128 



From them the shaman in Alaska derives his name, the 

 tuyra'lik or "possessor of a spirit." Usually he possesses 

 several spirit familiars. 



The supreme control of all the Tornait is assigned to Tor- 

 narsuq in Baffin island; Tornga'rsoak in northern Labrador, 

 "the great To'rngak." I cannot agree with Turner's suggestion 

 that "this Tungak is nothing more or less than Death, which 

 ever seeks to torment and harass the lives of people that their 

 spirits may go to dwell with him." 1 The legend which he 

 relates of Tornga'rsoak's origin, i.e., that he was once a fond 

 father who was changed by the death of his children to a vicious 

 spirit preying on all mankind, is also found in Alaska, where the 

 additional information is given that the shamans, through 

 their magic art, got him into their power and bound him, so 

 that he could do no further harm (cf. Nelson, The Eskimo about 

 Bering strait, page 481). 



For this reason the dead are bound. In this case the 

 Tornait represent the malignant influence of the dead during 

 the three days while they still linger on earth before they take 

 their departure to the spirit world, but this is only one of the 

 phases of their appearance. During this period no work may 

 be done with a sharp-edged instrument for fear of wounding 

 a wandering spirit and inviting its anger. 



THE ANGEKUT. 



The angekut are the accredited mediators between the 

 Eskimo and the spirit world which surrounds them. Without 

 their assistance in dealing with such powerful influences, the 

 Eskimo believe they would be undone. Consequently the 

 angekut exercise a great power over their people. The angekok 

 combines in one the three offices of priest, prophet, and physician. 

 He attains his power and knowledge of the spirit world only 

 after a long and arduous apprenticeship. 



When an Eskimo feels that he has been called to be an 

 angekok, through some mysterious event which has happened 

 to him, or a chance meeting with some supernatural being, he 



1 Ethnology of the Ungara district, llth Annual Report B.A.E., p. 194. 



