Tag: 24. Family Dynamics

Complex relationships within families, like sibling rivalry or parental challenges

The woman who got connected with the Ingnersuit or underworld people

Two hunters and a woman argued while deer-hunting, causing her to hide and separate from them. She encountered a man from a gull’s mound who married her. They had a son, Imitlungnarsunguak, whom she later raised among her people. The boy’s hunting skills were remarkable, but his father claimed his first catch. After being captured by underground beings, his mother rescued him, securing their freedom.

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

► Themes of the story

Underworld Journey: The woman enters the dwelling of the underworld people (Ingnersuit) and later retrieves her son from their subterranean abode.

Supernatural Beings: The narrative involves interactions with the Ingnersuit, beings from the underworld with mystical attributes.

Family Dynamics: The story explores the relationship between the woman, her supernatural husband, and their son, highlighting the mother’s efforts to protect and reunite with her child.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

It once happened that two men went out deer-hunting, accompanied by a woman. On the way they scolded her, at which she got vexed, and tied up her boots in order to remain behind. They waited a while for her, but at length went along without her, and soon lost sight of her, as she had purposely hidden herself behind some large heaps of stones. She heard them seeking for her close beside her hiding-place, and lamenting their loss; but nevertheless she remained quiet until they were gone. When she was thus left alone she crept forth and went off in an opposite direction.

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After some time she came to a gull’s mound, and observed a man coming out from it; she tried to escape, but he seized hold of her, and asked her to follow him to his dwelling-place in the gull’s-hill, as he wished to marry her. She followed him reluctantly; but when he opened it to her, she noticed that it was covered with reindeer-skins on the walls, and on the whole looked quite comfortable. She now left off crying, entered the hill, and became his wife, and in due time she bore him a child, whom the father wanted to be named Imitlungnarsunguak. The wife, however, remonstrated, saying, “That she had not got any relatives of that name;” but the husband answered her, “It did not matter; he would take care to make a great huntsman of him,” — and then she let him call the boy as he liked. When he grew on, and his mother had spent a good many winters in this place, she longed for her former home, and wished to return. The husband merely answered her, “I claim his first catch, mind!” and then she left him along with her son, and went back to her old relatives and housemates, and once more lived with them. When the other children played with her son, she used to tell them not to do him any harm; and for fear of his unknown father they desisted. When he was quite grown up, and saw the men prepare for the hunt, he was very desirous to join them; his mother observing this, went outside and shouted out aloud, “Now get him some tools!” When she came out next morning she found them lying on the ground, close beside the entry. When the son brought home what he had caught for the first time, she again went out and cried with all her might, “Imitlungnarsunguak has caught a seal!” and when she was about to re-enter, the people were all very busy in dragging this seal into the house. When they had reached the farther end of the passage, it could not be lifted across the threshold into the room, but rolled back, and in no time had vanished. The father, of course, had taken it away. His next catch the mother got; but when he went out hunting the third time, he remained away. His mother now mended his clothes and put them to rights, and in the evening went outside as before, shouting something at the pitch of her voice, upon which his garments came flying out of the house, and she hurried after them. When they had got as far as the beach, the coast-ice appeared to be lifted up, and left room for the clothes to slip down beneath, — the mother following them closely. She now came to a house under ground belonging to ingnersuit, and there found her son, tied hands and feet. Loosening him she hurried him into his clothes, and brought him away with her. Her own name was Nagguanguak.

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The Kivigtok

A man’s second son became a kivigtok, fleeing society to live in isolation. Despite two summers of searching, his family finally found his cave, filled with meat and skins. The son promised to return home but deceived them, disappearing with the remaining supplies. Later, he taunted them from an unreachable cliff, leaving his family no choice but to abandon their efforts to retrieve him.

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

► Themes of the story

Community and Isolation: The protagonist’s deliberate separation from his family and society highlights the tension between communal bonds and the choice of isolation.

Cunning and Deception: The kivigtok’s deceitful promise to return home, followed by his subsequent disappearance, underscores themes of trickery and betrayal.

Family Dynamics: The persistent efforts of the family to retrieve their lost member, juxtaposed with his rejection and taunting, reflect complex familial relationships and the challenges therein.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

There was once a man who had several sons; of these, the second son turned kivigtok (viz., fled the society of mankind). This happened in the winter-time; but next summer the father, as well as his other sons, went away from home in order to search for the fugitive. In this manner summer went by and winter came round, but still they had not found him. When summer was again approaching, they made all preparations for another search, this time to other places, along another firth. Late in autumn they at length chanced to find out his solitary abode, in an out-of-the-way place, after having traversed the country in every direction for ever so long.

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His habitation was a cave or hollow in a rock, the inside being covered with reindeer-skin, and the entrance of which had been carefully closed up. At the time of their arrival the kivigtok was still out hunting; but a little later they saw him advance towards the place from the inland, dragging a whole deer along with him. The brothers were lying in ambush for him; and when he came close to them they seized hold of him. He recognised them at once, and gave a loud cry like that of a reindeer, and said, “Do let me off; I shan’t flee.” The father now asked him to return with them, adding, “This is the second summer in which we have given up our hunt in order to find thee out, and, now we have succeeded, thou really must come home with us;” and he answered, “Yes, that I will.” They remained in the cave during the night, enjoying each other’s company. Next day they had much to do with the things that had to be taken back with them, the store-room, besides his dwelling-place, being filled with dry meat and skins. They tied up bundles to be taken down one by one to the tent of his relatives, which was pitched at some distance near the firth by which they were to travel home. When they were about to set off with the first loads, they wanted him to follow them; he excused himself, however, saying, “When ye go down the last time I shall follow; but I must stay and take care of these things.” They went without him; but on their return the kivigtok had disappeared, and taken the remainder of the provisions with him, and the brothers grew exceedingly vexed with themselves, that they had thus relied on his word, without leaving any one in charge of him. But all too late. Some time afterwards, when they had gone out again to look for him, he terrified them by yelling and howling at them from the summit of a steep and altogether inaccessible rock. How he had got there they could not make out, but finding it impossible to follow him, they were obliged to give him up for lost.

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The brother who went to akilinek in search of his sister

In regard to this story, which is very widely known in Greenland, we refer to the introductory sections, where it is pointed out as one of those most probably resting upon a historical basis, representing the invention of dog-sledging, or the teaming and training of some wild animal, from which the present Eskimo dog has descended. Akilinek is now by the Greenlanders considered a fabulous country beyond the sea; but it may be supposed to have been a real country opposite to the original homesteads of their ancestors.

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

► Themes of the story

Quest: The brother embarks on a journey to find his missing sister, demonstrating determination and bravery.

Supernatural Beings: Throughout his journey, he encounters and tames extraordinary creatures, including a bear and an amarok (a mythical wolf-like creature), which assist him in his quest.

Family Dynamics: The narrative delves into the bonds of family, highlighting the brother’s deep commitment to rescuing his sister and the lengths he is willing to go to reunite with her.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

An old man had a son and two daughters. His son being a first-rate hunter and provider, the father at length gave up kayaking himself. His son could overtake and outrun every animal on shore; and at sea he was an excellent hand at harpooning. His eldest sister used to follow him along the shore, where she amused herself by catching partridges in little traps, and usually got a good many. At a time when the sea was frozen over, they one day went away to the outermost islets. There the brother saw a fox and set off to pursue it. After a short absence, he returned with the fox; but meanwhile the sister was gone. He looked for her everywhere, and called out, but she did not come.

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At length he detected the trace of a sledge, but as it was growing dark, he had to go home without his sister. On his return, he grew silent and reserved, but after a while said to his father, “Oh how much I should like to have a sledge!” The father rather favoured this idea, and at once set about making him one. The next morning the son set out on foot, but returned at nightfall without having killed anything, and went to sleep without saying a word. In the morning he asked his father to provide him with some cords, saying that he wanted to fetch home an animal to pull his sledge for him; and then he went off and stayed away. Towards evening a strange noise was heard, and the little sister went outside to see what it was, but instantly returned in great alarm, exclaiming, “Oh, what dreadful monster is this my dear brother has brought home with him?” When he entered, the father asked him, “What beast is it thou hast got?” “Why, it is only a little bear I have caught to drag my sledge; I hope thou wilt make a harness for it; I want him to be trained shortly.” The father complied, and the son left off hunting for a while in order to train the bear; but when he had finished this, he took him along with him on his excursions. Another time he again returned late in the evening quite exhausted, and turned in without speaking a word. The following morning he asked his father for more cords; but this time they must be still stronger. Having received what he wanted, he went away. In the evening a strange noise was again heard, on which the little sister went outside, but returned quite horrified, saying that it was still more frightful than the last time. When he had entered, and the father questioned him, he answered, “Oh, it’s nothing but a little amarok (wolf or fabulous animal) I have caught to match the bear.” These two, however, could not agree; and he had often to use his whip to part them when they were going to fight. After training, however, they pulled very well together; but now he wanted a third one, and having set out for it in the morning, he did not return till late at night, when his parents had long been quite miserable on account of his long absence; and he went to sleep as before without speaking to any one. The next morning he applied to his father for strings and lashings, but this time none but the very strongest would serve him; having got them, he went off as usual. In the evening there was a terrible noise outside, for now he had got the bear, the amarok, and an agshik (a fabulous monster) fighting each other. At length he had them all tamed and trained; and he once more turned to his father, saying, “All I wish for is a sledge.” His father was quite willing, and made him one of very hard wood, with many knots in it. When the sea was frozen over, he went out to try his team, following the coast southwards, and returned towards evening on the same day. When his father questioned him as to how far he had been, he answered: “’If thou wert to leave with a boat early in spring, thou wouldst not have reached the place I got at today before autumn. In going home we made great speed, but the bear got tired, and I was obliged to take him into the sledge beside me; but the agshik is incapable of tiring, and will be of great use to me.” The next day he travelled on in the same manner to the north, returning home at night; and having made some similar remarks, he added, “The agshik, I find, is soon provoked, and goes off in a fury; he will be rather dangerous for strangers to encounter.” The ice now covering the sea all over, and not having broken up, although it had been very stormy, he supposed he might trust himself out on it; and the weather again became settled and beautiful. He then spoke to his parents thus: “Don’t ye remember the day I wandered out on the ice with my sister and lost her there? Since that day I have sought her far and near all over our country: where can she have gone to? Not even the bones of her corpse did I find; but on the day I lost her, in looking for her, I noticed the marks of a sledge on the ice, leading right to sea. Any other trace of her I have never seen; and therefore I should now like to go across to Akilinek, as I shall certainly not be at rest until I have found her.” The parents tried to persuade him to stay, saying, “It does not matter for thy sister, who has been lost to us for such a great length of time; don’t go away in search of her as far away as that, but bear in mind thou art now our only provider. Out yonder is a cleft in the ice so wide that thou mayst never cross it.” The son then rejoined, “To be sure my animals cannot swim; the bear only in some degree is capable of that: but if I don’t succeed, I shall, of course, return.” The parents repeated their warnings, but he got all the more bent upon going, come what might, so that he should only find his sister. When he arrived at the exact spot where he had formerly seen the trace of a sledge, he turned right seawards, and after a while lost sight of the land. The bear now got tired as before, and being only a hindrance, he took it on the sledge. Driving continually straight on, he again came in sight of land, and observed the tracks of many sledges; and on approaching the shore, he saw them in all directions. He now looked all around him to find out which way he had better turn. In the meantime he had made fast his animals to an iceberg near the strand, and went to shore himself to see if any people were to be found there. He had not walked long before he saw a number of houses, which made him stop and consider; but after a while he advanced, and having found an entrance, he walked up to a large house and went inside. Having entered and given the inmates a look, he at once recognised his sister sitting down with a baby on her lap. When he had seated himself on the side bench, she also recognised him, and they began to speak to each other, and she said, “On the same day thou left me to pursue thy fox, a man in a sledge happened to pass by; and in no time I was taken up and carried away to this place, and that is the reason why thou seest me here. I am married, but at present my husband is out as usual. However, I expect him home very soon, and when he comes thou must look at him well.” The brother now rejoined, “Since that day I have done nothing but try to find thee out; all over the country I have travelled in search of thee; how lucky it is that I find thee at last!” Whilst they sat waiting, some one called out, “There he is coming!” and looking out at the window the brother-in-law saw his sister’s husband driving on towards the house with a number of young reindeer pulling his sledge. Though he sped on at a good rate, the other thought his own animals still swifter, and considering himself to be quite a match for the new-comer, he again seated himself without any further remark. When the husband entered, he kept his eyes constantly fixed on the visitor sitting beside his wife; and without a word to any one, leaned back on the ledge after having taken his place upon it, so that nothing but his heels resting on the edge of it were visible. The relatives being thus interrupted, left off speaking for a time; however, she told her brother that it was for fear of her husband, who used to speak very little, she added, being of a shy disposition. On hearing this, he came a little closer to them, and they began to converse together. The guest spoke of his happiness in seeing his sister so well off, and said, that seeing she had such a good provider, he would not trouble himself any more about her in future; and further, he proposed that they should come and visit him and his parents on the opposite shore. But his brother-in-law did not fancy this much: he gave as a pretext that the cold would be too severe for the children. Both now wanted to persuade him to stay, but he said he must needs go and look after his animals, without mention of what kind they were. His relatives gave him some of the children’s clothes for a gift to the parents: he put them on his shoulders, went to his sledge, and departed. When he had got so far that he had lost sight of the land, the bear again got tired, and was taken in beside him. On his return, his parents rejoiced greatly at seeing the clothes of their daughter’s little children, and on hearing that their long-missed daughter was coming to visit them. One day during fine weather, when they were anxiously expecting them, sledges were seen coming across the ice, which made them all very happy, and the little sister, who was of a merry temper, was hardly able to contain her joy. When her sister’s sledge had come still closer, she gave a jump and bounded over the boat, which was put up on the boat-pillars. But all of a sudden the sledgers were seen to put about — probably they took fright at seeing her brother’s animals and at the girl indulging in such wild pranks. They now called out loudly for them, and the parents were very much distressed and wept together. This sight made the son take pity on the old people, and to punish the fugitives he let loose the agshik, being the most furious of the lot, to pursue them. In a moment the sledgers as well as the agshik disappeared; but on his return the agshik was all bloody around the muzzle. In all likelihood he devoured them all. The brother did not go in search of them, as he did not expect any of them to be alive.

The tale here given is nearly literally translated from one manuscript; besides which three copies have been received, and one verbal narration has been written down by the author himself. The latter, comprising the most frequent variations of the tale, substitutes a cousin in the place of the brother. When he had turned mute and sorrowful on account of his having lost a dear companion, his father spoke to him saying, “At the neighbouring hamlet to the north of us, there are several old people, and old people generally are rich in stories; go to them for the purpose of cheering thy mind.” One morning the son at length took a fancy to go and visit these old folks; and on his arrival there, one old man told him how in the days of his youth, when he had been roaming about in quest of sport and excitement, he had once on the brink of a rock happened to discover a kukissook (fabulous animal with great fangs) with its young ones. While he was gazing at these awful beasts, a little sparrow happened to pass by, flying over their heads. At the same moment the old animal, which had till then been couchant, bounded into the air, snatching the body of the sparrow so that the wings fell to the ground separately, at the sight of which the man had been struck with terror, and fled the spot for ever. The visitor on hearing this asked exact information about the locality of the place, and having returned to his father, made ready for an excursion, uponwhich he captured a kukissook. The remaining part of the story agrees with the version given. But when the cousin with her husband and child comes to visit their relatives, instead of being frightened and turning back, they decided to stay with them; but the brother-in-law from Akilinek did not dare to step outside the house for fear of the sledge animals, and being too tall for the ledge, he was obliged to lie on the floor. At length he grew tired and ventured outside, whereupon the cousin of his wife set the kukissook upon him, causing him to be torn to pieces. He then also went on to kill the child, saying it was of no real human descent, and might grow like its father. The two cousins then adopted their former mode of life, roaming about their home together, where their bones are now resting.

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Uvikiak

Uvikiak traveled north with his family, but tragedy struck when his son was brutally murdered. Pursuing the murderers, Uvikiak followed a trail of mocking songs and sorrowful tales about his son. Eventually finding the culprits, Uvikiak exacted revenge, killing them and mimicking his son’s fate upon their bodies. Escaping undetected, he and his family returned south, haunted but avenged.

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 brutal murder of his son, Uvikiak embarks on a relentless pursuit of the perpetrators, ultimately exacting vengeance by mirroring the cruelty inflicted upon his son.

Family Dynamics: The narrative underscores the deep bonds within Uvikiak’s family, highlighting their collective grief and determination to seek retribution for their lost member.

Conflict with Authority: While not directly confronting a formal authority, Uvikiak challenges the moral order by taking justice into his own hands, reflecting a personal rebellion against the perpetrators’ tyranny.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

From one of the oldest manuscripts.

Uvikiak was travelling to the north, accompanied by one son and two daughters. Whenever he came to a favourable shore, the son kayaked ahead of them, and when the others came up to the spot they had fixed to land upon, he was already standing in waiting.

They generally remained on land for the night, and travelled further the next day; in the evening the son roamed ahead, as usual, to await them ashore, but when they landed and looked for him he was not to be seen. They pushed off again, and having doubled a point of land and got into a bay, they saw his lifeless body, standing erect, pierced with sharp weapons beneath his arms, and his eyes covered with some of his entrails.

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At this sight his father groaned with despair, and left the place to get hold of the murderers. Some way off he observed some tents, and he went and asked, “Have ye seen no travellers pass by this way?” “To be sure we have: yesterday a boat passed by; they were singing some kind of mock song about a young lad whose eyes had been covered with his entrails, and at which they laughed and scorned him.” At this report the father was still more provoked; and always lamenting the lost one, they continued their journey of discovery, making inquiries at several other places, where they always got the same information, that a boat had newly passed by. Uvikiak still travelled on, with his wife and his two daughters, never now coming on shore in the night. At last they again reached some tents, and on making the usual inquiries, got the answer that a boat had lately passed by, the crew of which were singing very sadly about a young man they had killed; and the wrath of the old Uvikiak somewhat subsided at their mild words. They continued their journey for several days without being able to sleep in the night for excitement; but at length they set foot on the spot where lived the murderers. They put in and landed somewhat at the back of their dwelling-place; and having got the boat on shore, placed it keel upwards, and gathered crowberry plants and grass to cover it up with. Uvikiak’s wife betook herself under the boat, while he himself went away with his daughters across the isthmus. They soon heard a noise, and listening on one of the nearest hills, just above the spot where they used to have dancing and other games, — they heard distinctly that one of them was singing about Uvikiak’s son. The song being finished, two young men came walking up-hill, flushed with heat and quite undressed. The new-comers at once inquired something about the singers. “It is our master,” they answered; “he was just singing about a young man whom we happened to meet with down in the south, and killed — it was mighty amusing!” In a great rage, Uvikiak instantly seized the one of them, and the daughters the other. They soon got the better of both; and having killed them, put them in exactly the same position as that in which they had seen Uvikiak’s son; after which they hid themselves at a little distance. They had not to wait long before they heard a cry of vengeance; but their hiding-place was not discovered; and they escaped without any harm, and then returned to their home in the south.

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The girl who went away in search of her brother

Alekatokak and her brother Asuvina set out to set fox traps, but Asuvina mysteriously disappeared. Accused by her father, Alekatokak fled into the wilderness. Her journey led her to a shadowy land and, eventually, to a coastal settlement where she reunited with Asuvina. After curing the chief’s injury, Alekatokak married, bore a gifted son, and established a lineage in the strange land.

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

► Themes of the story

Quest: Alekatokak embarks on a journey to find her missing brother, Asuvina, demonstrating the classic quest motif.

Family Dynamics: The narrative explores the relationship between Alekatokak and her brother, as well as the tension with her father, highlighting complex family interactions.

Transformation: Throughout her journey, Alekatokak undergoes significant personal growth, adapting to new environments and ultimately establishing a new life, indicating a transformative experience.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

From two rather defective copies.

Alekatokak went away with her brother Asuvina, to set up fox-traps. Having arrived at the place they had fixed upon, she told her brother that she wanted a flat stone to make a door for the trap, and asked him to bring her one. He went to get it; but as he was rather long in returning, she went off to seek him: but in vain; he had completely disappeared; and she was obliged to return by herself. On her coming home, her father said, “I suppose thou hast hurt him — perhaps even killed him: I shall be sure to punish thee.” He had often threatened to make away with her, having never liked her, but put her down as an idle wench, unable to make herself useful in any way. Her mother pitied her, and advised her to flee the society of men.

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Accordingly, she made up a little bag with some clothes, and went far into the country. She kept wandering about, and could even overtake the reindeer. Having once passed a cleft in the mountains, she saw a little house down in a valley, with an opening in the centre of the roof. She approached the house, and peeping down observed a giant-like fellow, who returned the look, and addressed her, saying, “What dost thou want here, thou miserable daughter of the coast-people? Dost thou think that I will let thee off like that?” He then rushed out to seize her; but meanwhile she had found a hiding-place; and when he had returned to his house, she again hastened on her way farther into the country; and at last she came to another house, which had three windows. She noticed that cooking was going on inside, as well as other business, without any people being visible. Though not aware of it, she had been coming all the way to the place of shadows. A voice was heard saying, “Thou little one from the coast-side, come in, come in!” and when she had entered, a dish with boiled meat was set before her; and her hunger being stilled, the invisible shadows among whom she now found herself invited her to stay and sleep there. After farther wanderings, she at length reached the sea; and around a little creek she observed a great many tents pitched up near the strand. She waited till evening before venturing to go down; and sitting on a slope, she heard the children of the place call out, “A kayaker is coming! he is towing a seal!” Presently a kayaker appeared from behind a point. She heard them repeat, “Asuvina has got a seal!” and she felt sure that she had found her lost brother. The people of the place had a chief, whose tent was larger than all the rest; and beyond this was a plain, where they used to practise ball-playing. She recognised her brother accompanying the men thither, and saw that he was ordered to lift up a large round stone; but not being able to do so, the others threw him down. In the evening she descended the hill, and went straight on to his house. He wondered very much at her coming, and told her that he had lost his way in seeking the slab for her fox-trap, but that he was now married, and that his wife had a sister. He went on to tell her that they had an idiot at the place, who — viz., by clairvoyance — would probably soon be aware of her arrival; and that she had better hide herself a while behind the skin-hangings of the wall. Next morning the fool entered, saying, “In the night I dreamt that a woman from the coast-side, and sister to Asuvina, came among us;” but Asuvina answered, “I have got no sister,” upon which the other went away; but Asuvina stayed at home the whole day long, enjoying his sister’s company. In the evening she went with them to the ball-play on the plain, disguised in the clothes of her sister-in-law. When the chief had lifted the round stone, he made a false hit, and let it fall down upon his own feet, and fairly crushed them. Alekatokak now told them quickly to fetch a little dog; but on hearing that they had not got one in the whole place, she hurried away and soon overtook and brought back a young deer. She cut an opening into it, and let the chief put the sore feet down among the entrails, and in this way cured him. She got married there, and had a son. At his birth they brought her an oblong dish with certain entrails of a fox, and ordered her to swallow them, shutting her eyes the while. This was the custom with them, when they desired the new-born child to be clever and dexterous. After this remedy she was at once restored to her usual health, and her boy grew to be a very swift runner; and they remained in the place and had numerous descendants.

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

Angutisugsuk

Three brothers, skilled hunters led by Angutisugsuk, face conflict after aiding their starving community. Old sorcerers cast spells on Angutisugsuk’s home, sowing discord upon his return. Domestic tensions escalate, leading to violent familial strife. Angutisugsuk, feared for his strength, is ambushed and killed by his kin. Regret follows as his brother mourns the loss, reflecting on the once generous man destroyed by vengeance and manipulation.

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 brothers’ initial act of sharing resources challenges the established norms, leading to resentment from the elders.

Cunning and Deception: The elders’ use of sorcery to incite discord exemplifies deceit leading to tragic outcomes.

Family Dynamics: The story delves into complex familial relationships, highlighting how external manipulation can lead to internal strife and tragedy.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

There were three brothers, the eldest of whom was called Angutisugsuk. They had never lived apart; and all of them were clever hunters, especially Angutisugsuk. One winter the weather was dreadfully severe, and all the neighbours were in great want. Only the three brothers had enough to spare, and the others claimed their assistance. It so happened that two old men came to them with that intention; and during their visit the wife of Angutisugsuk remonstrated, saying that they were having rather too many visitors about the place, at which the old men quickly took offence.

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And in spring-time, when Angutisugsuk’s family left their winter-quarters, and were away on some long excursion, they visited the place in their kayaks, entered the empty house, and practised all manner of sorcery and witchcraft upon the wall adjoining the ledge occupied by Angutisugsuk’s wife, in order to produce discord among the family when they came back from their travels. In autumn they all returned to the old house as usual. One day Angutisugsuk did not go out kayaking, but stayed at home to make a wooden plate and spoon. At that time he had got two wives, both of whom were very clever at needle-work; and he offered to give her who would mend his fur jacket for him the wooden plate and spoon. The first wife made answer, before the second could put in a word, “I want to have them — I will mend the jacket;” and she worked very quickly on it. The second wife, however, who happened to be the best beloved, on her part became envious, and got into a passion. Perceiving this, the husband struck her, because of her having borne him no children. At this his youngest son began crying; and seeing it, the child’s uncle fell upon the father, who was still ill-treating his second wife. In this fight Angutisugsuk thrust his brother against the door-sill with such force that his thigh-bone was bruised; and he would have followed up his advantage over him but for the younger brother and some others, who interfered in the quarrel. Thus it came to pass as the old men had planned when they went and bewitched the empty house in their absence. After having lamed his brother, Angutisugsuk next day loaded his boat and went off in it, taking a small roofless house for himself which he found a little north of his former station; and as a substitute for roof-beams he made a shift with his tent-poles. His proper wife he left behind, and only took the second one along with him. Seeing that his brother was now able to stir, he resolved to kill him, and repeatedly returned to despatch him; but somehow he always found his younger brother or his nephew by his side, and never succeeded in accomplishing his end. These two watched the sick man by turns; and only one at a time went out in his kayak. Angutisugsuk one day encountered his nephew at sea, and resolved to pursue him; but as soon as they came within sight of the house on shore, he left off and turned back. When the nephew got home, he told them that Angutisugsuk had been persecuting him; and his father (viz., the invalid) said, “Tomorrow thou must go and ask our neighbours to assist us in getting Angutisugsuk out of the way, because he has gone raving mad; but two or three men will not suffice, for he is immensely strong himself.” The son went the following morning to several stations, and brought a considerable party of kayakers along with him; and the invalid accosted them, saying, “Let us agree to kill Angutisugsuk. Every day he comes this way intending to take my life; but as soon as he sees anybody staying with me, he desists and turns back.” All the men prepared to pass the night there, hiding their kayaks behind the house; and early in the morning they saw Angutisugsuk in his kayak emerging from behind a rocky point close by. As nobody was to be seen, and he did not even observe the kayaks of his brother and nephew, he supposed them to be off, and made for the shore as fast as possible. An old man among the strangers now drew his hood closer to his head, and pronounced a magic spell, adding that, if it were likely to succeed, Angutisugsuk as a sure sign would turn the back of his hands downwards, instead of using the palms in ascending the beach. Watching him very closely, they noticed that he did as the old man had foretold, and they no longer had any doubt of their success. Having got out on the beach, he only drew his kayak half-way out of the water, and went straight up to the house as if to enter it at once; but bethinking himself of something, turned back to the large boat to get hold of a flensing-knife, and then proceeded to the entry. The men were all reclining on the side-ledge couches except two, who stood posted at the inner entrance ready to seize him. When he saw his brother sitting on the main ledge, he addressed him in the following words, saying, “Here is a brave man for thee! I’ll show thee the way to fight! Didst thou really believe I did not intend to kill thee?” Thus speaking, he advanced a step or two, but was soon seized by the two men, and quickly disarmed. He was at once conducted outside, where all the rest fell upon him; but nobody could manage to overthrow him. At last, when they had got him hamstrung, he fell; whereat they seized him, and held a council as to which of them should first stab him. At last the invalid brother was carried out, in order that he might finish him off. They put him down close beside the other, and he said, “Go and fetch me my spear from under the boat.” When he had got it, he lanced his brother several times in the shoulder, saying, “Now let go your hold; if he boasts himself a man, he will be sure to rise.” He did get up, and went towards his kayak on the beach, but fell down dead before he reached it. Then the surviving brother exclaimed, “Alas! we have killed him who did well towards us. In the short, dark days, when we were almost starving, he did not mind toiling away for us. I am sorry indeed: now do kill me also!” He asked his brother, his son, and all the other men; but finding that nobody would do it, he said, “Well, then, go and fetch his second wife, and kill her at any rate; it was she who began it all.” They did so; and the person who slew her admonished the bystanders, saying, “Now put together all her things, and all her clothes, all her jackets of reindeer-skin, her breeches and boots of seal-skin — get them all together, and carry them along with her; and mind you close up the burial-place well, and heap plenty of stones on top of it.” Later on, when the invalid recovered, he felt great remorse for his act of violence; but the old magician was quite satisfied that Angutisugsuk should have been killed by his brother.

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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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Giviok

Giviok, mourning his wife’s death, struggles to leave his young son but eventually flees. Facing perilous sea challenges, he survives encounters with sea creatures, icebergs, and malevolent beings. After aiding kind strangers, memories of his son draw him back. Overcoming the same dangers, he returns to find his child transformed into a skilled hunter, symbolizing resilience and growth despite tragedy and separation.

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

► Themes of the story

Loss and Renewal: Giviok’s journey begins with the profound loss of his wife, leading him to contemplate abandoning his son and home. This initial despair transitions into a voyage that ultimately brings renewal, as he returns to find his son grown and skilled, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the possibility of rebirth after tragedy.

Trials and Tribulations: Throughout his journey, Giviok confronts numerous challenges, including perilous sea creatures, treacherous whirlpools, and closing icebergs. These obstacles test his resilience and determination, highlighting the universal theme of facing and overcoming adversity.

Family Dynamics: The narrative delves into the complexities of familial relationships, particularly between Giviok and his son. Giviok’s initial struggle to leave his child, the haunting vision of his deceased wife, and his eventual return to a matured son underscore the enduring bonds of family and the personal growth that arises from separation and reunion.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

This tale is chiefly taken from a single manuscript, but nevertheless it is well known all over Greenland. Some slight traces will be found in it of the Indian Hiawatha tale.

Giviok lost his wife, and was about to leave his child and the place where she was buried, in despair. He only waited till the boy had gone to sleep, and then he let himself down from the ledge to the floor; but when the child began crying, he again lay down beside him. Once he was all ready, stooping down to get out of the entrance, but went back unable to leave his son. One day the little boy passionately entered the room, saying, “My mother is walking outside with a stranger.” Giviok answered, “Thy mother is not here; she is lying under the big stones yonder.” [The Eskimo in Greenland and the greater part of their territories have always been buried under heaps of stones.] But the little boy persisted, saying, “Look for thyself, then;” and when Giviok did look out of the window, he actually saw his wife in the arms of another man. At this he got into a great rage, went out, killed them, and put them on top of each other into the stone grave.

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Father and son now went to rest: but when the boy slept the father carried out his intention of taking flight; and passing through the doorway, this time resisted the cries of the boy, got into his kayak, and hastened away. He paddled on and on across the wild sea; he came to the whirlpool, and was nearly drawn into it. Somehow, however, he escaped. Then he got among the villainous sea-lice. First he tried to keep them back by striking at them with his kayak-stick; but that was soon devoured. Then he threw out his sealskin gloves; and seeing that they lasted a little longer, he bethought himself of covering his paddle-blades with a pair of old gloves, lest the beasts should attack his paddle before he could slip away from them; and then he managed to get past them. Continuing his voyage, he saw a long black line, and on approaching it he noticed it to be sea-weed, which he found to be so compact that he got out; and lying down to rest, he went to sleep on it. When he awoke, he pushed himself and his kayak on with his hands, and in this manner got across the sea-weed. He continued paddling until he came in sight of two icebergs, with a narrow passage between them; and he observed that the passage alternately opened and closed again. He tried to pass the icebergs by paddling round outside them, but they always kept ahead of him; and at length he ventured to go right between them. With great speed and alacrity he pushed on, and had just passed when the bergs closed together, and the stern-point of his kayak got bruised between them. At last he caught a glimpse of something dark, and soon after he reached a great stretch of land looming ahead of him. Giviok now thought, “If this country be inhabited, I will be sure to find a bare rock;” [a place used for drying provisions, and therefore without moss] and such a one he soon found. He shortly afterwards detected a house by the smoking chimney, and he soon concluded that they were busy cooking inside. He went straight on towards it, upset the funnel, and hid himself close by. Instantly a female came rushing out, saying, “I wonder if any one upset it?” upon which she again put it to rights; and meantime, perceiving Giviok, quickly re-entered the house, but as quickly returned, saying to him, “Thou art invited to step inside.” On entering, he saw a hideous old hag lying beneath a coverlet, who ordered her daughter to go and fetch some berries; and, running out, she soon returned with a great quantity of them, profusely mixed up with fat. Giviok, while he was eating them, remarked, “They are really delicious;” and Usorsak (this was the name of the old hag) rejoined, “No wonder; the fat is of quite a young fellow;” but Giviok answered, “Fie! anything of that kind I cannot eat;” and stooping down, he noticed a lot of human heads all in a row beneath the ledge; and when the hag uncovered herself a little, and turned her back towards him, he saw something glittering close behind her. When they were all ready to go to rest, Giviok said, “I shall just go outside for an instant.” Accordingly he went, and soon found a flat stone to cover his breast with; and re-entering, he lay down on the ledge beneath the window. No sooner did he seem to be sleeping, than he heard the daughter saying, “Now he is sound asleep;” and instantly the old hag came jumping down from her place on the main ledge; but on his feigning not to be quite asleep, she cautiously returned. When he again had become quiet, and lying on his back was exposing his breast, the daughter again said, “He surely sleeps now;” and again the mother let herself down, even quicker than the first time, and jumping up where he was lying, she sat down with all her weight upon his chest, crying out, “Oh dear!” but instantly tumbled down. “What a pity!” cried the daughter; “Usorsak has broken her tail; she provided so nicely for all of us” (viz., killing men by help of her tail). Giviok now got up from his couch, let fall the stone, and escaped through the door, the daughter shouting after him, “Thou rascal! wouldn’t I like to have had a taste of thy fine cheeks!” but he was already in his kayak, where he was nearly upset. Rising again, he broke out, “Shouldn’t I like to harpoon her!” and so saying, he killed her on the spot. He now continued his journey; and after a while again reached a bare rock. At a little distance from it he landed; and, as before, went up to a house where he likewise upset the chimney-funnel, and afterwards hid himself. A woman again emerged from the doorway; and when she re-entered, he heard them wondering at the chimney having been upset, as there had not been any wind. When she again made her appearance, Giviok came forth, and was asked to come inside. Crossing the threshold, he observed that the walls were covered all over with hunting-bladders. Here, also, the inmates consisted of a mother and a daughter. The mother now spoke — “It will soon be low-water; it is a bad job for us that we have no one to haul in our draught when we have harpooned and fixed the bladders to the fishes.” Giviok answered — “I have my kayak close by, and have just come from the bad women yonder, both of whom I have killed.” “Then thanks to thee!” they exclaimed. “We, too, have had men in our house, but these monsters put all of them to death; but now thou hadst better stay here with us.” Giviok at once consenting, they went on saying, “Tomorrow we shall have low-water, and when thou hearest a roaring noise, thou must hasten back; then the high tide sets in, and thou must be back on shore.” They then went to sleep. Giviok was sound asleep when he was awakened by the roaring waters, and saw the daughter glide through the house-passage. He hastened down to the shore; but when he arrived, the women had already caught a number of halibut, which were lying high and dry on the beach. He was only in time to finish off a few when the sound of the rising waters was again heard, and the great waves came rolling over him, so that he had a narrow escape to the coast. The harpooned fish, on account of the bladders, kept floating on the surface, but drove across to the opposite shore. Giviok, however, fetched them back in his kayak, for which the women were very thankful to him; and he remained with them for some time. After a while, the memory of his son haunted him, and he said to himself, “My poor little son! what a pitiful thing it was to hear him cry when I went away! Some day I must go and see him.” So he left the place, and travelled on and on, encountering all the dangers he had met with on his departure from home, but once more happily getting past them. At last he reached the opposite country, and he heard people singing. He followed the song, and fell in with a great many boats tugging a whale along, on which stood a vigorous man. He did not recognise him; but this was his son, and he had been catching the whale. The father left him a weeping child, and now beheld him a great hunter, standing on a whale’s back.

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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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The brothers visit their sister

Two brothers discover their long-lost sister living among cannibals in a southern land. Despite warnings, they journey to find her. Initially welcomed, they are horrified to witness her cannibalistic lifestyle, influenced by her husband. After a harrowing escape aided by the brother-in-law, they return home, narrowly avoiding death. Though they report the encounter, they never reunite with their sister again.

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

► Themes of the story

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on two brothers discovering their long-lost sister living among cannibals, highlighting the complexities of familial relationships and the lengths to which family members will go to reunite.

Forbidden Realms: The brothers venture into a dangerous, unknown land inhabited by cannibals to find their sister, exploring the theme of entering forbidden or perilous territories.

Trials and Tribulations: The brothers face significant challenges and dangers in their quest to find and rescue their sister, reflecting the theme of overcoming obstacles in pursuit of a goal.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

This tale is very popular in Greenland. Traces of it are also found mixed up with other tales from Greenland, and with one from Labrador. Here the text is very nearly a literal translation from a single manuscript, by a native of South Greenland.

A man had three children; the eldest was a daughter. She married a man from a far-away place in the south while her brothers were still little children. In their boyhood they were not aware of their having a sister, because their father purposely never mentioned it to them. At last they had become quite grown up, and began to catch seals, and still they had never heard of their sister, until one day the mother said, “I think ye don’t even know that ye have got a sister!” Upon which they immediately began asking about her place of abode; to which the mother replied, “Look there; do you see the high mountains yonder to the south of us? Beyond these is the winter station of your sister, whose hair, strange to say, is quite white on one side. However, ye must not think of going there, for the people she is living among are all cannibals.” On hearing this, the eldest brother changed his mind, and gave up the idea of going; but the younger one still longed as much as before to see his sister. The mother tried to dissuade him, but he wanted to go more than ever.

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The following day the brothers set out on their journey, but the parents warned them, saying, “If ye reach the country yonder in the day-time ye must wait the fall of night, and not go near them until they are all asleep, lest ye should be murdered by them.” And when they had gone away the parents gave them up for lost. The travellers reached the high mountains in the south, and began to examine the land below, in order to discover houses. At length the eldest brother said, “When people are found to be living at the foot of the mountains, the ravens will be sure to be soaring in the air above.” At last they observed a craggy hill, above which a great number of ravens were flying. The brothers now turned away from the frozen sea and made for the shore, where they at length secured their sledges, and waited the fall of night. But when it had become quite dark, and when they supposed the inhabitants to have gone to bed, they again drew nearer. They were now in sight of many houses, the first of which had three windows; and having gone close up to it, they cautiously mounted the roof and looked down the vent-hole; and saw a nasty-looking man sitting in front of the lamp beside his wife, who seemed in the act of picking the lice off him, and who appeared to be quite white on one side of her head. The eldest brother now got up and said, “Were we not told that our sister was to be white-haired on one side of her head? do come and see!” The younger brother now looked down, and perceiving her, exclaimed in great consternation, “Why, that must surely be our sister sitting down there! Just spit down through the hole, before the lamp, and when they notice that, some one will probably come out.” The moment he spat down, the woman gave the man a push, and said, “Somebody must have come from afar to see us; do make haste and get up!” On which he instantly rose, took up his bow, and went outside. When they saw him emerge from the house-passage, carrying the bow ready bent in his hand, the eldest brother accosted him before he had set eyes upon them, saying, “We have come here to visit our sister, and have been told that she is quite white on one side of her head.” The other answered him in a whisper, “Your sister is within; please go in.” On entering he at once played the part of a brother-in-law to them, and ordered a meal to be prepared. The wife put on her boots, and told some of the children to assist her; and the guests soon understood that the only housemates of their sister were her children. The beams for boot-drying were hung all over with boots and skin-stockings, according to their several sizes, the biggest outermost. Sometime afterwards a large tub of berries mingled with blubber was set before them, and their sister asked them to partake of the meal. The brothers were almost beginning to feel at ease, and were just going to help themselves, when suddenly, in the bottom of the tub, they caught sight of a human hand, cut off at the wrist, clutching the berries, and very much shrunk. They merely said, “We don’t eat such food as this;” but she only drew the tub closer to herself, and began to eat along with the children. When she took hold of the hand, and had taken a bite of the thumb, the children all cried, “Mother, do let us have some too!” The eldest brother now got up, and went close beside her, saying, “Hast thou also turned cannibal?” and giving her husband a pull, she answered, “This nasty fellow has made me one.” Meanwhile the brother-in-law ordered something separate to be cooked for them on the lamp, but cautiously added, “Mind ye don’t let it burn too high, lest our neighbours should detect us, and make a row about it.” Suspending the pot above the lamp, and at the same time addressing her brothers, his wife now put in, “When our people caught a whale last winter, and it was brought ashore to be cut up and flensed, a man happened to have a fall, and was cut up with it.” Before the meal was ready the host whispered to his children, “Go out and cut asunder all the lashings of our neighbours’ sledges, but beware of making a noise.” The children all went out immediately, and when they came back he inquired of them, “Have ye done as I told ye to all of them?” “Yes,” they answered, “we have.” But still they had forgotten one of them. When the meat was boiled, and they had commenced eating, the host said, “As soon as ye have finished I shall accompany you a little way off; but as soon as ye have left the mainland I’ll give a shout, and ye’ll just see what will happen.” On their departure, after supper, he addressed them, saying, “Ye now know our place of abode; do come back and visit your sister.” Upon which he saw them off in their sledges, and away they fled; but as soon as they turned out upon the ice he gave a great shout, and cried out aloud, “The visitors are setting off — the visitors are going to leave!” and when they looked around, the place was black with people, crowding the doorways and windows. Some had just caught hold of their clothes, and others were quite naked, and in this state they all hastened off to their sledges; but when they were about to start, the sledges all broke down. Meanwhile the travellers had taken fright, and urged on their dogs as fast as possible; but turning round they perceived one sledge to be following them, and apparently gaining upon them. The brother-in-law having likewise observed it, hastened to pursue it, and killed the driver, besides a number of the other people, and afterwards filled his sledge with human limbs; and thus freighted, he returned to his house. But the brothers reached home late at night, and reported how their sister had turned a cannibal, and how they had barely escaped death through the aid of their brother-in-law. But they never saw their sister again.

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