26 JOUKNAL OF RELIGIOUS PSYCHOLOGY 



It now and then happens that some one or other wounded, perhaps, 

 by a single word from one of his kinsfolk, runs away to the mountains, 

 and is lost for several days.&quot; (43: 267; cf. 16. 1: 157; 45: 300.) 



A remarkable and effective method of putting offenders to 

 shame is the &quot;drum-dance&quot; or singing combat, described by 

 many writers on Greenland. (19 : 85 ; 52 : 24 ; 53 : 53 ; 51 : 141, 

 150 ; 30 : 87, 157 ; 16. 1 : 164 ; 43 : 186. ) 



&quot;The so-called nith-songs were used for settling all sorts of crimes 

 or breaches of public order or custom, with the exception of those which 

 could only be expiated by death.&quot; (Rink, 52: 24.) 



These contests took place at &quot;the public meetings or parties, 

 which at the same time supplied the national sports and enter 

 tainments.&quot; (52:24.) 



The procedure was briefly as follows: If a person (women 

 as well as men could carry on the contest) felt himself aggrieved 

 by another, he challenged the offender to meet him at a certain 

 time and place to hold a singing combat. Each of the parties 

 then prepared satirical songs about his opponent. At the 

 appointed time, before the assembled people, the contestants, by 

 turns, attacked each other by these satires, until one or the 

 other had exhausted his resources. In the words of Rink, &quot;the 

 cheering or dissent of the assembly at once represented the judg 

 ment as well as the punishment.&quot; (53 : 34.) It appears that, in 

 East Greenland at least, the issue is not always decided by one 

 performance, but the contest is repeated, so that it can stretch 

 over many years. (30: 7, 157.) 



On the value of this judicial system, it is interesting to note 

 the verdict of the Moravian Crantz (16. 1: 161.) : 



It is an excellent opportunity of putting immorality to the blush, 

 and cherishing virtuous principles. Nothing so effectually restrains a 

 Greenlander from vice as the dread of public disgrace, and this pleasant 

 way of revenge even prevents many from wreaking their malice in acts 

 of violence or bloodshed. Here they cite each other to appear without 

 risking their lives in the duel, or wounding each other with envenomed 

 pen. 



In an East Greenland tale (31:257), the parties in a blood- 

 revenge agree not to kill each other, but settle the matter with a 

 drum-dance. 



While, in the contest, they are at liberty to lampoon each other 

 to their hearts content, as soon as the performance is over they 



