TALES TOLD BY THE ESKIMO 55 



marry me/ Away ran the little fellow, but almost 

 immediately he was back again in order to ask the 

 name of the suitor. When the Eskimo maiden 

 heard that the name &quot; Itit &quot; was the short pet 

 name for &quot; Ititaujang,&quot; she said : &quot; Oh, go away ! 

 I will not marry a man with such an ugly name/ 

 Three times the young brother carried a message 

 of love from the poor Itit, who was becoming very 

 cold and angry, for he had been standing in deep 

 snow for a long time. When the maiden refused 

 for the third time, Itit turned away from the hut, 

 left his own country, where there was no other 

 maiden whom he could love, and for many days 

 and nights he wandered, sad and lonely, over great 

 hills and valleys covered with snow. 



At last he arrived in the land of birds, and saw 

 a lake on which geese were swimming. On the 

 shore he noticed a great many boots, so cautiously 

 he crept near and stole as many as he could 

 carry. The birds returned, and greatly alarmed 

 at this theft, they flew away, with the exception of 

 one bird which remained behind, crying, &quot; I want 

 my boots ! I want my boots ! &quot; &quot; You shall have 

 your boots/ said Itit, &quot; if you will become my 

 wife/ Then, returning the magic boots, he had 

 the pleasure of seeing the beautiful bird transformed 

 into a handsome young Eskimo maiden, who wan 

 dered with him to the seaside, where they settled 

 in a large village. Itit became the best whaler and 

 seal catcher, so was very much respected by all 

 the Eskimo of that country ; and what was more 

 pleasing still, he had a young son who was rapidly 

 becoming a brave and clever hunter. 



