GILBEKTSON: ESKIMO CULTURE 25 



mussen s account of the breakdown of the ancient religion among 

 the natives of the extreme north of Greenland. 



While &quot;the great majority,&quot; writes Easmussen, still &quot;believe blindly 

 in the magician s capacity to make use of supernatural forces, and the 

 few sceptics who, in an ordinary way, represent a certain opposition, are 

 equally keen adherents of the mysteries at crucial moments [italics 

 mine], yet &quot;their magic arts are degenerating and growing more and 

 more simplified. The Polar Eskimo are well-to-do folk; there are animals 

 enough in the sea and meat in abundance; they are strong, healthy, 

 energetic people, possessing a sufficiency of the necessities of life as 

 demanded by an existence which is, according to their ideas, free from 

 care. This state of things is doubtless the reason why the angakok system 

 is not so highly developed there as, for instance, it has been on the 

 east coast, where the struggle for existence seems to be much more severe, 

 and where the failure of the fishery, and as a consequence famine, have 

 been more frequent.&quot; 



&quot;The Polar Eskimo do not require to make constant appeals to the 

 supernatural powers, and that is why their magicians have gradually for 

 gotten the magic arts of their fathers.&quot; (50: 156.) 



8. LAW AND PUNISHMENT 



The Eskimo have, of course, no documentary code of laws, 

 nor have they any established tribunals of administration and 

 judication. But, among them, &quot; customs have, by their long 

 standing, acquired the force of laws.&quot; (16. 1:168.) With 

 regard to the execution of these traditional laws we may quote 

 Rink (53:32; cf. 52:24): 



With the exception of the part of the angakoks, or the relatives of 

 the offended person, took in inflicting punishment upon the delinquent, 

 public opinion formed the judgment seat.&quot; (Italics mine.) 



The common method of punishment is the putting of the 

 offender to shame in the eyes of the public ; in some more serious 

 cases, he is expelled from the community; only in rare and 

 extreme cases are forcible measures taken. It is, however, in 

 correct to say that &quot;crimes, if committed, go unpunished.&quot; 

 (24:80.) 



The chief reason for adhering to custom, even when the indi 

 vidual may doubt the efficiency of some of the traditional rules 

 is given as &quot;fear of ill report&quot; among his fellows. (16. 1: 168; 

 25 : 569. ) The Eskimo are said to be very sensitive to the 

 opinions of others. According to Nansen: 



