the cat does his paws) and rub their eyes with them to get the salt
off, which the sea throws into their face. The women wash themselves
in their urine, that their hair may grow, and to give it (according
to their fancy) a fine smell. When a maiden has thus washed herself,
their common saying is _niviarsiarsuanerks_, that is, she smells like a
virgin maid. Thus washed they go into the cold air, and let it freeze,
which shows the strength of their heads, and it well becomes foreigners
to do so.
[33] In the summer they wear short frocks, as also in winter, when they
work on the ice in the bays; but then they put a white covering over
it, that they may not frighten the seals.
[34] When a man sends for his son’s bride, to be conducted to his
house, if he be in good circumstances he makes a great feast; and
throws out for prizes several presents of poles, rafts, knives, and
other toys. The same is practised the day following after the bedding
of the new-married couple. If they have children before the year is
past, or if they often breed, they are blamed, and compared to dogs.
A new married woman is ashamed for having changed her condition for a
married state.
[35] In its inflections it agrees with the Hebrew.
[36] The angekuts say that souls are a soft matter to feel, or rather
that they cannot be felt, as if they had neither sinews nor bones.
[37] The Innuæ, or inhabitants of the sea, they call Kongeuserokit; of
whom they say, that they feed upon fox tails. Ingnersoit, a sort of
sea sprites, which inhabit the rocks that lie upon the coast; which,
they tell you, will carry away the Greenlanders, not to do them any
harm, but to enjoy their company. Tunnersoit are phantoms living in the
mountains; and Ignersoit, or fiery sprites (because they appear to be
all over fire) live near the shore, in steep and craggy cliffs. This is
that meteor which we call the Flying Dragon. Innuarolit they pretend to
be a people of a dwarfish size, like pigmies, and are said to inhabit
the East side of Greenland. Erkiglit, on the contrary, are said to be
a nation of a huge and monstrous size, with snouts like dogs; they are
likewise said to dwell on the East side. Sillagiksortok, a spirit, who
makes fair weather, and lives upon the ice mountains. Nerrim Innua, or
the ruler of diet, because he prescribes rules for the diet or eating
of those that are obliged to keep abstinence. They ascribe also some
sort of divinity to the air, and for fear of offending it they will
refrain from certain things and actions; for which reason they are
afraid to go out in the open air in the dark.
[38] While angekkuts are conjuring, nobody must scratch his head,
nor sleep, nor break wind; for they say, that such a dart can kill
the enchanters, nay the devil himself. After a conjuration has been
performed, there is a vacancy from working for three or four days.
[39] _Argnakaglertoko_, a woman that lives by rule, they say, can lay
the storm, by going out of doors and filling her mouth with air, and
coming back into the house, blows it out again. If she catches the rain
drops with her mouth, it will be dry weather; and other strange effects
they ascribe to her.
[40] A word not known to me in the Danish tongue.
[41] Others say, that a huge dog watches the entry, and gives warning,
when an angekkok attempts to get in, and defends the entry. Wherefore
the angekkok must watch the minute, that the dog falls asleep (which
lasts but a moment), to steal in upon her. This moment nobody knows but
an angekkok poglik; wherefore the other angekkuts often return home
again without success. This frightful woman is said to have a hand as
big as the tail of a whale, with which, if she hits any body, he is
at one stroke mouse-dead. But if the angekkok conquers her (which he
does if he can get at her _aglerrutut_, which hang dangling about her
face, and rob her of them) then she must discharge all fishes and sea
animals, which she has detained in captivity; who thereupon return to
their wonted stations in the sea.
[42] They assign the Moon a house in the Western part of the world,
where he is often visited and resorted to by the angekkuts. And the
Sun, they say, has her abode in the East; but she is inaccessible on
account of her heat, which keeps the angekkuts at a distance; at which
she is sorely grieved, because she cannot learn by them how matters
stand upon Earth.
Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:
Forbisher=> Frobisher {x 5}
no such piercing or singing sharpness=> no such piercing or stinging
sharpness {pg 56}
like a cresent=> like a crescent {pg 68}
firing of great gnns=> firing of great guns {pg 69}
his mouth his armed=> his mouth is armed {pg 82}
His length his five=> His length is five {pg 82}
come up to to the hole=> come up to the hole {pg 104}
sea dogs, who mount the the guard=> sea dogs, who mount the guard {pg
202}
None can can get admittance=> None can get admittance {pg 202}
Ou il se fait grande=> Où il se fait grande {note, pg xxviii}
End of Project Gutenberg's A Description of Greenland, by Hans Egede