And it is here, perhaps, that the stories reach their highest poetic level. This regret for the passing of “the former age,” whether as an age of greater strength and virtue, greater courage and skill, or as the Golden Age of Romance, is a touching and most human trait. It gives to these poor Eskimo hunters, far removed from the leisure and security that normally precede the growth of art, a place among the poets of the world.

W. W. Worster.

Contents

  1. Page
  2. [Introduction] 5
  3. [The two Friends who set off to travel round the world] 15
  4. [The coming of Men, a long, long while ago] 16
  5. [Nukúnguasik, who escaped from the Tupilak] 18
  6. [Qujâvârssuk] 20
  7. [Kúnigseq] 38
  8. [The woman who had a bear as a foster-son] 40
  9. [Ímarasugssuaq, who ate his wives] 44
  10. [Qalagánguasê, who passed to the land of Ghosts] 46
  11. [Isigâligârssik] 49
  12. [The Insects that wooed a wifeless man] 52
  13. [The very obstinate man] 56
  14. [The Dwarfs] 60
  15. [The Boy from the Bottom of the Sea, who frightened the people of the house to death] 64
  16. [The Raven and the Goose] 66
  17. [When the Ravens could speak] 67
  18. [Makíte] 68
  19. [Asalôq] 71
  20. [Ukaleq] 73
  21. [Íkardlítuarssuk] 75
  22. [The Raven who wanted a wife] 77
  23. [The man who took a Vixen to wife] 79
  24. [The great bear] 81
  25. [The man who became a star] 82
  26. [The woman with the iron tail] 83
  27. [How the fog came] 84
  28. [The man who avenged the widows] 86
  29. [The man who went out to search for his son] 88
  30. [Atungait, who went a-wandering] 90
  31. [Kumagdlak and the living arrows] 93
  32. [The Giant Dog] 95
  33. [The Inland-dwellers of Etah] 97
  34. [The man who stabbed his wife in the leg] 98
  35. [The soul that lived in the bodies of all beasts] 100
  36. [Papik, who killed his wife’s brother] 104
  37. [Pâtussorssuaq, who killed his uncle] 107
  38. [The men who changed wives] 109
  39. [Artuk, who did all forbidden things] 110
  40. [The thunder spirits] 111
  41. [Nerrivik] 113
  42. [The wife who lied] 115
  43. [Kâgssagssuk, the homeless boy who became a strong man] 117
  44. [Qasiagssaq, the great liar] 123
  45. [The Eagle and the Whale] 130
  46. [The two little Outcasts] 133
  47. [Atdlarneq, the great glutton] 136
  48. [Ángángŭjuk] 139
  49. [Âtârssuaq] 142
  50. [Puagssuaq] 146
  51. [Tungujuluk and Saunikoq] 148
  52. [Anarteq] 150
  53. [The Guillemot that could talk] 152
  54. [Kánagssuaq] 154
  55. [The sources of the various legends] 157

Illustrations

  1. [Man and wife from Angmagssalik] Frontispiece
  2. To face page
  3. [Making a tupilak. Note the bones of various animals used: The monster is on the point of coming to life] 18
  4. [Hunter in kayak. The creature behind is a monster that frightens all the seal away] 34
  5. [Hunters encountering Sarqiserasak, a dangerous troll, who rows in a half kayak himself, and upsets all he meets with his paddle] 34
  6. [Wizard preparing for a “spirit fight.” He is bound head to knees and hands behind; the magic drum resting on his foot is beating itself. Bird’s wings are fastened to his back] 50
  7. [“Inland-dweller” armed with bow and arrow] 70
  8. [An “inland-dweller,” half dog, half human, pointing out a settlement for destruction] 96
  9. [A tupilak frightening a man to death in his kayak] 96
  10. [Evil spirit entering a house] 116
  11. [Wizard calling up a “helping spirit”] 140
  12. [Flying race between two wizards, one of whom, unable to keep up, has fallen to earth, and is vainly begging the other to stop] 148
  13. [Angiut, a “helping spirit,” who knows all about everywhere] 148