GILBERTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 21 



particularly with that produced by the unconfessed secret abor 

 tion among the central Eskimo.&quot; (6:358.) The dire conse 

 quences of concealing or denying crimes other than taboo- 

 violations, in this case murder, is illustrated in a tale recorded by 

 Rasmussen. (50:128.) 



Boas is of the opinion that this idea that the confession in 

 itself is the atonement for transgression has been derived from 

 4 the importance of the confession of a transgression, with a 

 view to warning others to keep at a distance from the trans 

 gressor,&quot; in order to avoid contamination in the way we have 

 noted. (6:121.) 



He concludes that &quot;among all the Eskimo tribes the under 

 lying idea of the taboo is the protection of the souls of the dead, 

 men as well as animals.&quot; He observes that, while taboos are 

 found in all parts of the earth, they are not, however, always 

 primarily connected with the idea of protecting the souls of the 

 deceased.&quot; He recognizes, therefore, in the Eskimo belief 



&quot;a specialized form of a more general belief. It must have existed 

 in this specialized form among the ancestors of all the Eskimo tribes, 

 since it is found now among all the tribes of this people.&quot; 



&quot;Among the Central tribes this group of beliefs appears still more 

 systematized by combining the idea of the protection of the soul with 

 that of a protectress of the sea-animals. Not only is the soul of the 

 dead animal hurt by the infraction of the taboo, but the protectress of 

 the animal herself is affected.&quot; (p. 365.) 



The historical origins of the taboos are hid in obscurity. The 

 Eskimo themselves rarely have any tradition as to how they arose. 

 As we have seen, their all-sufficient answer is the immemorial 

 usage of their ancestors. One tradition is reported from Cum 

 berland Sound, according to which &quot;in the early times of our 

 world two beings gave advice to the people, saying that when 

 they should become numerous they would have to obey certain 

 customs.&quot; (6:143.) 



One striking feature of the Eskimo taboos we may note here. 

 As Boas says, &quot;it seems that practically everywhere among the 

 Eskimo a considerable number of taboos have the effect of pre 

 venting contact between land-animals- and sea-animals.&quot; (6: 

 569.) There is a tradition among the central Eskimo which 

 accounts for the origin of the walrus and the caribou and a 

 supposed dislike between these two animals. (6: 122.) 



