They instantly recognised their own bear, and said to the others, “Without his good aid we should never have reached home again. Don’t hunt that bear; make haste and give him a feast.” When the bear had got on shore, he went right up to the house, sat down on his haunches before the entrance, his head turned towards it. The people put several entire seals before him, and beckoned him to eat; and all the men gathered round him. When the meal was ended, the bear lay down to sleep, while the children played round him. After a while he awoke, and having eaten a little more, he arose, and following his own traces back to the beach, leapt into the sea, and was never seen any more. It is said that the descendants of Sitliarnat were very prosperous and multiplied greatly.

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The lost daughter

An old woman lived with her three children: two sons and a daughter. When the daughter mysteriously disappeared, the brothers searched in vain. She later returned briefly, revealing a monstrous reptile child and a non-human husband. Enraged, the brothers found and killed the reptile husband, bringing their sister home. However, she soon relapsed into strange behavior, ultimately disappearing again, leaving her family broken and despairing.

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 daughter’s husband is a monstrous reptile, indicating an interaction with a non-human entity.

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the relationships within a family, highlighting the brothers’ love for their sister and their reaction to her mysterious circumstances.

Transformation: The daughter’s behavior changes after her disappearance, and she becomes involved with a supernatural being, suggesting a transformation in her life and identity.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

An old woman lived with her three children, two sons and a daughter. The sons were good hunters, and loved their sister exceedingly. As time passed on, the mother observed a change in her daughter’s manners; and one day it happened that she went out by herself, and stayed away for good. The brothers sought her far and wide; but at last they gave it up, and again took to kayaking and hunting, and now lived alone with their mother. But one day, when she was all by herself in the house, and had lain down to rest on the ledge beneath the skin coverlet, she remarked a thing like a shadow gliding across the doorway, and on turning that way beheld her long-lost daughter.

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And perceiving the amowt (hood) she wore, she asked her to come and sit beside her, and admired her beautiful clothes, the amowt particularly, which was made of soft and thin reindeer-skin. When a low cry was heard from within it, the mother asked her to take out the little one she was carrying to let her see it. But the daughter answered her, “What I carry on my back is no human being. Thou hadst better hide thyself beneath thy skin coverlet.” The mother accordingly did so; but peeping through a small opening, she was dreadfully alarmed at seeing her daughter produce a large reptile, which she allowed to bite her lips so as to make them bleed; and having caressed it in a motherly way, she let it suck at her breast. Then having replaced it in her amowt, she asked her mother to look up again, upon which the latter asked her, “Where is thy dwelling-place, child?” “My house lies far from here, in a very large valley; but my husband is not of human race: so none of you must ever think of coming to see me,” she added, and left. In the evening, when the sons returned, the mother told them what had happened, saying, “I have seen your sister, but in a very low and contemptible state. Only think! she carried a vile reptile in her amowt, and was also married to such a one!” The brothers got into a great rage on hearing this, and at once prepared their bows and arrows to attack the vermin. Starting together, they took the direction which their mother had pointed out to them, and soon found the great house in the valley. After a careful inspection of all the mountains, they ventured to peep through the window, and there saw their sister comfortably seated in a snug and well-furnished room. They entered at once, killed her offspring, and having torn it to pieces, threw it outside. They did not leave their sorrowing sister during the day-time, but towards evening they saw her dreadful husband approaching the place from some remote part of the country: its size was like the wall of a house; and in its mouth it carried a large reindeer. When it came nearer, the brothers went out to hide themselves at the back of the house, whence they saw the reptile drop the reindeer on the ground, and afterwards enter the house. They again ventured a peep through the window, and saw the creature twining itself closely round the body of their sister, so that only the tuft of her hair was visible. They tightened the strings of their bows, keeping them ready bent, and then made a little noise, in order to alarm the beast. The instant it emerged from the house, it was aimed at from both sides by the brothers; and when all their arrows had been spent, they finished it off and killed it with their spears. Having accomplished this, they made for their home, bringing their sister along with them, as well as all her things, and some dried reindeer. And now the sister was once more with her parents; and they warned her to leave off her former bad habits. After a little, however, her manner towards them again suddenly changed; and they perceived that she was always carrying something about in her hand. This appeared to be a small worm or reptile, with black streaks round its body. Every day it grew in size, so that before long both sides appeared out of her hand; and now she disappeared a second time. The brothers again went in search of her, this time taking their mother along with them; but she soon died on her way; and one brother had his leg broken: and henceforth they gave up all hope of ever finding their sister.

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The girl who married an Atliarusek

An elderly couple, protective of their daughter, rejected suitors until a determined man fought for her hand. Forced to flee, the family relocated, where the daughter secretly married a capable hunter, an atliarusek. He brought them prosperity, even aiding those who scorned them before. The tale celebrates resilience, kindness, and eventual triumph over adversity, as the once-rejected family earns respect through generosity and hard work.

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 daughter’s secret husband is an atliarusek, a supernatural entity from Inuit lore, akin to elves or gnomes dwelling within coastal rocks.

Transformation through Love: The daughter’s union with the atliarusek brings prosperity and respect to her previously scorned family, highlighting how love can lead to positive change.

Community and Isolation: Initially isolated and mocked by their community, the family’s fortunes reverse due to the daughter’s marriage, emphasizing themes of belonging and societal acceptance.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

The atliaruseks, probably identical with the ingnersuaks, were a sort of elves or gnomes, supposed to have their abodes within rocks along the sea-shore.

An aged couple had a daughter who had a great many suitors; but the old people were very selfish, and wanted to keep her at home. Meanwhile a man came who was very anxious to get the daughter. At last he fought them, and had nearly killed them; but the old man escaped, and got into his boat. The other men of the place despised and scorned him; but they got the boat loaded, and left. The others shouted to him contemptuously, “It won’t be easy for thee to get a husband for thy daughter! The poor old thing, who is quite unable to hunt — he to dare reject any one! Only let him come to be in want of necessaries, and then look out if there be any one to help him!” But he set off without deigning to answer them, and landed at one of the outermost islets. There they built their house, and put up for the winter. One morning the old man awoke, saying, “I wonder what I have just been seeing? Methinks I saw a man gliding through the doorway.”

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He questioned his daughter; but she keeping silence, he got suspicious. When he awoke the next morning, he saw a real man slip out of the doorway; and on being closely questioned, the daughter confessed that she was married to an atliarusek. On hearing this, the father was very happy; but she went on saying, “For fear thou wouldst not like him, he keeps out of sight; but if thou dost not mind, he will come and live with us.” The father said it was all right, and he might come and take up his quarters with them at once. The next morning the old man, on awakening, turned his eyes towards the entrance, but saw nothing remarkable there; but on turning round to his daughter’s resting-place, he saw a stout man sitting there beneath her lamp. The father was very well pleased, and leaned back on his couch; but listening again, and peeping out, the man was not to be seen. Towards evening the daughter several times left the room. At last she stayed away rather long, but after some time returned with a hunting-line, which she hung up on a nail to dry, saying that he had returned and brought home the produce of his hunt, but that he must take some part of it to his relatives. When her parents went outside, they saw many seals on the beach, and they rejoiced very much at their sudden prosperity. The following morning the old man peeped over the screen of the ledge, and there beheld the stranger reposing beside his daughter. The old man again lay down, believing him to be asleep. In a little while, however, he heard something stirring, at which he arose; but the son-in-law had already taken himself off. He again spoke to his daughter, saying, “Why do you not make him come and stay with us? We like him very well indeed.” In the evening, when he again returned with his catch, he went inside and made himself at home; and the parents were very civil to him. In the spring he wanted to go further inland along the fiord-side, as was generally his custom, but told them that he was obliged to join his parents, he being their only son, and as such he ought not to let his sisters be without protection. He then went away to his own home; and when they again met, he told them that now they were ready for starting. On hearing this, his father-in-law likewise put his boat into the water; and when it was ready loaded, and they were going to set off, another boat appeared, coming straight out of the beach. Both went along together, and made the land at the same time in the evening. Next morning they again started; and when they approached an inhabited place, the head-man of the atliaruseks told them always to keep close in their wake; and all of a sudden they saw his boat sink beneath the surface, and totally disappear. At this sight the old man got rather frightened; but on arriving at the spot, their boat dived down in the same manner, without any damage to the crew. Presently they caught sight of their companions’ boat right ahead of them, and they continued their course beneath the waves of the sea. Having safely passed the inhabited places, they once more rose to the surface, and continued their voyage without further peril; and when they had arrived at their place of destination, went reindeer-hunting, and got their boats fully laden. When the old people had again taken up their winter-quarters, the son-in-law provided amply for them, and they prospered and were well off: About this time intelligence reached them that the men who had once scorned and abused them were living in great want, and the old man determined to help them. He loaded his kayak with matak, and brought it to them. On his arrival, they asked him whence he had got it — whether it was not taken from the carcass of a whale that had been driven on shore accidentally. However, he left them without deigning them an answer to this question; and talking over this matter on his return home, the son-in-law exclaimed, “I should really like to have a look at these people;” whereat the old man went back to fetch off all the men who had formerly been his daughter’s suitors, and returned with a large train of kayaks following him. They landed, and were very hospitably received, and regaled with reindeer-meat and seal-flesh; and when they had satisfied their appetite, the old man accosted them thus: “I wonder if ye can still remember what ye were telling me a long time ago when ye had nearly killed me, wanting by main force my daughter for your wife? Your words were these: ‘Thou wilt surely never get a clever husband for thy daughter.’ But you see I have, for all that. Likewise ye said that ye would deny me your assistance if ever I came in want: now help yourself, if ye please, and eat as much as ever ye like.”

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The two brothers

Two brothers, living on opposite sides of a Greenland fiord, experience a supernatural tragedy when an otherworldly boat attacks the younger brother’s household, killing all inside. A surviving servant alerts the elder brother, who seeks vengeance with the help of a one-eyed stranger. Together, they confront mystical foes and avenge the slain, blending themes of supernatural folklore, revenge, and alliance against malevolent forces.

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 story features an otherworldly boat manned by supernatural entities who attack the younger brother’s household, introducing elements of the mystical and unexplained.

Revenge and Justice: Following the tragic massacre, the elder brother seeks retribution for his slain family members, embodying the pursuit of justice against malevolent forces.

Guardian Figures: The elder brother encounters a one-eyed stranger who assists him in confronting and overcoming the mystical adversaries, acting as a mentor or protector in his quest.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

This tale is compiled from four manuscripts which differ somewhat.

Two brothers lived in the mouth of a fiord — the elder one on the sunny side, the other on the shady side of the inlet. One night the servant of the younger brother happening to go behind the house suddenly perceived something bright glittering out on the sea, and at the same time detected a boat that seemed to grow in size as it approached; on looking sharply she was horrified at recognising it to be an umiariak (or supernatural boat manned with fabulous beings). She wanted to run, but was not able to stir; she tried to call out, but found that she could not utter a sound, and so she must needs keep quiet. The next thing she saw was a number of people landing, all carrying glittering swords, and walking straight up to the tent, and sticking their spears through it from all sides.

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Loud cries were heard from within, and the foreigners rushed down to their boat. She saw the water foaming, and a multitude of seals moving out seawards. She was not able to rise till they were quite out of sight; then she got up and went to the tent, where she found all the inmates killed, and the earth covered with blood. Although it was still dark, she could not possibly wait, but set off at once, and wandered ever so far round the whole bay to reach the opposite shore, where the other brother lived, and having reached his tent she told him what had taken place, and that all her housemates had been put to death. But somehow he got suspicious, and believed that she herself had killed them. Seeing this, she merely said, “First go and look for thyself, and afterward thou mayst kill me if thou likest.” He now went across to his brother’s station, and when he had seen the tent pierced from all sides he was reassured with regard to the servant, and only thought of finding out the enemies. He bespoke an angakok to come and see him, that he might point them out to him. At night, when the angakok had arrived, the lamps were extinguished, and he spoke, “Look there; far away in the interior of the land, I espy them.” When he could no longer descry them he again had the lamps lighted. On the following day the surviving brother paddled up to the fiord head, left his kayak on the beach, and walked, only armed with his spear, to the interior. After a long ramble he at length discovered a house, and stealing to the window he peeped through it, and beheld a man with only one eye sitting down, and busily carving some implement out of wood. On turning round, the man caught sight of the stranger, and at once invited him to come in. Having entered the house, he went and sat down beside the man with one eye, who, however, motioned him off a little, saying, “Don’t sit quite so close to me; I might happen to cut thee.” When the guest had complied, and moved farther away, he went on, saying, “Let refreshment be brought in for the stranger.” A loud peal of laughter was then heard, and from beneath the ledge emerged a lot of narrayoot (plural of narrajok, big-bellied), these being the only womankind of his household. They went out, returning soon afterwards with great quantities of meat, chiefly reindeer flesh and tallow. The host now said to him, “Tomorrow I will go with thee and help thee to find out thy enemies, but now thou must lie down to rest here; thou hast nothing to fear.” On the following day the one-eyed man prepared to follow him, taking with him a large bunch of arrows, fitted up in a skin cover. Having advanced somewhat into the country, he walked so quickly that his companion could hardly keep up with him. At length he stopped, and putting his arrows on the ground, he said, “Turn thy face towards the interior and give a shout.” Without knowing the reason why, he turned his face towards the interior part of the country, and cried out aloud, upon which three large bears instantly appeared. The one-eyed man aimed his bow at them and killed them all. Again he said, “Turn round and call as before!” This done, a multitude of people appeared, armed with bows and arrows. He was dreadfully frightened; but his companion, seeing this, said, “Go and hide behind me; but mind, as soon as thou puttest forth thy head they’ll shoot thee.” Having thus sheltered himself behind his protector, though all the time trembling with fear, he soon observed the arrows to be flying about him right and left; but after a while they decreased in number, and finally abated altogether. The enemies having discharged all their arrows had taken flight. The one-eyed man then took up his bow, and the still revengeful brother his spear, and both set off in pursuit of them, overtaking and killing the whole of them. On the way home the inlander noticed his companion’s weapon, questioned him concerning it, as he had never seen the like before, and told him he would like very much to purchase it; and because of his handsome behaviour he had his wish. On their return they went together to his storehouse, and he was repaid with the renowned sea-hare skin, (viz., white reindeer skins with black streaks), and one of the little women was called to take them down. She put the bundle on her stomach, and ran so fast with it that the visitor could not keep pace with her. On his reaching home, he found them put on the roof of his house, and from that time his mind was at rest.

This rather mystical tale is in Greenland related in different ways. It seems to have originated from some historical tradition mixed up with the common belief that when seals are chased and killed in too great numbers, the surviving ones will often avenge themselves in the shape of umiarissat (plural of umiariak) — that is, armed people in a boat fashioned out of a solid piece of ice. In one of the versions the inlanders here mentioned are called erkileks, in another “the men who twinkle lengthwise,” which closely reminds one of the Indians called Loucheux or Squint-eyes, who up to the present day are one of the tribes most hostile to the Eskimo, and described as being able to make themselves proof against the arrows of their enemies by means of a certain movement of their eyes.

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The barren wife

Kujavarsuk, born through a magical pact with a shaman, became a gifted hunter, sustaining his community with abundant seals. A sorcerer, angered by a slight, created a shapeshifting tupilak to torment Kujavarsuk, but it was thwarted by Kujavarsuk’s protective amulet. The tupilak, enraged, turned on its maker, killing him. Kujavarsuk lived unbothered, providing for his people until his peaceful death.

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 childless couple seeks the aid of a shaman, whose magical abilities lead to the birth of their son, Kujavarsuk.

Supernatural Beings: The story features a sorcerer who creates a shapeshifting tupilak—a creature from Inuit mythology—to harm Kujavarsuk.

Sacred Objects: Kujavarsuk possesses a protective amulet, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding him from the tupilak’s attacks.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

This very popular tale has been collated from three copies agreeing in all essential particulars.

A man had a wife who begat him no children. The husband, who was envious of all the people who had children, one day told her to make herself trim and nice, and walk on to a certain spot where an old man, who had given up seal-hunting, had his fishing-place. This old man, however, was a great magician. The next day, while he sat fishing in his kayak, a little way off the shore, she appeared on the beach dressed in her best. But as the old man, afraid of her husband, would not approach her, she soon returned. The husband himself now went to the old man, and promised him half of his “catch” if he could think of some means whereby to get children. When the wife appeared on the beach the next day, the old man instantly made for the shore, and went up to her.

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From this day forwards the husband always put by half of the seals he caught for the old man: and when he noticed that his wife was enceinte, he asked the old man to take up his abode in their house; upon which he rejoined, “Thy wife will bear thee a son. Tomorrow when thou goest out kayaking thou must row to the birds-cliff and get hold of a bird, which he shall use for an amulet.” On the following day, when the husband had brought the bird, the old man went on, “Farther, thou must fetch a hollow stone, of a black colour, on which the sun has never shone;” and when he had also brought this, the old man said, “Finally, thou must go to thy grandmother’s grave and bring home her collar-bone.” When all these things had been gathered, the wife brought forth a son, who was named Kujavarsuk by the old man, and the stone was put close to his feet, but the bird was stuck up above the window. The old man now told the father to provide a kayak for the boy as soon as he should be able to make use of it, and have it ready fitted up with utensils and all other requisites for the hunt. When the boy grew up, the father made the kayak; and even before the skins with which it had been covered had time to dry, it was put in the water, and the boy being placed in it, they shoved it off the beach. The old man told what would happen to him, saying, “The very first time he goes out, one of the ‘quiet’ seals will rise to the surface, and he shall not return home till he has captured ten of them; and in future he will always get ten seals whenever he goes out kayaking. The old man and the father now followed him closely, but as soon as they left him at a little distance a seal popped its head above the water, and he paddled on and harpooned it, at which the old man was quite transported; and from this time the boy began to hunt. When he was grown up he took two wives; and he became of great use to his house-fellows and neighbours. In times of need he was their only provider. One winter the sea was frozen over very early, and ere long there was only one opening in the ice left, right in front of their dwelling-place; out of this he every day got his ten seals. Later on the cleft became so narrow that his kayak touched the edge of the ice with both ends, and at last it altogether closed up. The whole sea was now covered with ice; great perplexity came over the people, and they deliberated whether it would not be necessary to call in an angakok. One person mentioned that in the summer-time he had seen the widow Igdlutsialik’s daughter practising the angakok art in a lake. Kujavarsuk at once sent off a messenger to let her know that he would give her a large seal-skin in return if she would make the ice break up. However, she declined to do so. They next tried to get her to return by offering her different things, such as clothes and lamps; but still she refused. Then some one brought her a handful of beads, which happened to take her fancy; and she said to her mother, “Bring my summer dress.” When she had put it on, she walked down to the water-side and disappeared among the loose ice-blocks scattered all along the sea-shore. Shortly afterwards the spectators heard a splash, and she was seen no more. She now remained in the depths of the ocean for three days, and at the bottom of the sea she had a struggle with the old woman (viz., the arnarkuagssak of the Eskimo mythology), to make her let loose the animals of the sea, which she purposely detained, and kept swimming about underneath her lamp; and when at length she had managed to conciliate her, she again returned to the earth. On the evening of the third day she reappeared among the ice-blocks on the beach, and let the people know that she wanted every other seal that was caught, for herself, of those with the most beautiful skin, as well as of the common fiord seals. As yet, however, the sea was all covered with ice. But on the following morning, at dawn, the ice broke up, and an opening appeared near the houses; and after a while it had become so wide that the men could put down their kayaks. Each of them soon caught two seals, but Kujavarsuk as usual got ten, which made the others very jealous. It now happened one day that his wives had only put by a piece of the back instead of the briskets for his mother’s brother, who was expected to come home later in the evening. He was offended at this want of consideration on their part, and resolved to make (by help of sorcery) a tupilak for Kujavarsuk. To this end he gathered bones of all sorts of animals, out of which he fashioned it in such manner that it could take the shape of different animals, of birds as well as of seals; and having stirred them into life, he let it loose, and ordered it to persecute Kujavarsuk. First it dived down into the sea, and again appeared to him in the shape of a seal; but he was then already on his way home, and when it approached him he was in the very act of drawing his kayak on the shore. The same thing happened on the second and the third day. The tupilak now determined to pursue him to his house, and then frighten him to death. It transformed itself into a toogdlik [the largest sea-fowl in Greenland, Colymbus glacialis, or Great Northern Diver], and commenced shrieking outside the house. Kujavarsuk went out; but as he could not be brought to look at it, the charm would not work. It then resolved to go underground, and pop up into the room. However, it succeeded no better this time, but rose at the back of the house; and just as it was about to climb up the roof, it met his own amulet-bird, which at once set about picking and scratching its face. It now, however, turned desperate, and thought, “Why did this miserable fool of a man ever make me!” and in the height of its wrath it turned against its maker. Diving down into the water near his fishing-place, it emerged right beneath his kayak, and fairly upsetting it, devoured him on the spot. It now fled far away from the habitations of man, out on the roaring ocean. Kujavarsuk afterwards remained unmolested, and died at a very old age.

There are other tales of Kujavarsuk among the Greenlanders. The following may be taken as a sample of the whole.

When Kujavarsuk had grown a man he travelled to a place in the north, where he had had a namesake who died from starvation. The people of those parts followed the pursuit of whale-fishery, and here Kujavarsuk made friends with a youth. Those two were always trying to outdo each other, but Kujavarsuk was more than a match for him. In the beginning of winter they were to try who could detect the first whale. Kujavarsuk had never seen any animal of this kind before. He had by this time taken up his abode with an old man, who said to him, “When a whale is near at hand, it cannot be mistaken; its breathing is at once roaring and hissing.” And Kujavarsuk was always on the alert to catch sight of them. One fine morning, when it was quite calm, the old man said, “If the whales are going to be early this year, they’ll turn up on a day like this.” Kujavarsuk remained out in his kayak all day, listening for the signal, but could not perceive any such sound at all. In the evening he returned after a fair hunt, and tried to go to sleep, but was not able. About midnight he rose, and stepping out he heard a sound of heavy breathing from the sea coming closer to him, and stopping at the mouth of the bay; and on entering he said, “I wonder what sound it was I heard just now.” The old man walked out, and returned, saying, “Why, that’s just the whale blowing; he did not miss his day.” Kujavarsuk now went to rest, and slept soundly. But early in the morning his young friend was heard calling without, “Kujavarsuk, the whale is blowing! thou art too late!” But the old man made answer, “Thou art mistaken, he knew it yesterday, and has just gone to sleep.” Soon after, the friend said, “Now let us see which of us is the best hand at making bladders for our whale-catching.” And next day they went out together to procure seals for this purpose. Close to land Kujavarsuk got two spotted ones, but his friend got none at all. As the weather continued fine, and more whales appeared, the boats were sent out on the watch. At first Kujavarsuk concluded he was not to be of the party because he had no women to row his boat, but on seeing all the hunters set off along with their housemates, women and all, he, too, felt a strong desire to go; and getting hold of some children, he manned his boat with them, and left shore. The other boats, meantime, had stood farther out to sea, and the people shouted to him, “If thou art on the look-out for the whale thou must come out to us; he’ll never rise where thou art now.” But he did not mind them, and stayed where he was, his mother having said, “I conceived thee on the sea-shore, and for this reason thou shalt watch thy chance near it.” In a little while a whale appeared close by; he at once pursued and harpooned it, and the beast could not even draw his bladder under the water. Again the others cried, “If thou wilt not lose it thou must pursue it more seawards.” But he only replied, “All the animals of the sea that I am going to pursue will seek towards shore, close to my dwelling-place.” And thus he was left alone to kill it all by himself. Whether he got any more than this one is not known; but perhaps he even got his ten of them. When spring came on he returned to his former home, where he still found the old fisherman alive, and to him he presented all the whalebone; the longest and best splits having been all reserved for him.

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

The man who mated himself with a sea-fowl

An old bachelor entertained himself by treating seal skulls as his children. Loneliness led him to steal a woman’s clothes, forcing her to marry him. She eventually bore him two sons but revealed her bird-like nature by transforming herself and the children into sea-fowl. The abandoned man searched for them but only encountered mystical events and a fleeting reunion before his wife and others turned into birds forever.

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

► Themes of the story

Transformation: The man’s wife and children transform into sea-fowl, highlighting themes of change and metamorphosis.

Supernatural Beings: The wife and children possess the ability to become birds, indicating interactions with beings beyond the ordinary human realm.

Family Dynamics: The narrative explores complex relationships within the family, including the man’s loneliness, his unconventional marriage, and the eventual departure of his wife and children.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

An old bachelor used to amuse himself by playing with skulls of seals, and feigning them to be his children. When he went out kayaking he put them down on the beach, and having placed himself in his kayak, he would say to them, “Now mind ye be good children, and go straight up to the house!” and on still finding them in the same place on his return, he would cry out, “Ye seem to be all deaf and dumb; did not I tell ye to keep off from the water before I set off?” Then taking hold of one of the heads, he threw it into the sea, “Look, there’s your little brother fallen into the water!”

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Another time, feeling himself very sad and lonely, he went running far away into the country, and happened to fall in with a great many women bathing in a lake. At this sight an idea seized him, and noiselessly he stole away to the place where they had put their clothes, securing those belonging to the one he thought the prettiest, and then stepped boldly forward. When the women saw him they hastened back to their clothes, and having put them on, they immediately changed into birds and flew away. Only she who had been robbed of her clothes remained behind; and the bachelor went straight up to her, asking her, “Would she like to be his wife?” and in return she said, “Yes, thou mayst take me if thou likest, only give me my clothes.” She then got them, but he kept hold of her, lest she, too, should fly. When she had dressed herself he took her home and married her. The next morning he did not venture to go out in his kayak, for fear she might take flight; and thus it happened that he gave up kayaking altogether, until one day she declared, “Now thou mayst leave me without fear, for I do really love thee, and thou mayst depend upon me;” and then he again began to go out seal-hunting. At length she begat a son, and when he grew up, another son was born; but afterwards they got no more children. When the children grew on, the mother sometimes took them out walking; and on the way she would admonish them to gather bird wings and feathers, saying, “Children, ye are akin to birds.” On a certain day she fastened a pair of these wings upon one of the boys, who was at once changed into a sea-fowl, and flew away. She did the same thing to his brother; and last of all she herself put on wings and followed them in the shape of a sea-fowl. When the old husband came home he found neither wife nor children, at which he grew very sad. However, he did not cease to go out in his kayak, although he no more chased seals. One day he put in close to a sand-hill, and leaving his kayak on the beach, he crossed the hill, and went a good way into the country. Looking round, he saw a man with his back turned towards him, working away at a piece of timber with his axe. On approaching him, he observed that the lower parts of his body visibly trembled. The man now asked him, “From what side art thou drawing nigh?” and the old man answered, “I am coming against thee;” to which the other remarked, “If thou hadst come from behind, I should have killed thee on the spot.” The old man now addressed him, saying, “Thou shalt have my new kayak if thou wilt inform me whether thou hast seen three persons?” but the other one answered, “I don’t care for thy new kayak, and I have not seen the three persons thou speakest of.” The old man again said to him, “I see thou art working in wood, and I will give thee my new axe; only let me know whether thou hast not seen three persons?” “Well, my axe is rather worn. Go and sit down on the tail of a salmon in yonder river; but when thou hearest the voices of children, mind thou don’t open thine eyes!” The old man obeyed, and sat down on the tail of a salmon, shutting his eyes the while. On hearing a rushing sound he opened his eyes a little, and noticing that he was carried along by a rapid current, he shut them again, and all was silent. He again heard the noise of children crying, “Alas, our father is nigh!” and the mother answering them, “Lo, we left your father without any means of conveying him hither.” The children, however, repeated, “Our father is coming.” The father now got on shore, and went to a house with fine windows to it; he observed that the inmates were all women. Close to the back wall his wife was sitting, and opposite her a man with a pug-nose, constantly repeating, “Wilt thou not marry me?” But the woman answered; “No, I have already got another husband.” All the rest now left the house, and only those two remained. At last, when the fellow with the pug-nose had left also, the old man made an attempt to take his wife back; but she quickly followed the other out, and while he pursued her she was transformed into a gull, as were also the rest of the women. The pug-nosed man was changed into a wild-duck; and when the discarded husband turned round, he saw that the house had been transformed into a gulls-hill [or birds-mound — viz., a heap of turf and moss accumulated on the top of small islands which have been long the resting-place of sea-fowls, and especially gulls, whose ordure has accumulated to a great extent in such localities.]

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