O JOURNAL OF RELIGIOUS PSYCHOLOGY 



science. &quot; As to the value of folk-lore for the study of historical 

 events there is the widest difference of opinion. (See 55: 307.) 

 But, be that as it may; let us take, for the sake of argument, 

 so to speak, Swanton s view that 



&quot;The major part of these tales record, not objective fact, but sub 

 jective belief, the popular conception of what ought to have happened, 

 the sense of poetic justice as it existed in the tribe from which it was 

 obtained&quot; (62: 4.), 



and the importance of their study for our present purpose is as 

 evident as if every detail had happened &quot;just so.&quot; Also, to 

 quote Rivers, 



The significance of the social setting and of incidental references to 

 social events is very great, is obvious and generally admitted.&quot; (55: 311.) 



So, all questions of history aside, folk-lore reflects the life of 

 the people from which it sprang and reveals the ethical ideas of 

 that people, although to interpret it correctly in this latter 

 respect may often be difficult. I believe it was Ruskin who said 

 that more important than the question whether there was a 

 real Cincinnatus who left the plough in the furrow at a particu 

 lar time is the knowledge about the ideas of manhood and 

 patriotism of the ancient Romans Avhich we get from that 

 legend, if such it be. 



The folk-lore of the Eskimo is peculiarly susceptible to this 

 kind of study, for, as Boas has pointed out, in his excellent dis 

 cussion of the general character of Eskimo folk-lore, &quot;the most 

 striking feature of Eskimo folk-lore is its thoroughly human 

 character.&quot; With few exceptions, &quot;the events which form the 

 subject of their traditions occur in human society as it exists 

 now.&quot; (7:2.) 



A word may be said of the copious use of the extracts in the 

 ipsissima verla of the sources of my information. One reason 

 for this has been to present an author s meaning in the most 

 unambiguous way, and avoid possible misconstructions of his 

 words. If the present writer has misunderstood any statement, 

 the original will enable the reader to make necessary corrections. 

 Then, too, as Haddon has expressed it, &quot;a quotation brings one 

 more face to face with the author than does a mere abstract&quot; 

 (Evolution in Art, Preface, p. vi). 



Also I have not hesitated to give numerous concrete examples 

 from Eskimo life, letting the Eskimo speak for themselves in 



