TOOKOOLITO REBUKING SWEARERS.

163

"This I am ready to admit, that some commanders, some officers, and some crews of whaling ships are as they should be, exemplary men—men who take pleasure in doing good wherever they are who seek to extend the bounds of civilization, planting philanthropic and Christian institutions where darkness and ignorance had before reigned universal.

Being now ready to return—three o'clock P.M.—Ebierbing kindly gathered a crew from among his friends to convey me aboard. Much seko (ice) had set into the cove, causing us great trouble and delay to get out. Once clear, a few strokes brought

us alongside.

"10 o'clock, night, thermometer 29°, barometer 29.525; wind south—fresh; cloudy."

BONE SLEDGE-RUNNER.

CHAPTER IX.

Visit to Esquimaux Village.—First Specimen of domestic Life among the Innuits. —Seal's Blood excellent.—Blind George in Trouble.—His paternal Affection.— "Black Skin" for Food.—Female Tongues good Cleaners.—The Angeko.—Extraordinary Conduct of the Natives.—The Angeko's Power.—Mysteries of Innuit Worship. Koojesse's Trepidation.—Angeko's Cunning.—Choice of Wives.—Curious Guide Poles to Travelers.—Charley's independence of Angeko.- Ship beset in the Ice. Hoar-frost on the Rigging. —Changes of Temperature. — Sudden Movements of the Ice.—Frozen in.+A Bear-hunt.—Author's first Encounter with a Bear. — Death of Bruin. —Visit the Tupic of Ebierbing. — Scarcity of Innuit Food and Fuel.—The Esquimaux Lamp.—Patience and Perseverance of an Innuit Hunter.—An Igloo.

At this time I frequently paid visits to the Esquimaux village, and one trip I find recorded in my journal as follows:

"October 30. After dinner a boat was sent from the ship to obtain some fresh water at the head of the bay, and I availed myself of the opportunity to go on shore. Smith had charge of the boat, and in less than an hour we arrived at a beautiful little harbor two and a half miles distant northwesterly from the vessel. Here there was a complete Esquimaux village, and all the inhabitants, men, women, children, and dogs, rushed out to meet us. Our crew consisted of five white men, and each of them soon engaged a native to carry water to the boat, while he himself sought amusement among the tents. Smith and I walked on for about an eighth of a mile to the lakelet where the water was obtained, and put the Esquimaux fairly to work. We then returned, and called at one of the tents. Smith, being first, intended to pass in, but had no sooner lifted the folding door (pendent skins) and introduced his head, than he rapidly withdrew it again, exclaiming, 'Whew! By thunder, I'm not going in there! It's crowded, and smells horribly. How it looms up!' He then turned away, but I, having more inducements to bear the infliction, determined to pass in.

"Bowing down almost to a horizontal position, in went head, shoulders, body, and all. The next second I found myself butt up against a dozen Esquimaux, all lusty fellows, and crowded together in a heap, each armed with a knife! But there was no cause for alarm. The knives were not for any warlike or evil

SEAL-BLOOD SOUP.

165

purpose. They were being used simply for cutting off strips of seal, to be shoved into the widely-extended mouths of the hungry people before me. Quite at the back of the tent I perceived my Esquimaux friend Koojesse seated between two pretty females, all three engaged in doing full justice to a dish of smoking-hot sealblood! Seeing me, Koojesse at first seemed abashed; but, on my expressing a readiness to partake of any food they had to spare, one of the women immediately drew forth from the stew-pan about four inches of seal vertebræ, surrounded by good meat. I managed to eat the latter, and then determined to try the seal-blood. To my surprise, I found it excellent.

"On first receiving the dish containing this Esquimaux stew, I hesitated. It had gone the round several times, being replenished as occasion required; but its external appearance was not at all inviting. Probably it had never gone, through the cleaning process, for it looked as though such were the case. But I screwed up courage to try it, and finally, when the dish again came to those by my side, I asked Koojesse, 'Pe-e-uke?' (Is it good?) Armelarng, armelarng' (Yes, yes), was the reply.

"All eyes were fixed upon me as I prepared to join with them in drinking some of their favorite soup.

"Now the custom of Esquimaux in drinking seal-blood is to take one long s-o-o-o-p—one mouthful, and then pass the dish on to the rest till the round is made. I followed suit, and, to my astonishment, found the mixture not only good, but really excellent. I could not have believed it was so far superior to what my previous notions had led me to expect.

Seeing I was pleased with it, she who presided at the feast instantly made ready a pretty little cup, which was clean outside. and in, or as clean as an Esquimaux can make it, and filled it with the hot seal-blood. This I sipped down with as much satisfaction as any food I had eaten in my life; and, in return for the friendly act of my Innuit hostess, I gave her a highly-colored cotton handkerchief. She was in ecstasies with it, and the whole company joined with her in expressions of kindness and goodwill toward me. Clearly I had ingratiated myself with one party of the natives here, and this I was determined to do in like manner elsewhere.

"Soon afterward I left them, and, crawling out of their tent on all-fours, passed through the village toward the beach. On the way I heard a voice calling out 'Mitter Hall—Mitter Hall;' and,

on turning round, perceived poor 'Blind George.' I went to him, and found that he was in great trouble. He tried to tell me all his grief, but with difficulty could he give utterance to his words. 'Ugarng,' said he, 'Ugarng home to-day? My pickaninny away go. Mitter Hall, speak-um, my pickaninny—speak-um, my pickaninny here.'

"The fact was that, as already stated, Ugarng had got his child, and the poor blind man wanted her to be with him for a while. I therefore spoke to Ugarng, and often afterward little Kookooyer was seen by her father's side.

เ

"While in the village I called at another tent, and was treated to a liberal piece of 'black skin' after it had been well cleansed of foreign substances by the free application of a lady's tongue!"

On November 10th I again visited the shore, accompanying the water-boat. We found the lakelet frozen over, and that our ice-axe by mistake had been left on board. This would have proved a great annoyance to us had not one of the Esquimaux (Charley) brought his seal-spear to our aid, and speedily opened a good-sized "well-hole." In helping to carry the water, I fell into line with the natives, joining them in their mirthfulness of heart as they went along. As we passed the tupics, every woman and child gave a joyous smile and kindly word to the stranger. It was on this occasion, after I had been about two hours on shore, that I noticed something unusual had occurred. An excited crowd of natives were rapidly gathering round a young man who appeared to be frantically addressing them. Whatever his object, I soon perceived that he contrived to greatly affect his hearers. One moment he made them like infuriated demons; at another, they were melted to tears. Now they were clenching their fists and gesticulating in a maddened way; presently they were calm and full of joyful repose. It was astonishing the hold he had over the people around him. So complete was this power that a simple motion with the tip of his finger would be followed by demonstrative movements on the part of the audience. An Esquimaux might be quietly enjoying a smoke, when a word from the orator would bring the pipe from the smoker's mouth to the speaker's pouch, or into the man's own pocket, just as directed.

I soon ascertained that the orator was an angeko, or wizardman, and that his name was Ming-u-mai-lo. Though young, he was very much credited by the whole population of that and the neighboring village. As I approached, his eye soon caught mine,

THE ANGEKO.

167 and immediately leaving his snow rostrum, he bounded like a deer toward me. With a face of innocence and full of smiles, he grasped my hand and welcomed me to his magic home; but, though returning the salutation in a friendly manner, I could not so cordially evince pleasure at his acquaintance as I generally did with others. It appeared to me that he was one of those who lived upon the credulity and ignorance of his race, and this thought probably made itself perceptible on my features; at all events, in a moment or so he left me, and, throwing his arm around Ugarng's neck, he walked with him into a tent, whither they were soon followed by Charley and the rest of our hired water-carriers. Koojesse was of the number; and, while I was looking on, much surprised, loud and exciting words were heard from within. Presently Koojesse came out; and upon my making inquiries, he told me, in a cautious manner, that the angeko was at work, as we should call it, exorcising and otherwise performing various spiritual exercises!

Fearing to be considered intrusive, I walked away toward the boat, Koojesse again taking up his water-bucket and continuing his work; but hardly had I reached the landing-place when down came Mingumailo with a proud and excited step. He took me by the arm and beckoned me to go with him. I did so, being desirous of witnessing some of the farther acts of this curious and important personage.

We walked, arm in arm, toward what, though only a tent, I might well style his temple, for toward it several of his worshipers were bending their steps. As we passed along, Koojesse was seen in the distance with a bucket of water in each hand. In an instant, at one word, one motion of my companion, Koojesse, though otherwise a man of great intelligence and strong mind, left his water just where it was and joined us. On approaching the tupic, Mingumailo ordered Koojesse to go in first, and then directed me to follow. I did so by falling upon my hands and knees, and, in this necessary posture, entered the abode of our Esquimaux prophet. The angeko followed, and immediately directed Koojesse to take a position on one side of the bed that was within, and me to be on the other side. Next to Koojesse was seated a pretty Esquimaux woman, one of the nulianas (wives) of the angeko, the other wife—for he had two—not then being at home.

Now commenced the solemn exercises of the peculiar worship