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departure to the other world. The Eskimo are very careful not 

 to offend the ghost at this time, and taboo the use of sharp 

 instruments, loud talking, games, or routine labour, until it is 

 gone. The ghost is thought to be irritable at this period and 

 ready to vent its spleen on the community, and is viewed in an 

 entirely different light from the affection displayed toward it 

 later. 



The place to which the spirit finally takes its departure 

 depends more on the mode of death of the deceased than the manner 

 of his life. Those who have been murdered or have committed 

 voluntary suicide and women who die in childbirth are recom- 

 pensed with the highest heaven, located in the Aurora Borealis, 

 where they enjoy themselves playing football with a walrus head. 

 Those who die an ordinary death descend to the world below, 

 where they carry on a monotonous existence, which is free, how- 

 ever, from the cold and hardships of their earthly home. The 

 Labrador Eskimo visit the graves of their dead regularly and 

 place offerings of food and tobacco on them for the sustenance 

 of the spirits. Clothing is also given. The Alaskan Eskimo 

 have regular feasts for the same purpose, in which the namesakes 

 of the dead figure as the recipient of such favours, which are 

 enjoyed through them by the dead. 



The spirits below communicate with their relatives on earth 

 through the angekok. They ascend from below through his body, 

 and answer questions concerning their welfare through his person. 

 Sometimes they give advice or tell the reasons for sickness or 

 disasters. 



When people wish to communicate with the spirits, they 

 must put on a gutskin raincoat. This is the dress of the spirits. 

 The angekok always wears one when he is performing cere- 

 monies or communicating with the spirits. Now people call up 

 the spirits beneath the earth with a stick. It is called kiMxin, 

 conjuring. It is not the old way, but is perhaps derived from the 

 Indians. It is not performed by a regular angekok, but by old 

 men and old women. 



The dead require very different treatment from the living, 

 and one must be very careful not to offend them. As soon as a 

 relative expires one must weep hard, else the ghost will think 



