Suddenly a hand comes up and grips it by the legs, and drags it downwards through the hole. Another hand slides up its body to its neck, so that it cannot fight or bite, and in a moment or two the life is choked out of it. Bird after bird is caught in this way, until at the end of the day the hunter returns to the village under a load of white and grey feathers. He laughs [[263]]delightedly to think how he has tricked the greedy gulls, and how his cunning bird-calls have deceived one after another.
He recounts the story of it all over the cooking pot into which the birds are thrown as soon as skinned, and keeps his women-folk well entertained as they sit chewing the skins to pliability in their strong white teeth, for the rest of the arctic evening.
Such is a glimpse into the lives of these brave and hardy warriors of the North, a country which they love. Fierce and relentless though it be, it brings out all the best that is in them. All honour and praise to them. [[265]]
APPENDIX
Eskimo Deities
Sedna. Goddess of sea animals, but not of the sea itself.
Ooluksâk. God of the lakes. He lives by the side of the lakes, and it is by his instrumentality that the conjurors get their light when performing their rites.
Tekkitserktok. God of the land. He owns all deer. This god is greater in power than all the other gods. Offerings are made to this god by hunters before going inland for the annual deer hunt.
Kingoatseak. This god lives in the sea and is like a dog in appearance; legs very thin like a dog’s. Is not able to come to the surface.