139 



Of the power of the angekut marvellous tales are related. 

 The Eskimo believe in them implicitly and balk at no marvel 

 which is attributed to them. They say that they have no 

 knowledge of the spirit world and must believe those who 

 possess it. For the same reason the Labrador Eskimo told 

 the early missionaries that if they knew more of the spirit 

 world than their angekut, they would listen to them. 



Of the dark side of shamanism among the Eskimo, little 

 has been said. There are persistent tales in Labrador, started 

 by old travellers, 1 and also mentioned by the Moravians, of a 

 custom of the angekut of sacrificing young children on the graves 

 of their mothers (that their spirits may be joined in the other 

 world ?). This I am very loath to believe, and would rather 

 attribute it to physical necessity, which sometimes drives the 

 Eskimo to strangle a child when the mother has died and the 

 father is unable to rear it. 



CEREMONIES. 



WHALING FESTIVAL. 



The early Moravian writers mention a festival which the 

 Labrador Eskimo used to hold when a dead whale was discovered 

 in prime condition (according to Eskimo tastes). A period 

 of festivity followed, "as an expression of gratitude to Torngak 

 (Torngarsoak) ." 



A large snow-house as much as 16 feet high and 70 feet 

 in circumference, was built, and the interior arranged for dancing 

 and sports. The latter consisted of contests with the lance 

 and boxing (probably the Eskimo custom of taking blow for blow). 

 There were singing and dancing by the people, and shamanistic 

 performances. No details are given. 



1 "The Moravian Missionaries have laboured hard to implant the Christian faith upon 

 the shores of Labrador, and they have succeeded as well as could be expected, but the Indians 

 (Eskimo) are so attached to their ancient superstitions, that they hesitate not to sacrifice 

 a favourite child on the grave of its deceased parent, under the belief that their earthly disso- 

 lution is immediately succeeded by a blissful reunion above; and this they do, notwithstanding 

 their consciousness of the enormity attending so horrid an action." Chappell, Voyage to 

 Newfoundland and the Southern Coast of Labrador, London, 1818. 



The same author does not hesitate to say that the Eskimo are "honest in their principles, 

 mild in their dispositions, and hospitable to unprotected strangers"; ibid., p. 99. 



