A tale from East Greenland

Two cousins shared a bond, but envy consumed one when the other excelled in milestones like marriage, fatherhood, and hunting. Driven by resentment, he moved away and trained a vicious dog to kill travelers by feeding it food touched by human bones. However, the cousin and his son bravely confronted the beast and ultimately killed it together.

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

► Themes of the story

Family Dynamics: The story centers on two cousins whose relationship is strained by envy and competition, highlighting complex familial relationships.

Cunning and Deception: One cousin’s deceitful act of training a dog to attack travelers using human bones exemplifies the use of cunning and deceit to achieve malicious goals.

Revenge and Justice: The narrative concludes with the targeted cousin and his son confronting and killing the dangerous dog, serving as retribution and the restoration of justice.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

Two cousins loved each other, but one of them having a passion for outdoing other people, grew irritated at seeing the other not only getting first married, but also having the first son, and that one catching seals before his own son had got a bird.

He then removed to another place, and his son trained a dog to tear men to pieces, by feeding it with food that had been in contact with human bones.

It had already devoured several travellers when the cousin and his son came and attacked the dangerous animal, and killed it between them.

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An old bachelor

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

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

► Themes of the story

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

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

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

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

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

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

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

The mother and son as kivigtut

A widow, escaping a suitor’s persecution, raised her son in isolation near a glacier to despise men. They befriended another solitary woman, surviving through reindeer hunting. Her brother, now an angakok, found them and stayed. After the widow’s death, her son repeatedly revived after burial but ultimately died. His ghost, appearing as fire, confronted the brother, revealing his deeply ingrained hatred for men.

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 a widow and her son living in isolation, highlighting the complexities of familial relationships and the impact of upbringing on personal beliefs.

Conflict with Authority: The widow’s flight from a persistent suitor underscores a defiance against imposed authority and societal expectations.

Supernatural Beings: The son’s posthumous appearances as a ghostly fire introduce elements of the supernatural, reflecting beliefs in spirits and the afterlife within Inuit culture.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

A widow, greatly harassed by the persecutions of a man who wanted to marry her, fled to the inland with her little son, whom she educated with the view of making him a hater of the male sex. She built her hut near the border of the inland glacier, and made the acquaintance of another woman, who led the same solitary life on a bare hillock emerging from the glacier. When the son had grown up, his reindeer-hunting secured them ample subsistence. Once they were surprised by the visit of one of her brothers, who told them that, from the time they had disappeared, he had devoted himself to the study of angakok science in order to find out her place of retreat; and having attained the powers of an angakok, he instantly discovered her trace, by means of which he had found her out.

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He henceforth remained with them. The sister died from old age, and, later on, her son fell sick and died, but revived three times after his mother’s brother had buried him. The fourth time, however, the latter pulled down the house on the top of him, and then left the place. While passing the night in a cave on his way towards the coast, he was overtaken by the ghost of the deceased appearing in the shape of a fire, with a voice saying, that from childhood he had been fostered up to hate the whole male sex, and had the other not been his mother’s brother, he would certainly have killed him.

A married couple remained childless on account of their both being angakok

A kayaking couple discovers a dying young man in a foreign place. An angakok summons the witch responsible for his illness, confronting her ghost and wounding her with a harpoon. The witch is revealed to be the youth’s aunt, who dies simultaneously. While dining, the couple envies the household’s children, only to learn they are named after men lost to monster-gulls, silencing the gathering.

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 involves angakok (shamans) and a witch, highlighting interactions with supernatural entities.

Cunning and Deception: The witch secretly causes the young man’s illness, embodying deceitful actions that harm others.

Family Dynamics: The revelation that the witch is the young man’s aunt introduces complex familial relationships and hidden malice within a family.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

The husband and wife always used to go out kayaking together. Once they happened to come to a foreign place, where a young man was found in an almost dying state.

The angakok-man began a conjuration, summoning the witch who had caused his sickness. He detected the ghost of the witch approaching the sick youth in order to touch him with her black hands.

But the angakok thrust his harpoon at her, hitting her heel; and almost at the same moment the aunt of the sick youth died in the next house, and proved to have been the witch.

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While spending the rest of the evening there, eating and talking in a pleasant way, the visitors noticed the children playing on the floor; and thinking of their own childless state burst out, “That crowd of boys might almost make people envious.” They were answered, “The boys yonder are the namesakes of those whom the monster-gulls carried off as food for their young ones” (viz., who perished in kayaks); whereupon the whole assembly at once became silent.

An old man, anxious to outdo other people

Two friends wagered on whose wife would bear a son first and whose son would become the greatest angakok. Ajagutarsuk gained his wisdom in a cave, while Ularpana acquired his in a dried-up lake. During a mystical encounter, Ajagutarsuk summoned tornaks of the inlanders, but Ularpana’s upper ingnersuit spirits overpowered them, demonstrating his superior spiritual prowess.

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

► Themes of the story

Family Dynamics: The story begins with two friends who wager on whose wife would bear a son first and whose son would become the greatest angakok (shaman), highlighting familial competition and aspirations.

Trials and Tribulations: Both sons, Ajagutarsuk and Ularpana, undergo significant challenges to acquire their spiritual wisdom—one in a cave and the other in a dried-up lake—demonstrating the trials faced in their quests for knowledge.

Supernatural Beings: The narrative involves mystical encounters where both protagonists summon tornaks (spirits) and ingnersuit (upper spirits), emphasizing interactions with supernatural entities.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

An old man, who was always anxious to outdo other people, had laid a bet with his friend as to whose wife should first get a son; and afterwards, as to which of their sons should in course of time become the greatest angakok.

One of them, Ajagutarsuk, attained angakok wisdom in a cave; and the other, named Ularpana, acquired it in a dried-up lake. The latter went on an angakok flight to the first, and while staying with him Ajagutarsuk called forth his tornaks, which belonged to the inlanders, and instantly appeared. But Ularpana invoked his tornaks, being the upper ingnersuit, who totally defeated the inlanders.

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The cousins

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

Transformation: The protagonist’s journey leads to personal growth and change, reflecting the theme of transformation.

Underworld Journey: The perilous sea challenges and encounters with malevolent beings symbolize a metaphorical journey into the underworld.

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the relationship between Giviok and his son, highlighting the complexities of familial bonds.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

Abridged version of the story.

This tale is somewhat similar to Giviok, but in the present version the revenge is brought on by an angakok, who assisted the cousins on a flight, and while staying with them invoked his tornak, the toolik, who carried a red-hot weapon, and destroyed the house and all its inhabitants by fire, while the angakok flew homewards. After his return to his house, while narrating the deed to his people, a laughing voice was heard from without, recognised as that of his erkungasok (the ingenious and cunning adviser, but rather powerless and boasting dweller among the tornaks), who came to give notice of his having also assisted at the destruction of his enemies.

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Aklaujak

Aklaujak, a man of extraordinary strength, was betrayed by his brothers, who stole his wife during a reindeer hunt. Witnessing Aklaujak’s incredible feat of drowning two reindeer by their antlers, his mother urged the wife to return to him. Awed and fearful, the brothers fled, leaving Aklaujak’s strength and determination undisputed.

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

► Themes of the story

Good vs. Evil: Aklaujak’s brothers betray him by stealing his wife, representing the conflict between treachery and righteousness.

Transformation: The narrative highlights Aklaujak’s demonstration of immense strength, which leads to a change in his wife’s perception and prompts her return, showcasing a shift in relationships and personal dynamics.

Family Dynamics: The tale delves into complex familial relationships, including sibling betrayal and the reconciliation between Aklaujak and his wife, emphasizing the intricate nature of family bonds.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

A tale from Labrador

A man named Aklaujak was of immense strength. Once, when away on a reindeer-hunt, his brothers robbed him of his wife. But the mother, who from a high hill observed him sitting in his kayak and seizing two large reindeers by the antlers and drowning them by holding them under water, hastened down and persuaded the wife to return to him, on which the brothers took flight.

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Malarsuak

Malarsuak searched for his lost sister, finding her among cannibals. He killed a hideous youth, prompting the host to discard the body under a bench. Later, the youth’s mother lamented his death. Malarsuak returned with his family, but the cannibals stole their child. Escaping pursuit by sabotaging sledges, he forgot one, but killed the driver and fled safely.

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

► Themes of the story

Quest: Malarsuak embarks on a perilous journey to find his lost sister, demonstrating the classic quest motif where a protagonist undertakes a challenging expedition to achieve a significant goal.

Mythical Creatures: During his journey, Malarsuak encounters cannibals, who are often depicted as supernatural or monstrous entities in folklore, highlighting the theme of human confrontation with otherworldly adversaries.

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on Malarsuak’s determination to rescue his sister and the subsequent familial interactions, emphasizing the complexities and bonds within family relationships.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

A story from East Greenland

A man named Malarsuak started in search of his lost sister. Travelling by sledge, he came to houses inhabited by cannibals, with one of which he found his sister domesticated. A hideous-looking youth came into the house, whom Malarsuak killed by piercing his head with a bear’s tooth fastened into a stick, whereupon the host threw the dead body under the bench.

Some time after a woman appeared, saying, “Is this not my miserable son here — I mean the one who ought to serve as food for his brothers?” Malarsuak travelled homewards, but came back on a visit, bringing his wife and a little child with him. The cannibals robbed them of their child.

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When going to leave, the brother-in-law tried to persuade him first to cut all the lashings of his place-fellows’ sledges, in order to prevent their pursuing the travellers. Malarsuak took his advice, but happened to forget one of the sledges, which came speeding after him; but he killed the driver and made his escape himself.

The woman who wanted to be a man

Arnarkuak, a woman relentless in scolding her son for his lack of hunting skill, forced her daughter-in-law, Ukuamak, to flee with her under threat of death. Disguising herself as a man, Arnarkuak took Ukuamak as her wife in the interior. However, her son eventually discovered their refuge and killed his contemptible mother in retaliation.

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

► Themes of the story

Transformation: Arnarkuak disguises herself as a man, embodying a physical and social transformation to assume a male role.

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the strained relationship between Arnarkuak and her son, highlighting familial conflicts and their consequences.

Cunning and Deception: Arnarkuak’s deceit in disguising herself and coercing her daughter-in-law into a false marital relationship underscores themes of manipulation and deceit.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

For this tale, only the principal parts have been selected, and are given here in a very fragmentary form.

A woman named Arnarkuak would not give up scolding her son on account of his want of skill in hunting and other manly pursuits.

Once in his absence, when he had gone out kayaking, she forced her daughter-in-law, by threatening her with death, to flee with her to the interior of the country, where she disguised herself like a man, and had her daughter-in-law, Ukuamak, for a wife.

But the son found out their place of refuge, and killed his despicable mother.

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The Anghiak

A sister forbidden to marry by her brothers became pregnant, secretly miscarried, and birthed an anghiak, a vengeful spirit. The creature, using makeshift tools, caused her brothers’ deaths but later repented, retreating north. Discovered by a shaman, it terrified villagers before returning to its mother’s home. When she confessed her actions during a ritual, the anghiak succumbed to pain and died, ending its tragic tale.

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

► Themes of the story

Forbidden Knowledge: The sister’s secret miscarriage and the creation of the anghiak involve hidden actions and their dire consequences.

Divine Punishment: The anghiak’s vengeance upon the brothers and its eventual death following the mother’s confession suggest a form of supernatural retribution.

Family Dynamics: The complex relationships between the sister and her brothers, including their control over her marital prospects and the ensuing tragedy, are central to the narrative.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Arctic Region
  - Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about the Inuit peoples

For this tale, only the principal parts have been selected, and are given here in a very fragmentary form.

A company of brothers had a single sister, and would not allow her to marry. Nevertheless, having many suitors, she finally came to be with child; and because of her brothers’ reproaches, she secretly had a miscarriage; but the child got intellect, and became an anghiak. It picked up the skull of a dog, using it as a kayak, and the bone of a man’s arm for a paddle. Every night it used to creep into the house and lie down to suckle its mother’s breasts, but during the day-time it was about pursuing her brothers when they were kayaking, and made them capsize and perish one after another. Having accomplished its revenge, it repented its deeds, and fled to the north, where it slipped down in the doorway of a house in which a conjuration was going on. The angakok (by means of his second-sight) at once observed its approach; and when the people of the house had got a light, and went to look for it, they were all frightened to death.

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It then became still more powerful, but went back again to its mother’s abode, and found a refuge in a heap of rubbish. It now happened that the angakok of the place was about to perform a conjuration for the purpose of finding out what had caused the brothers’ destruction. The sister, on being examined, first denied, but finally she confessed her sin, saying, “What I brought forth was no real child.” No sooner had she pronounced these words than the anghiak felt a pain in its head, and while she continued her tale, it lost its senses and died.